Understanding Local Needs

Session Outline:

Identifying local issues requires candidates to engage authentically with diverse communities. We’ll explore techniques to actively listen, build trust and approach conversations with empathy and curiosity. We’ll look at how to tailor outreach to reflect the unique demographics, history, and challenges of the area ensuring meaningful dialogue and genuine connection.

These were your speakers:

Sophie Barker
Sophie Barker became a City Councillor in 2019 becoming the top rated and top polling Councillor in 2022. She was Deputy Mayor for almost a year in 2022/23 and currently Chairs the SPEC Committee, the Dunedin Heritage Fund and is an RMA Commissioner. Sophie was born in a castle, though not as a princess, more like a Cinderella type growing up with leaky roofs, visiting possums and loads of tourists. She spent decades at award winning heritage conservation project Larnach Castle, her family home and business. Before local body politics she also worked for local council and a charitable conservation trust.

Nīkau Wi Neera

Nīkau (Ngāti Toarangatira) is a Wellington City Councillor, composer, anthropologist, and military officer. He is passionate about constitutional reform, and rediscovering old ways of democratising communities and institutions in accordance with tikanga Māori and ancient human institutions.

Finn Shewell

Finn is an advocate and campaigner for democratic innovation, working with a range of organisations including Trust Democracy, Wellbeing Economy Alliance, and Generation Zero.

Finn’s mahi is largely centered around fostering deliberative democracy; processes and policies that bring in a representative group of citizens, and empower them to deeply understand a specific area of focus.

Local governments, like all governments, are facing more complex and challenging decisions - Finn believes deliberative democracy is the key to navigating these challenges well.

Watch the webinar recording here: