Shirley-Papanui Community Board 1989-2010 - Christchurch City ...

Awards
Support Staff
The original manager of Te Koru, the Papanui Youth Centre, Ross Banbury (left) and Yvonne
Palmer, then chair of the Board accept the 2007 Supreme Award for Best Practice from then
Minister for Transport Safety, Harry Duynhoven.
The following Best Practice Awards have been presented to the Shirley-
Papanui Community Board at the biannual Community Board Conference.
No other community board in New Zealand has won so many of these
awards, which recognise excellence in the sector.
2003 First place in the ‘Significant Project’ category for the 40
Year Vision of the Styx River
2003 Highly Commended in the ‘Facilitation’ category for
Neighbourhood Week
2005 First place in the ‘Working with Children’ category for
Childrens’ Day
2005 First place in the ‘Facilitation’ category for Northlands
Shopping Mall Redevelopment
2007 Supreme Award for the Papanui Youth Facility, Casebrook
Intermediate School and Children’s Day projects
2007 First place in the ‘Working with Children and Youth’ category
for the Papanui Youth Facility, Casebrook Intermediate School
and Children’s Day projects
2007 Highly Commended in the ‘Consultation’ category for the Long
Term Council Community Plan
2009 First place in the ‘Safety’ category for Host Responsibility
2009 Highly Commended in the “Working With Children” category for
Junior Neighbourhood Support Canterbury
Additional awards
1998 Gold in the ‘Communications’ section of the New Zealand
Landscape Awards
2003 Public Health Association of New Zealand, Canterbury branch
award for Health Promotion
A large number of staff has supported and worked for the Shirley-Papanui
Community Board in its 21-year history. It is acknowledged that they are
the backbone of the board and that, collectively, they have been a key
contributor to its success. The following people are four of those who
have been the senior adviser to the board since its inception.
Stephen Phillips
Community Manager 1989 – 1993
‘A huge learning curve’ is how
I’d describe that first term of
the Shirley-Papanui Community
Board. Not only were we dealing
with a completely new model of
local government, we were dealing
with councillors from both the old
Christchurch City and Waimairi
District Councils – they had to
learn how to best work with
each other and with their fellow
board members.
There were some tensions and it was apparent, on occasion, that those
in council saw the community board members as being lower down the
food chain.
Not only was I responsible for ensuring effective support and advice
was provided to the board, I had to ensure our new service centre was
providing effective delivery of council services. That was an important
aspect of the job…it was the first time we’d had decentralisation of
council services so I was determined to make that work (even if we
were in a tiny, temporary building).
The service delivery aspect was challenging but also very rewarding.
The service centre was very busy and locals reacted very positively
to having access to council services so close to a community hub,
Northlands Mall.
Overall, it was an exciting time. The new model of local government
really gave access to ‘the people’. It enabled residents to have a say
more easily on local issues. One thing that contributed to that was the
relaxed atmosphere of board meetings – the Council chambers were
very formal in those days and could be intimidating for those unfamiliar
with that environment. By contrast, the community board meetings
were relaxed and informal, that resulted in an increase in submissions
and deputations.
It was a busy but satisfying time.
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