The top scorer in The Raglan Website’s August-September poll on ‘communication’ by Raglan Community Board members was Peter Storey, Chairperson of the Raglan Community Board. Peter polled 28% as the top communicator. He is not standing for election in any role in the current local authority elections. During his time as Chair of the Raglan Community Board, Peter Storey went head-to-head with the Waikato District Council opposing their blanket liquor ban in public places and the proposed Raglan Structure Plan. In these actions he communicated widely via email and covering these issues in the news media.
Prior to the last election in 2007, many of the current Community Board members said that they promised to improve, ‘communication’. Extracts from advertisements in the Raglan Chronicle 21 September 2007, made these promises:
• KEREOPA Rangi Holding public meetings, making sure it is advertised everywhere so people know its happening and public mandates on issues that can become tricky.
• STOREY Peter A web page with feedback opportunities is being set up. The public forum prior to meetings can be expanded and evening meetings for the Board could be trialed.
• GIBBS Terry Priority list of projects put out to the community, via this paper, to gauge the feeling and find out exactly what people think. I would want to see the Community Board agenda, in brief form, advertised in the Chronicle, in time for the coming meetings. A report of minutes of meetings should also be published. The timing of these meetings should be looked at, to see if changing them would encourage better attendance and involvement. More consultation, not less.
• SPOONER Priscilla Meeting time change, alternating one day, next a night meeting, so more community can attend. Regular Board Newsletter in Chronicle written by board member, communicating issues and outcomes of meetings. Website on Raglan Net with Board Newsletter, Agenda and minutes of meetings and place for feedback, board members e-mail address.
An interesting result in the poll was the 28% of people who voted for, ‘none of the above’, possibly indicating a strong feeling in the community that communication of most board members with the community was unsatisfactory. A quick check of the promises show that the web page was not set up, the agenda summary was not published in the Chronicle and the summary report of the minutes was not published in the Chronicle.
The last meeting of the current members of the Raglan Community Board was on the 14th September. None of the current members are standing for re-election apart from Clint Baddeley who is standing for the positions of Raglan ward councillor and Mayor of Waikato District. Mr Baddeley scored 13% in the top communicator poll.
Full poll results:
The term of the Raglan Community Board is ending soon. The most common promise 3 years ago was better communication. So the poll question is, “Who is the best communicator?”
• Peter Storey (28%, 19 Votes)
• None of the above (28%, 19 Votes)
• Rangi Kereopa (19%, 13 Votes)
• Clint Baddeley (13%, 9 Votes)
• Sarah Harihari (4%, 3 Votes)
• Leanna Darby (3%, 2 Votes)
• Priscilla Spooner (3%, 2 Votes)
• Terry Gibbs (2%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 68