Advocacy

Advocacy: ‘The Voice for Rosebank Businesses’

Since its inception, the RBA has engaged in advocacy or being a ‘voice’ on behalf of its business community. This has included advocacy to central government politicians, councillors and local board members as well as representatives of Auckland Transport, Eke Panuku Development Auckland, Auckland Unlimited and Auckland Council. The messages have typically been about the value of Rosebank as a key industrial/commercial area in west Auckland and the concerns Rosebank businesses have about transport (especially traffic congestion), excessive regulation, council rates and charges, and economic development.

The Long Term objective of the RBA advocacy strategy is to “advocate for, or be the ‘voice’ for Rosebank businesses, especially with regard to central government and local government, highlighting the value of Rosebank as a key industrial/commercial area and the concerns of businesses”.

Key Objectives

  • Maintain and develop relationships with politicians at the national level, especially Ministers
  • Maintain and develop relationships with the Mayor, Councillors and Local Board Members of the Auckland Council, especially those representing the Whau Ward and the Whau Local Board.
  • Maintain and develop relationships with representatives of Auckland Transport, Eke Panuku Development Auckland, Auckland Unlimited and Auckland Council.
  • Jointly with other business improvements districts, make submissions to key Auckland Council and Auckland Transport strategies and policies.
  • Make submissions to Whau Local Board Plans and Policies.
  • Meet with Auckland Transport and the Whau Local Board on transport issues facing Rosebank.
  • Monitor the activities of Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, Eke Panuku Development Auckland, Auckland Unlimited and the Whau Local Board.
  • Communicate the outputs of the Advocacy Strategy through the Rosebank Roundabout, the RBA website, the AGM and other means.

See also

Submissions
Surveys

About Dr Grant Hewison

Grant is a Director of Grant Hewison & Associates Ltd, specialising in local government consultancy and legal services. He acts mainly for local authority and private clients on a variety of local government, resource management and licensing matters, including:

  • Local government strategic decision-making
  • Local government funding, bylaws and official information
  • Local and regional planning and policy-making
  • Resource consents and licences
  • Business Improvement Districts

Grant acts for a number of private clients in the Rosebank area, and also supports the industrial business improvement districts in East Tamaki, Onehunga and Wiri.

Prior to starting his own firm, Grant was Special Counsel in local government with Kensington Swan, and prior to that worked as a Senior Manager in strategic, economic development and environmental roles at both Auckland and Manukau City Councils. This gives him an excellent understanding of the local government environment.

Grant has assisted the RBA Board for many years on advocacy and strategy, particularly concerning the councils the RBA deals with as well as issues such as State Highway 20, the Whau River Crossing, Sign, Bylaws, the Unitary Plan and the Rosebank 2030 Precinct Plan.