Te Awamutu Kihikihi Community Board
Sharon Stirling – 2025
Sharon Stirling – Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board
1. Should councillors sit on the two community boards or should it be just those elected to the board by the public for that specific role? (50 words)
The poor communication between council and community board is an ongoing cause for concern. Currently the councillors appointed to community board sit as part of the board, but are not contributing usefully to the discussions, nor reporting community board concerns to council. This arrangement is unsatisfactory, and must be reviewed.
2. Would you support a Māori ward seat on the community boards? (50 words)
While I have no access to statistical information re: the numbers of electors on the Maori or general rolls in this area, I doubt this would be achievable. I have advocated in the past to achieve greater diversity of representation by way of greater numbers of elected members.
See my submission on page 179/186
3. Should the central business district be the main hub for retail and business or should the 15 minute neighbourhood strategy in Ahu Ake be adopted? (50 words)
Ahu Ake is crystal ball gazing in the extreme, and should be abandoned. I prefer normal evolutionary processes to shape our town, rather than intentional manipulation. There are however finite physical limitations on the size of Te Awamutu’s CBD. The Pak ‘n Save complex offers excellent parking.
4. Community board chairs sat in on annual plan, long term plan and other council business during this term. Is that a good thing or it doesn’t go far enough? Te Kanohi representatives have speaking and voting rights at committee meetings, should community board chairs be allowed to have that also? (50 words)
Attendance of community board chair (or deputy) plus one other member of community board, to council committees could be a suitable solution to the issues raised in Q1. This would require a change in mindset of councillors and staff alike. Community boards must be permitted to represent their communities.
5. In the case of the Blue Blob in Cambridge and the Kihikihi Cycleway, the community boards weren’t consulted before it was too late. Should community boards be more involved at an earlier stage? (50 words)
Te Awamutu Community Board was consulted in June of 2022 re: the Kihikihi cycleway. This was the first and last time the board had any input into the project. Continuous involvement in this project, would have resulted in a completely different outcome.
6. A member of the Cambridge Community Board was on the earlier Cambridge Connections project group but was sworn to secrecy and unable to report back to the board. Was that fair? (50 words)
I’m not up to speed on this issue. I would expect a member delegated to any such project would be for the purpose of two way communication.
7. Community advisors were appointed during Covid and the position still exists today. Should they report more regularly through to community boards? (50 words)
This position is not core council business, and should be dis-established immediately.
8. What sort of decisions could community boards be involved with to take away pressure on councillors? More delegated authority? (50 words)
Te Awamutu’s War Memorial park is an excellent example of staff completely mis-understanding their role. Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board are the elected representatives of (most of) the community concerned, and should have full authority to advise staff on all decisions. Kihikihi domain, heritage trails, twin towns, are also good examples.
9. Should community boards have more funding available for discretionary grants? (50 words)
Unlimited funds would be lovely, but it’s not going to happen. I would accept that it might be appropriate to fund community boards in proportion to the populations concerned. The communities might also find more funds available from other sources, particularly if council spending wasn’t so out of control.
10. Do you believe Waipā District Council should continue to have community boards? (50 words)
A very big yes to this. Council itself is far too big and cumbersome to attend adequately to local matters. Council has lost sight of its grass roots, and must learn to accept and recognise the advocacy of our community boards.
