Gisborne’s Citizens’ Assembly aims for fair land use solutions

Through the civic lottery system, 35-40 Tairāwhiti residents will be selected to investigate fair ways of managing land use changes in the region.

Gisborne is to test out a new community-led approach to decision-making throughout November.

Invitations are being randomly sent out this week to 2500 residents to take part in a Citizens’ Assembly.

Of those that indicate their interest, 35-40 Tairāwhiti residents will be selected through a civic lottery system to reflect the community’s diverse demographics.

The group will then be tasked with answering: “What is a fair way to manage the proposed land use changes in Tairāwhiti?”

Supported by Gisborne District Council, Te Weu Charitable Trust is working with Auckland University’s Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures to run the event.

It will take place over three day-long sessions and two online sessions.

The group will be provided information from experts and stakeholders, delving into the major land use challenges and opportunities in the region.

Possible topics include climate projections and risk assessments, adaptation planning, Māori land and land-based industries, forest ecology – exotic natives, the economics of transitioning land, and policy and legal matters.

The project has been given $400,000, which the council received from the Government’s Better Off Funding in 2022.

It was delayed in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.

In a statement, Te Weu project lead Harley Dibble said it was ironic and serendipitous that the council saw the need for an initiative like this before the cyclone.

Phase one of the project was completed earlier this year, with local researchers visiting communities to see how they were recovering from the cyclone and how they would adapt.

Dibble said citizens’ assemblies were growing in popularity around the world in dealing with the biggest challenges faced by their communities.

“[The] sustainable management of forestry and farming activities is a critical issue for our region, with too much sediment and woody debris ending up in our waterways and damaging infrastructure.

“Climate change has the potential to make this issue worse,” he said.

The council had two land use plan change processes under way to address this issue.

One of these plans included turning the region’s worst eroding land into permanent vegetation cover.

The Citizens’ Assembly participants will explore the costs and benefits of the land use transition and make recommendations on managing those changes.

“The citizen assembly process sits outside the formal plan change processes, but Council has committed to recognising and making provision for the recommendations that the Citizens’ Assembly arrives at,” he said.

Dibble told Local Democracy Reporting the Government had indicated potential changes to the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF), which could scrap the council’s ability to control land use adaptation from a regional level.

Dibble said the assembly would be updated on these changes if they went through.

Koi Tu deputy director Dr Anne Bardsley said her experience of these forums showed the public could help with complex problem-solving and be open-minded when considering trade-offs.

Participants will be given a $900 Prezzy Card for their mahi if they attend all required sessions.

Council director for sustainable futures Joanna Noble said citizens’ assemblies provided an alternative method of community engagement for council decision-making.