Problem-solving approach serves community

An inter-agency, problem-solving approach is helping share the load when it comes to addressing some of the community issues in Otahuhu.

Counties/Manukau Area Commander, Inspector Bruce Bird, coordinated an initial meeting late last year to identify community problems and assign responsibility for solving them to government, non-government and community groups.

Constables Louise Nicholas, left, and Bryan Ward, middle right, at a

planning session with representatives from Auckland City Council, Housing New

Zealand and the Riverside Community Centre.

Since then, Counties/Manukau West Community Constables Bryan Ward and Louise Nicholas have driven the ongoing success of the community-based model through sheer hard work.

Two sets of meetings occur. One involves all the stakeholders, including Police, and is chaired by local community member Maryanne Funaki. The other meetings involve the Otahuhu community, who attend to hear about progress.

At the latter meetings, respective agencies are held accountable for their performance. Each central and local government agency is assigned a chair at the front of the room with their organisation’s name on it. Community members soon see if an organisation isn’t at the meeting, and can raise this with the meeting Chair.

Likewise, if agreed action has not been completed this is also clear to meeting attendees. A successful outcome from this approach has seen a significant decrease in the time it takes to remove graffiti or rubbish dumped in the Otahuhu area.

This has been achieved through close liaison between Otahuhu Police and Auckland City Council, who regularly attend the open community meetings.

Another problem identified by the community saw ACC recently spend $40,000 clearing rubbish from the Tāmaki Estuary, recovering items such as old appliances, cars and shopping trolleys.

Community Constable Bryan Ward says many community members feel their questions and concerns are now reaching the right people.

“Our aim was to have organisations present at the meetings able to give more direct answers to queries raised by Otahuhu residents.”

The new approach has been described as an overwhelming success, with accountability demonstrated to the community through results.

Bruce says it couldn’t have been done without the commitment and painstaking hard work of Bryan and Louise.

Another innovative idea sprung from a partnership between Otahuhu Police, Auckland City Council, the YMCA and the Ministry of Social Development.

The group has developed an online ‘blogspot’ - similar to a website - which Otahuhu organisations can easily use to share local news, events and information.

National Manager Community Policing, Superintendent Bill Searle, says Otahuhu’s model is a good example of community problem solving and shows the value of engaging other government departments in the problem solving process.

“Initiatives of this nature fit well with the national community policing model and approach.”