Polling Waiheke

Purpose: To increase community engagement on community issues.

Target: Maximum participation and non-subjective data on range of issues.

Method: Community-wide voting events (to be repeated periodically).

Proposal: There are a few key elements of the plan.

• Use existing venues for polling booths
  The ones we are all familiar with and go to for general elections
• Engage the trusted and senior members of the community
  To 'man' the polling tables and count the votes
• Invite people to vote on a range of items
  From those currently outside our sphere of influence,
  to some we can influence and act upon.
• We pay someone to manage this project
• We make the voting days celebratory events
  

The voting paper might look like some version of this:

• Should Waiheke manage its own waste resource using a local organisation?
• Could we organise and manage our local affairs more efficiently than ACC?
• What infrastructure investments are most important right now?
  Choose your top 2
  • New Library
  • Community Swimming Pool
  • Community Gardens and Orchards
  • Create a community marketplace facility for produce and other trading
  • Establishing more bike lanes
  • Implement a second marine reserve
  • Etc.
• What community projects are the most important to focus on right now?
  Choose your top 2
  • More beach plantings to retain the sand dunes
  • More Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects
  • Clean up the rubbish off our beaches
  • Setup a community operated transport system
  • Etc. (it would be great to have a dozen to choose from)

If you want to explore and progress these ideas, I am often on Oneroa beach early in the morning, just txt me on 0274 372 082 and we can meet up for a walk.

James Samuel
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james.samuel@transitiontowns.org.nz