Local Body Election Series

There is clearly a ‘diversity’ problem in local government. As recent news reports from Stuff point out, “old, white and wealthy men dominate local councils”, with limited presence of non-European ethnicities, and only 1 per cent under the age of 30.

Although the importance of diversity – for example, in terms of gender, ethnicity, age, ability, and identity – in governance is well-established, there is much work to be done in this area in Hamilton and the Waikato region. Identifying some of the barriers and opportunities to ensuring greater diversity and inclusion in local governance will be the focus of an upcoming panel discussion at the University of Waikato on Thursday 12 September from 6.00pm-7.30pm.

Linda Te Aho, Associate Dean Māori at Te Piringa Faculty of Law at the University of Waikato and an expert in Treaty issues in local governance, Anjum Rahman, spokesperson of the Islamic Women’s Council, trustee of a number of organisations including Trust Waikato and Shama, and a former candidate in both local and national elections, and Penny Hulse, a leading Auckland politician who served as Deputy Mayor until 2016, will each speak on issues around the importance of diversity and inclusion in local government.

Members of the public are invited to attend this free event being held at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts at the University of Waikato on Thursday 12 September, entitled 'Gender, Diversity and Inclusion in Local Government'. Free parking is available on campus via Gate 2B, Knighton Road, Hamilton.

A cash bar will be available from 5.30pm, with doors opening at 5.50pm.

Keen to attend? Please register your attendance and bring your e-ticket with you on the night. https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/gender-diversity-and-inclusion-in-local-government-tickets-69965874815