Are you considering standing in Auckland’s local elections, to do what’s best for your community, but also thinking about your own safety if you put yourself out there?
Auckland Council says being an elected member in local government is essential, valuable and rewarding.
It also comes with a measure of public scrutiny and pressure.
Elected members play a significant role in our communities and support the wide range of important initiatives that make Auckland a fantastic place to live, work and play.
Without the advocacy of elected members, bike hubs, sports facilities, volunteers, community groups and so much more would not get the support they need.
Council’s governance and engagement general manager, Lou-Ann Ballantyne, says one critical piece of the mission for elected members involves working alongside other passionate leaders who might have conflicting opinions on big issues.
“While listening to everyone’s view is a huge part of the job and healthy debate is fundamental to our democracy, it can get heated and challenging at times.
“Sometimes it is not easy to represent all views or reach a conclusion that satisfies everyone – this comes with the territory.
“But it’s important to note abuse in local governance is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.”
She says the council takes members’ safety and well-being very seriously and ensures it provides training and practical support to help elected members thrive in their roles.
To keep members safe, the council provides safety and well-being support, which includes:
- Guidance and support from highly experienced staff to help manage workloads and build effective working relationships with the council and fellow elected members
- Training in how to run meetings, make the most of expertise and advice to help make quality decisions, deal with conflict, and how to scrutinise finances
- Practical guidance to stay safe online and in-person
- Workplace risk and safety assessments – security experts are available to respond immediately to any threat towards our elected members
- Engaging security contractors to assess and manage long-term security needs, if warranted monitoring the external environment with police and preparation for protests and demonstrations, ensuring events are safe for members and staff to attend
“The council’s elected members and staff are here to serve Aucklanders and therefore the organisation does everything in its power to provide the necessary tools and support for its people,” Ballantyne says.
Putting yourself out there to let Aucklanders know what you stand for and how you’ll represent them will attract positive and negative attention.
While you want people to know you’re approachable and here to serve during your term (if elected) – safety comes first.
Here are some street-smart tips to make your campaign a good experience:
- Don’t make it personal: use separate social media accounts for your campaign and set your personal profiles to ‘locked’ or ‘private’ if you can.
- Keep it professional: use a dedicated email and phone number for your campaign. Avoid using personal or work details.
- Public appearances: be aware of your surroundings, know where the exits are and how to ask for help if needed.
- Don’t fight about it: if someone gets upset, you’re always entitled to step out of the situation.
Standing in the elections comes with the need to balance public engagement with keeping yourself safe.
For tips and tricks on how to campaign, visit: voteauckland.co.nz/beacandidate.
Nominations open on Friday, July 4, and close at 12pm on Friday, August 1.
