13 Dec 2010

Best brains in Auckland Pacific communities sought as council advisors

7:26 pm on 13 December 2010

New Zealand's Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and the Mayor of Auckland, Len Brown, are urging the city's Pacific communities to make sure their best brains apply for a role advising the new mayor and his council.

The panel's composition and formation is based on advice from the Ministry's CEO, Dr Colin Tukuitonga, to the incoming mayor, and he says it's a wonderful opportunity to make sure Pacific interests are reflected in the new city.

Dr Tukuitonga says nominations close this Friday after which a panel of Ministry staff, the former Pacific Island Advisory bodies from Manukau, Auckland City, Waitakere and the North Shore, and staff at the new Council will select nine advisors.

He says they chose this number deliberately.

"The problem with advisory councils is that they tend to be toothless tigers and we have tried really hard to put in place a group of people who are good at their work and advice that the council can use and should use."