LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS 2022
Alexa Forbes
Otago Regional Council
Which communities will you speak for and about at the council table?
All communities of Otago, with a specific knowledge of the Queenstown Lakes District and tourism based communities and an emerging understanding of Te Ao Māori. We are elected by a community, but once elected are responsible for the entire region.
What is the number one social and economic issue for the community and for the city? (DCC question). What is the key issue for the region at this time and for the next 10 years? (ORC question)
Water quality and quantity. Hard to choose just one! It's possible that maintaining open lines of communication that support our liberal democracy is an even bigger issue.
How will you elevate community aspirations? How will you know what they are? (DCC question only)
Under the Local Government Act 2002, councils are required to maintain and improve opportunities for Māori to contribute to local government decision-making processes. How will you honour this obligation in your role with the Dunedin City Council/Otago Regional Council?
I am already a member of Mana to Mana committee and will hope to continue this work. I am a student of Reo Māori, this year studying at level 6 through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. I bring this learning to every part of my life and work. I am connected with Ngā Manu Hou, a Tahuna Queenstown rōpu which promotes the use and understanding of Te Ao and Te Reo Māori. These connections support me in my commitment to upholding Te Tiriti and honoring my obligations to mana whenua. These connections also show me how difficult it is for Māori to operate within the constraints of a highly colonial system that doesn't actively uphold Māori kaupapa. I am also committed to supporting tāngata whenua approach and engage with our local politics.
What is your usual approach to achieving collegial and constructive relationships with the people you work with? What is the most important element of a constructive working relationship?
Where there is disagreement, I look for ways to have discussions that go up through the levels, from detail to high level until there is somewhere to agree. People often start in the detail. I prefer to find a high level place of agreement. For example, we might agree on the state we would like to see in our freshwater at a high level. But agreement on how to best achieve that may be impossible to get to. By working down through to find the place we might agree on actions is the next step and this place can usually be found by scientific evidence - there are efforts now to include mātauranga Māori as this evidence as well which I support. The most important element of a constructive relationship is to resist entrenching into a position - be willing to listen and to change.
The DCC's place-based community fund has been a game changer for community-led development and growing connected and resilient communities in Ōtepoti. What more will you do as a councillor to support community development in the city? (DCC candidate question only)
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
123-456-7890
