Bruce Bisset: To force change, you must act

Bruce Bisset.

A few elections ago I was instrumental in putting together a group we called "Making Waves", whose aim was to shake up local government representation in Hawke's Bay.

We were a remarkably diverse bunch - environmental activists, corporate executives, farmers, health professionals, academics - and between us we covered just about the whole spectrum of New Zealand political parties, left and right.

What brought us together was a common belief that local government was failing to represent that range of views at council tables, and as a result was not delivering - was often not even aware of demand for - the services that best met the needs of the communities it presumed to manage.

And that the fall-off in local body voting, which at the time was in alarming decline, was a direct consequence of councils becoming "removed" from their electorates. People felt unheard and unvalued by the very folk who supposedly stood up for them, and so in turn were turning their backs on the democratic process.

Yes, many of us stood for council seats and used the group as a vehicle to help our campaigns, and (from memory) I think six Making Waves members did get elected, though scattered across all the councils of the Bay. But just as or more vital was our aim of raising awareness of the importance of local government, and of the need to vote.

Although it was a one-shot, I would like to think our campaign helped arrest the falling vote and empower people to be more active participants in council processes, as well as laying the groundwork for some of those elected since. By raising awareness it was possible to break through the old-guard network that tends to control provincial politics.

Even so, unfortunately not a lot has changed, partly because no new group has yet managed to gain control of a council locally - the "fractious four" on the regional council coming closest. There's a suspicion the process is flawed if not broken, which is why many do not vote - without realising it is their non-votes that are preventing change. And the councils themselves, as political entities, have not changed.

Most still seem to regard "consultation" as a must-do sop rather than a genuine enabling guide, and too often anything remotely sensitive gets debated behind closed doors without good reason.

One council that has made observable progress in earnestly seeking more community involvement is Hastings District.

Yes, I know they're not perfect, but cast your mind back: before Nelson Park and Ocean Beach, was there any real consultation? And now look at the fantastic job they did garnering views on the Opera House.

It seems they've listened to the message; as has Local Government New Zealand, which is making a big push to up voter numbers.

Politics is the art of the possible, and the only three ways to try to have your own possibilities come to fruition are to vote, to make a submission (and hope it gains favour), and to stand for office.

We're still a month out from the opening of nominations for councils, but if you're even vaguely thinking of putting yourself forward, now is the time to decide. Indications are there will be quite a few vacancies to fill this time around, so the opportunity for new blood is probably better than it's been for a long time.

So don't be shy; people run for a variety of reasons, and if you believe you have good ones, put yourself out there and let people hear them. If it's change they can support, it just might happen.

- Bruce Bisset is a freelance writer and poet.