Whakatāne District Council’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Policy was adopted at the Living Together Committee meeting on 6 March 2025. Its adoption marks the end of a robust process in its development, and was met with a round of applause from elected members.
The DEI Policy aims to enhance social cohesion by supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in the Council's work and everyday interactions. It outlines the Council's commitment to fostering a sense of belonging, ensuring marginalised and minority communities are included in decision-making, and building relationships based on empathy, compassion and respect.
In early 2024, the Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Whakatāne - Accessible and Inclusive (WAI) Charitable Trust to enable a closer working relationship with, and improved understanding of, disabled people. As part of the MOU, the Council promised to undertake the development of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy.
The Council actively sought community input on the draft DEI Policy through focus groups, formal consultation and verbal submissions at the Living Together Committee meeting late last year. The majority of submitters supported the draft policy, on the basis several minor changes were made. As a result staff incorporated the ‘nothing about us without us’ principle, updated the definitions section and committed to translating the policy into Easy Read alongside the existing te reo Māori version.
Council’s General Manager People & Partnerships, Emlyn Hatch, says he’s confident the policy meets the needs of community members, including those in minority and marginalised groups.
“This policy will enable more diverse input in Council decision-making, which is crucial in a community such as ours,” Mr Hatch says. “We’re really fortunate to have a wide range of individuals and groups that enrich our district and it’s time we formally acknowledge that.”
WAI Charitable Trust Co-Chair, Grant Chase, says the adoption of the policy is a milestone in the journey to ensure the Whakatāne District is a safer and more accessible place for everyone.
“We congratulate council staff for their outstanding work on this policy,” Mr Chase says. “Now that this policy is accepted and enacted, our council will truly become one for all people."
The DEI Policy aligns with the Council's strategic priorities and national frameworks, including the Local Government Act 2002 and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. The policy also supports the Council’s Te Toi Waka Whakarei Strategy, which promotes Māori engagement and cultural identity within the region.