Minutes for the meeting held 14th August 2013
(6.00pm – 8.25pm)

Venue: 		Te Mahanga Committee Room 1, Council offices, Wakefield Street
Present: 		Violet Ekenasio, Mailingi Hetutu, Dan Kuaraka, Stacey Kokaua-Balfour, 
			Tina McNicholas (Chair), Sainimili Pouvalu, Maria Solouota, Siofilisi Taufo’ou
Councillors: 	Deputy Mayor Ian McKinnon (left 6.30pm) 
Guest:		Mrs Jenny McKinnon (left 6.30pm) 
Council Officers:  	Joanne Maraki, Elise Webster
 
Welcome: Tina McNicholas 
	
Opening prayer – Siofilisi Taufo’ou 
	
Apologies
Manuila Tausi, Martha Samasoni, Anthony Leaupepe, Fetu Ole Moana Tamapeau, Teloma Munro  	

Minutes for last meeting 
Minutes for the meeting held 10th July 2013 are accepted as a true and correct record (with minor amendments)  Moved: Violet Second: Mailingi 
Matters arising are incorporated into Agenda Items 	

Councillor Update
Deputy Mayor Ian McKinnon 
•	Earthquake.  Deputy Mayor McKinnon acknowledged Council’s response to the recent earthquake 21st July 2013.  The city’s support services are well geared towards an appropriate and timely response.  The Deputy Mayor requested through the chair that PAG continue to reinforce emergency preparedness to their respective communities.  The chair conveyed that it was heartening to receive assurance and updates from both the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor during this period.
•	Flyover Basin Reserve.  The New Zealand Transport Association is currently facilitating the debate in respect to the proposed Flyover at Basin reserve.  The two main areas for consideration in this debate are economic drivers versus environmental impacts.  This is not a Council decision.  
•	Alcohol Management Strategy.  The Council held 3 days of hearings in respect to this strategy.  The debate is the city’s position as a major entertainment area and economic benefits versus the need to appropriately manage/consider the effects of Alcohol abuse.   
•	Elections.  Members of the community have until Friday 16th August to register their intent to stand for Council.  Deputy Mayor informed PAG that he will not be standing for Council in the election this year.  He reinforced the importance of PAG to ensure the communities are heard and receive information from the City.  
•	Deputy Mayor McKinnon reported that Cllr Leonie Gill’s health is improving.  She is optimistic and will stand in the next election. 

Action: 
Deputy Mayor Ian McKinnon will pass on PAG’s regards to Cllr Gill.	

Living Wage: Elise Webster (oral report) 
Officer Elise Webster provided an overview of The Living Wage campaign.   The main points are as follows: 
•	Council supports the Living Wage in principle 
•	Council has requested staff to gather data and information, including speaking to various groups and residents to identify benefits and impacts.  
•	The Youth Council also agree in principle however have concerns that entry level jobs in Council may be harder to access, also that this could impact on student subsidies. 
•	Auckland is currently investigating the impacts of adopting the Living Wage
•	Hamilton voted to adopt the Living Wage however the costs to Council were quadrupled and the decision was reversed.  
•	The process for accreditation as a Living Wage provider is lengthy 
•	If Council adopts the ‘in principle’ agreement it would require further research the development of a framework to support it which may include ‘phased implementation’   
Advisory group had a robust discussion posing many questions and offering their thoughts including issues regarding affordability and the knock on effect to communities versus the values and merits.  PAG requires more information in answer to many questions (main points) to enable them to facilitate this discussion in their respective communities.  

Action: PAG requests more information.  It is agreed that a Factsheet with main facts would be valuable to inform and distribute to their communities.  The Engagement team will assist Officer Elise Webster with the development of a factsheet that PAG can distribute to their communities.    	

Annual Report Planning 
A draft skeleton framework was tabled for PAG members to provide input into the formulation of the Annual Report.  Further information for inclusion was provided. Tina McNicholas (chair) will write the forward and also the dedication to Malakai Jiko.  
Actions:  
1.	The chair will draft the dedication and forward to Officer Joanne Maraki no later than the 28th August 2013.  This will be proof read by Council staff i.e. communications and the final draft will be distributed to PAG prior to the meeting with Council. 
2.	The report will include a recommendation to Council to develop a Plan/Cultural responsiveness guide to support Council and business units in their engagement and service activities.  This will be presented to Council in September.   	

Pasifika Festival Update
Maria Solouto and Violet Ekenasio
The first subcommittee meeting was held 7th August.  The subcommittee brainstormed what worked last year and agreed to the following:
•	Village and Parade setups
•	More than one stage to accommodate youth and children focussed activities
•	To continue with the same theme as last year as this proved very popular as a positive identifier for Pacific Island communities.
Subcommittee acknowledges that the events team is currently short staffed however, are still waiting for the summary document from this workshop and also the date for the next meeting.

Action: Joanne will follow up with the events team to distribute the summary and confirm the date for the next subcommittee meeting.  
	
Pacific Forum 
The committee agreed to postpone this discussion to September.  

Action: Joanne will confirm the date and theme at the next meeting.     	

Community updates
•	Nuie – St James Church is now safe to continue operating 
•	Tonga – The Community Homework Centre is celebrating it’s first year.  100 children participate in this and were also supported to participate in a Drill (Emergency preparedness/earthquake) 
•	Cook Island – Cook Island language week held from the 4th to the 10th August.  A range of events and workshops were held.  The Prime Minister attended some of these.  Joanne Maraki will talk to Stacey Kokaua-Balfour about future membership.  
•	Fiji – The inaugural (first) Fiji language week will be held the 1st week of October with various events and activities being organised across Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington cities. 
•	Samoa – The curtain bank continues to provide curtains to the elderly and families on low incomes.  In the past month 8 households are warmer due to this work.  In response to earthquake preparedness groups are allocated tasks and the community has been carrying out drills.  
	
Closing and final prayer  Siofilisi Taufo’ou 
Meeting closed at 8.25pm .  	
Next PAG Meeting: Wednesday 11th September 2013 - 6pm 
Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Wakefield Street