She said there were several significant changes and major decisions over the next three years and it was important that people were in the know.
“For me, it’s really important that communication is timely and appropriate, so that means there are meaningful opportunities for community input and engagement.”
Amboy said this meant being visible within the community and listening to the concerns that people have.
“As we have seen prior to this new council, there has been a lack of engagement within the community. It’s hard, it’s challenging ... It’s about meeting halfway.”
She said she would be working to understand and make the most of how people view and use media.
“It’s about tapping into those things that people are using and those outlets to inform the vast majority of demographics out there in our community.”
Amboy said she and Te Waaka were in the initial planning stages of their approach, but they had been looking at viable ways to strengthen youth engagement.
“Our ideas can actually filter through and make a big impact.
“A lot of the decisions being made are intergenerational so it’s important we get to have our say, and make it known that although we are young, we still have a huge impact on what happens within local government and even central Government.”
Te Waaka said she would play to her strength of having a younger perspective with her portfolios which included the marae, kohanga reo, and kura kaupapa Māori portfolio alongside North Ward councillor Erana Peeti-Webber.
“I think it’s going to be my superpower. I don’t think they have had anyone as young as me on council.”
She said they both shared similar ideas and wanted to learn what the community wanted and needed, so it was fitting they were working together “as the rangatahi of the council”.
“We are not here to sell a dream, we are not out to tell everyone what we can do, we are new to this as well, and we are being real with the resources that we have.
“Trust is what needs to happen before anything, before any action, they need to trust us and get to know us.”
To do this, Te Waaka said it was important for them to engage with schools, established youth community groups and sporting events to “talk with the people” and be a “familiar face in the community”.
“We tossed around ideas with how we are going to gather voice, especially for the youth portfolio ... and it’s hard because youth don’t want to fill in surveys.
“That’s the goal for this year is community engagement and rangatahi leading their portfolio because it’s theirs.”
Tararua Mayor Scott Gilmore said he wanted to create specific focus areas, such as the new youth portfolio, to make sure different voices are heard in the decision-making process.
“Young people are the people who are going to have to live with the decisions we make the longest so it’s really important that their views are at the forefront of consultation.”
Gilmore said Amboy and Te Waaka were passionate about the youth space, and their perspective was a benefit to the council
Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.
