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Youth Advisory
Panel
04 April 2016
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Report Back on
Rangatahi Roopu representation and the Youth Advisory Panel
File No.: CP2016/04553
Purpose
1. To
note the practicalities of
establishing Rangatahi Roopu
(Māori youth) representation on the Youth Advisory Panel.
Executive
Summary
2. In
May 2015 the Youth Advisory Panel (the Panel) requested that staff look into
the possibility of establishing two additional positions for Rangatahi Roopu (Māori
youth) on the Panel.
3. Representation of Māori, and
specifically rangatahi, is a consideration for some panels and council more
broadly. It is recognised that this could give effect to council’s commitment
to meeting our obligations to Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) as
articulated in The Auckland Plan, the Long-term Plan and local board plans.
4. Work with rangatahi and Māori
representation aligns well with the Māori Plan’s directive to increase the
number of rangatahi actively participating in governance and in leadership
roles.
5. The
process to change the membership of any panel requires a change to the terms of
reference, and negotiations with the council and interested stakeholders.
6. Given the proximity of the end of the Panel’s
term (its last meeting is scheduled for 8 August 2016) and the time necessary
to have genuine consultation with relevant parties, including mana whenua,
mataa waka and rangatahi on this topic, staff consider that it is not practical
to start a change process at this stage.
7. A review of demographic advisory panels, the
function they serve and recommendations for their future is due to start
shortly. The outcomes of the review will be presented to the incoming Mayor in
October 2016 to inform his or her decisions on any future panels. The issue of Māori representation on relevant advisory panels will be considered as part
of this review.
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Recommendations
That
the Youth Advisory Panel:
a) note that staff will consider Māori representation on relevant advisory
panels as part of the 2016 advisory panel review in readiness for the
2016-2019 council term.
b) consider whether rangatahi representation and
partnerships should form part of the panel’s report to the incoming council.
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Comments
8. The Youth Advisory Panel is one of
six demographic advisory panels established by Auckland Council. The role of
the Panel is to identify and communicate to council the interests and
preferences of the youth of Auckland. The Panel has been established using a
regional youth participation model to ensure that youth perspectives are heard
and responded to in council’s decision-making processes, particularly in
relation to:
· the content of the strategies, policies, plans and
bylaws of the council
· any matter that the panel considers to be of
particular interest or concern to the youth of Auckland.
9. The current panel is made up of 21 young
people aged between 12 and 24 years, nominated and selected from each of the 21
local board areas.
10. In May 2015, the Youth Advisory
Panel resolved to:
….‘request a report from council staff investigating
the practicalities surrounding the addition of two positions on the Youth
Advisory Panel, specifically allocated to Rangatahi Roopu representatives….’
(YOU/2015/24).
11. For
other panels a selection process considers the representation of Māori
voices. For example, Independent Māori Statutory Board members were
invited to join the selection process for the Seniors Advisory Panel, to ensure
Māori views were captured in the recruitment process.
12. In
addition, the Disability, Rainbow Communities and Seniors Advisory Panels have
expressed their interest to put more emphasis on Māori views as part of
their advisory functions.
13. Māori
representation on the Panel needs to be considered in a wider context of
advisory panels’ membership as the terms of reference for advisory panels do not
specify membership criteria for Māori. This process requires a review of
the terms of reference for advisory panels.
14. Representation of Māori, and
specifically rangatahi, is a consideration for the panels and council more
broadly. It is recognised that this could give effect to council’s commitment
to meeting its Treaty of Waitangi obligations to as articulated in The Auckland
Plan, the Long-term Plan and local board plans.
15. Work with rangatahi and representation aligns
well with the Māori Plan’s directive to increase the number of rangatahi
actively participating in governance and in leadership roles.
16. Staff
have considered the Panel’s request for rangatahi representation and worked
through some options to give effect to it. At this stage of the electoral term
staff recommend that Māori representation be considered in the report
to the incoming Mayor and council in October 2016. This recommendation is
informed by three main factors: engagement, timeframes and budget, as explained
below.
17. Engagement with stakeholders. Changing the membership of any panel requires
changing their terms of reference, and negotiations with the council and
interested stakeholders. Genuine engagement with mana whenua, mataa waka and
rangatahi on this topic would also need to occur prior to any option
development.
18. Timing. The
term of all panels ends on 31 August 2016. The recruitment of new advisory panel members can take up
to five months. In addition, given the
time necessary to genuinely consult with mana whenua, mataa waka and rangatahi,
staff consider that it is not practical to start a change process at this
stage. This recommendation is also informed by the impending end of the current
electoral term. Staff will include the issue of Māori representation on
panels in the review of
advisory panels which is currently being planned and will provide
recommendations to the incoming Mayor and Council.
19. Budget.
Establishing new positions to
the Panel has budget implications. Currently the budget is set to cover the costs of 21 panel members. The
budget includes the Panel’s member fees and meeting expenses, and also covers
expenses for the Panel’s community summit. Any additional funding for the Panel
must be considered and approved by the Finance and Performance Committee as
part of the Annual Plan process.
20. A
review of all panels, the function they serve and recommendations for their
future will be completed and presented to the incoming Mayor for his or her
consideration in October 2016. The Panel’s desire to ensure effective rangatahi
voices are part of the future youth voice will be included in this report.
21. This review will also look into the
addition of Māori representation on relevant advisory panels, and make
recommendations for a future model.
22. In the intervening period, staff will work
with the Panel to ensure that the Panel investigates and provides considered
advice on appropriate mechanisms for effective engagement of Māori youth
across Tamaki Makaurau.
Consideration
Local
Board views and implications
23. Local
Boards support Local Youth Voices to identify and communicate the interest of
local youth to the Youth Advisory Panel.
24. Local
Board views on the representation of Māori on advisory panels will
be sought as part of the programmed
review of the current advisory panels, in preparation for the new electoral
term.
Māori
impact statement
25. As part of the review of the form and
functions of the advisory panels Māori participation will be discussed
with identified Māori youth groups, Mana whenua and the Independent
Māori Statutory Board.
26. Future
discussions on this will also include Te Ohu Mana Rangatahi. This group intends
to provide an engagement vehicle and advice for council and other groups to
improve outcomes for Auckland rangatahi, by contributing to the development of
best practice rangatahi engagement in Auckland.
27. Work
with rangatahi and representation would be aligned to the Māori Plan’s
directive to increase the number of rangatahi actively participating in governance
and in leadership roles.
28. According
to council estimates, the number of rangatahi in Auckland that are mataa waka
is approximately 80 per cent and any representation would need to be cognisant
of this fact.
Implementation
29. There
are no implementation issues following from this report at this stage.
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Signatories
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Author
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Austin Kim - Principal Advisor Panels
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Authorisers
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Marguerite Delbet - Manager Democracy Services
Mara Bebich - Stakeholder Liaison Manager
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