Ready to listen to communities

Tasked with engaging with Otago’s community, iwi and stakeholders during the process of...
Tasked with engaging with Otago’s community, iwi and stakeholders during the process of implementing new national freshwater rules is Otago Regional Council principal engagement adviser David Cooper. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN
The Otago Regional Council faces a tight deadline for its land and water regional plan, which must work with new national freshwater rules that have at times proved controversial. As the deadline looms, reporter Molly Houseman speaks to David Cooper, who is tasked with the challenge of trying to get everyone on board.

David Cooper says he came into his role at the Otago Regional Council with his "eyes wide open".

It is his job to engage with the Otago community, iwi and stakeholders throughout the development of the council’s land and water regional plan, which will give effect to the new national freshwater policies.

But with a deadline of 2023, the council needs to strike a perfect balance between getting the job done and having "honest and respectful" conversations to understand the varying perspectives throughout Otago.

Mr Cooper’s role — principal engagement adviser — was created about seven months ago.

"It sounds like one of those flash titles that don’t actually do anything, doesn’t it?" he joked.

But in theory, it was a challenging and important role.

Luckily, Mr Cooper said he loves confusion and trying to make sense of it.

Getting an understanding of where all the different points of view were coming from was "one of the joys of the job".

While the science and planning team was working to pull the plan together, it was important someone was in the room asking "what about community engagement" along the way, he said.

"I’m not a scientist and I’m a terrible planner, so part of it is asking those stupid questions of our experts, so that when we stand in front of communities we can explain it properly."

He said his role was also about being prepared to "listen as much as you talk".

"If we have a public meeting that hasn’t gone well, our feedback is ‘we haven’t listened, we haven’t approached it correctly’."

Mr Cooper said he knew coming into the role that it was going to be "very challenging" at times.

There was a perception and some "distrust" of the council among some communities that needed to be improved.

"I came in with my eyes wide open."

He said he had a "huge" amount of empathy and respect for farmers, who face major changes due to the new national freshwater policies.

"Those farmers, they are absolutely swamped.

"They are hugely confused and they want a bit of certainty.

"They want recognition that they are already doing some good stuff on the ground."

It was important to have honest and respectful discussions with the region’s rural community and get an understanding of what was going on on the ground, he said.

"They know what works in terms of mitigation and what their own on farm issues are."

Equally, it was important to ensure that those conversations were had with iwi, and that all environmental concerns were addressed, Mr Cooper said.

"Council as a whole, including the councillors, have made a very firm commitment to work with communities through the process.

"[Staff] can sit in Dunedin and develop these policies, but really the change is going to be coming from communities working together with iwi ... to do the work on the ground."

Mr Cooper was realistic about the outcome of his work.

"If you can walk away saying you have made a bit of a difference, you have moved things in the right direction and you have been respectful and understanding of the different points of view, then it is, I guess, a success."

But it was impossible to make everyone happy, he said.

"I don’t think I can walk away looking at the scoreboard saying ‘we’ve had a huge victory here’."

molly.houseman@odt.co.nz

Comments

Great guy David Cooper, but sadly he is selling his soul trying to promote the marginal (at times unlawful, paternalistic, simply mad or just bullies) conduct of the consenting, policy and hazards departments.

 

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