Pacific voice needs to reflect community needs

The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs must listen to the overwhelming voice of Auckland’s Pacific communities and allow them to elect their own representatives to the Super City’s Pacific Advisory Board, Labour MP for Mangere Sua William Sio said today.

“To ensure the real needs of Auckland’s Pacific community are taken into account in the decision making process, Pacific people must have a say in who represents them,” Sua William Sio said.

“It should be the role of the Mayor and the Auckland Council to support, sponsor and provide resources for the Board to conduct its new roles and functions, rather than the Mayor appointing this Board.

“With the MPIA seeking input from the Pacific community on how the advisory board will be chosen, now is the time for Pacific people to speak up.”

“I sat on the Auckland Governance Legislative select committee and heard the vast majority of Pacific submitters advocating to maintain their right to elect their own Pacific representatives on the panel, as is the current practice on the four Pacific advisory boards in Manukau, Waitakere, Auckland City and North Shore.”

Su’a William Sio said he has major concerns around the proposal of one group that was seen as self appointed by the Pacific community and who demanded they be appointed to the advisory panel, without going through a consultative process.

“The Auckland Pacific Forum, which has close links to the Pacific Economic Development Agency (PEDA) and is led by the Pacific Island Chamber of Commerce, has lobbied that it be chosen to represent Pacific people,” Sua William Sio said.

“I strongly oppose any such move. It would not be representative of the Pacific community at large. The well established democratic process working in Manukau, Waitakere, the North Shore and Auckland to choose Pacific community reps has served those cities well over many years.

“No system is perfect but these established processes have enabled the Pacific communities in Manukau & Waitakere to make significant contributions and latterly also in North Shore and Auckland City

“Labour will fight any move that would strip the right of Pacific communities to choose their representatives that advise civic leaders.”

ENDS

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