Unitec Institute of Technology

Forum for the Future 2010

Creating a, strong, successful Auckland region was the topic for the 2010 Unitec Forum for the Future series held at Unitec.

Prominent guest speakers, business and community leaders, members of the public, students and academics participated in a series of two-hour discussions at Unitec’s Mount Albert Campus in Auckland.

Latest news:

Radio NZ Morning Report "Call for dedicated Maori seats on Auckland council" (3:28 audio)

Session 1, July 20th - Why? - What’s the case for creating a super city? Why do we need to change regional governance structures to do so?

Panelists:

• Peter Salmon, Chairman of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance,
• Bob Harvey, Waitakere City Mayor, and
• Sir Ron Carter, Committee for Auckland Chairman.

View highlights from Session 1 on YouTube.

Session 2, July 27th - What? - What will the new governance structures look like? What mechanisms will promote public participation, political accountability, strategic development and optimal outcomes?

Panelists: 

• Peter McKinlay, Director of the Local Government Centre in the Institute of Public Policy at AUT University
• Shane Jones, Labour MP and member of the select committee that worked on the three Auckland bills
• Nikki Kaye, National MP for Auckland City and also a member of the select committee that worked on the three Auckland bills

View highlights from Session 2 on YouTube.

Session 3, August 3rd - How? - How can we make the new system perform at its best for the people of Auckland and New Zealand?

Panelists:

• John Banks
• Len Brown
• Andrew Williams
• Simon Prast
• Colin Craig
• Ewen Gilmour
• Penny Bright

View highlights from Session 3 on Youtube.

Latest news:
TVNZ Seven "mayors" take the stage (13:09 video)
NZ Herald Super City debate mashup (7:52 video)
NZ Herald Super City debate: Candidates square off (article)
Radio NZ Morning Report (3:58 audio)

Session 4, October 5th - The Pacific Voice - This session aimed to create awareness for Pacific Peoples on the issues of Auckland’s new governance, and inform Pacific communities on what they can do to make their voices heard under the Supercity structure.

Panelists:

• Vui Mark Gosche, National Manager of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs (MPIA)
• Alfred Ngaro, Community Leader, Business Consultant 4PM Group
• Dr Fotu Fisi’iahi, Postgraduate Academic Support Lecturer, Unitec Centre for Pacific Teaching Learning and Research
• Lila Taulapiu, Unitec Business Student.

Format: Three key questions were posed to the panellists and audience, facilitated by Efeso Collins.

• What are some of the challenges facing Pacific people in the Supercity?
• What can our Pacific people do to ensure that their concerns and issues are heard within the new Supercity structure?
• How can Pacific people be more engaged under the new Supercity structure?

View highlights from Session 4 on Youtube.

Session 5 - Te Whakataurite Maaori (The Māori Voice) - This session involved lively and informed debate and discussion about Auckland’s new governance structure, focusing on how to optimise the outcomes for Māori in Auckland and around New Zealand.

Panelists:

• Scott Morrison, Director Maia – Māori Development Unit Unitec
• John Freeland, Pae Arahi Matua – Manager Māori Strategy and Relations Auckland City
• Heta Hudson, WHK Principal, Business Growth (formerly Gosling Chapman)
• Sandra Lee, Former Minister of Local Government, Conservation and Maori Affairs
• Metiria Turei, Co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.

View highlights from Session 5 on Youtube.

You can also check out the the first Unitec Forum for the Future held in October 2009 which examined the challenges and opportunities facing the New Zealand economy out to 2025.

We would like to thank the panelists, audience and production crew for making this a lively, informative and valuable event.

If you would like to be informed about the next sessions of Unitec's Forum for the Future, please email forum@unitec.ac.nz