Advocacy in action
Driving change for Onehunga’s future
In the dynamic landscape of local business and community development, proactive leadership and a strong voice are essential to champion crucial initiatives. From 2019, as the General Manager of Business Onehunga (formerly Onehunga Business Association), we were at the forefront of this advocacy, navigating the complexities of local and central government, and engaging with key infrastructure providers. This work provided a compelling case study in impactful community and government relations.
Our philosophy is that the best approach to advocacy is always rooted in deeply understanding the needs of the business community and then meticulously building a compelling case for change. At Business Onehunga, we tackled several pressing issues that clearly highlighted the commitment to championing Onehunga's interests with various levels of government and crucial service providers.
One of the most immediate challenges faced involved the safety and accessibility of the intersection of Victoria and Neilson Streets. With Neilson Street being one of New Zealand's busiest roads, businesses on lower Victoria Street faced significant hurdles in accessing their premises. Recognising the impact on local commerce, we proactively engaged with Auckland Transport regarding these critical concerns.
While Auckland Transport initially prioritised Alfred Street due to potential disruption from works at Victoria Street, the team were not deterred. Sourcing up-to-date traffic data, revealed an average of 1600 vehicle movements per day on lower Victoria Street. Collaborating with a transport planner, Business Onehunga presented this compelling data to Auckland Transport, advocating fiercely to ensure the safety and functionality of this critical intersection for our businesses.
Another vital area of advocacy involved Onehunga's electrical transmission infrastructure. Following a series of disruptive electricity outages impacting businesses, particularly those south of Neilson Street near the motorway, we actively sought to secure a meeting with Vector Energy. Alongside a local business owner, the goal was to understand Vector's future-proofing plans for the area and the measures being taken to prevent future disruptions. The widespread power loss caused by a car accident impacting a power pole further underscored the urgent need for a robust and resilient network. Determined to understand Vector's strategy for managing such incidents and strongly advocated for the strengthening of Onehunga's electrical network.
These situations are just a few examples of how we put advocacy into action. Our ability to build high-level relationships with diverse stakeholders, prepare compelling submissions, negotiate solutions, and champion the economic and social wellbeing of Onehunga demonstrated an impactful approach to management within the community.
Photo credit: All photos are courtesy of Business Onehunga and taken by Anna Tang
