Advocacy As A Council Tool

The council is seeking public discussion on a draft advocacy policy as part of a goal initiated by its Economic Development Plan.


The goal is to contribute to “an improved standard of living and quality of life for the residents of Tararua.”


Advocacy is a role required by the Local Government Act 2002.


The key purpose of advocacy was to “gain local benefit or to minimise local disadvantage” for the community, the report stated.


The council’s definition of advocacy was to speak on behalf of – or significant parts of – the community, or to help them to speak on their behalf.


The council recognised that advocacy was an important function of local government and of importance to the social, economic, environmental and cultural well being of the community.


But whilst advocacy was something the council had always done, in practice it had been ad hoc and rarely proactive, due to confusion about its meaning, uncertainty about who should advocate and why, timing, and resources (staff time), the report stated.


Day to day examples of council advocacy assisting were; the community (the Eketahuna money exchange), significant groups (farmers with flood damage), sewerage treatment upgrades, or helping individuals by providing specific information.


With an official policy on advocacy the council would take into account community needs and the benefits of advocacy, whether its advocacy on behalf of one part of the community would potentially disadvantage another part of the community, and the impact on council’s work programme and resources.


The council would not advocate for something that was contrary to its policies, or if it considered that there would be no benefit to a significant part of the community.


The council would also explain to the community the reasons for any decision not to advocate.


If the draft policy is adopted after consultation it will be reviewed by August 2010.