The Whangarei District Council is nothing more than a set of relationships: between Councillors, Residents, Staff, and others.
The potential of the candidates to form effective relationships will not be manifest until after the election.
We have seen what kind of a “relationship” has evolved in the current Council and unless we wish to repeat it, voters must choose carefully on what sort of a team they put together.
We have heard and read all sorts of “promises” and “stances” from the various individual candidates, but the one thing which matters most will be how well they work together for the common purpose for which elected.  That means we should all be looking at two major factors in making our voting decisions. 

First, how well, once elected, will they communicate with their constituents; surveys show that an overwhelming majority of our citizens feel that not only do they get mixed messages, incomplete information and half-truths, but also that (89%) feel they are not listened to when they do speak up through the present submission process.  And, second, our votes should go to those candidates who are truly capable of putting aside personal issues to work alongside fellow councillors whether they agree or not; who can keep an open mind toward all potential problems and solutions; and who above all can communicate effectively among themselves to more effectively define problems and their underlying causes, and collaborate for innovative solutions that genuinely reflect the public’s desires.  Enough of divisive, win-lose, 51/49% decision making.

Beyond having the capabilities and will to share information, listen effectively and open-mindedly, and to collaborate rather than intimidate, the newly elected WDC must also have the ability to rebuild trust and respect from the people they represent.  Since at least half of effective communication is listening, the new WDC needs to look at all the ways they can “hear” the public and encourage a more broad and open participation by the public.  That will take some changes in public perceptions.

Many candidates have made “referenda” a major issue for this election.  Referenda are but one way of the public communicating their interests and desires.  There are Surveys, Submissions and Town Hall Meetings that also serve this communal purpose.  However, they all suffer from lack of broad participation due to current public perceptions.  Further, low participation leads to high potential that the few people who attend or respond create a biased view, particularly if based on the mobilisation of a small minority by various interest groups.  For any of these means of communication to become meaningful input for an enlightened council’s consideration, that council must first and foremost build trust and respect from the public – respect for the way it conducts itself and trust in the openness of its collaborative process. 

Good local government depends not only upon effective two-way communication between the Council and the public, but also among the members of the council themselves and council and the city staff.  The first thing to happen must be to restore faith and trust in Council so that people are motivated to voice an opinion, whether via Town Hall Meeting, Submission, Survey or Referendum.  Such restoration of trust means rebuilding the relationship between Council and the Public and such requires effective ongoing communication—communication in the form of Council member web sites, blogs, newsletters, etc.  Amazingly, no current Okara Ward Councillor has a web site; how many standing for council have developed web sites and plan to use them to communicate and listen to the public?  How many candidates have talked about the need to work collaboratively with the rest of their fellow Council members; in fact, observing past behaviour as best indicator of future behaviour, how many even possess the capability? 

Most have talked about nothing but issues and preconceived solutions to problems that really haven’t been adequately defined with associated underlying factors that haven’t been well aired. Voters need to “read” and “listen” between the lines, so to speak, to suss out those candidates that have the potential to come together as an effective communicative and decision making Council.

We need a Council that can break the vicious circle where low participation or “interest group” participation make it easy for Council members to disregard meetings, surveys, etc. as not truly representing the public’s interests or concerns.  For that to happen the public must believe they are both being heard and subsequent process must make it clear that their concerns were genuinely considered. 

Therefore, your votes need to go to candidates who:
1. Have the will and ability to communicate complete information, in a timely and unbiased manner;
2. Have the will and ability to listen effectively and with an open mind;
3. Have the skills and self-confidence to operate in a completely transparent and open manner;
4. And above all else, possess the leadership skills to restore public faith and trust in the Council’s processes.