Len Brown: Relationships have been mended

Auckland mayor Len Brown says he's mended the wounds in the relationship between the council and its advisory panels. Photo / Jason Oxenham, NZ Herald

Auckland mayor Len Brown says he's mended the wounds in the relationship between the council and its advisory panels.

Two members of the ratepayer-funded Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel and one member of the Disability Panel quit earlier this year over concerns the panels were being ignored.

Mr Brown said he had tried to improve communication by getting panels to provide advice directly to councillors and local boards.

"The advice they're giving us wasn't connected into our committee structure. It's not about me, it's about the local governing councillors and the local boards."

He wants to reassure panels that the recommendations they make are taken seriously.

However, he thinks panels need to leave the decision-making to elected officials.

"People need to be confident and comfortable in the structures which are advising us, not directing us."

The Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel said it still did not have the chance to comment on many issues.

Acting chairman Dave Tomu believes the advisory panel needs to be part of a broader council plan to engage with ethnic minorities.

Mr Tomu said the panel often did not even get the chance to provide advice.

"Some issues that the panel deemed to be of interest did not get to be discussed due to factors such as submission deadlines falling before panel meeting dates."

He said the panel was restricted to providing its views on the council's budgeted activities.

Race relations commissioner Dame Susan Devoy has also urged the council to treat its advisory panels more seriously.

She is worried that proposed changes to burial rule show the council is becoming of touch with migrant communities.