Duo face a huge challenge
New community advisors focus on Covid recovery
Waipa¯ District Council’s newcommunity advisersknowthey have a huge job ahead to help Waipa¯ people recover equitably from the ongoing impacts of Covid-19.
Just a fewweeks into the job Gina Scott and Corren Ngerengere have begun to identify key challenges for the district’s social sector. Andthey have also seen barriers to recovery, particularly one which includes the most vulnerable.
Gina and Corren began theirnew jobs in early November, charged with helping co-ordinate locally-led initiatives and, in partnership with iwi, working alongside Waipa¯ organisations to assist those hardest hit by Covid-19.
The 18-month fixed-term roles are funded from the $795,000 recovery package set aside by council in June this yearwheneconomic predictions were dire.
While Waipa¯ is faring better economically than first feared, both Gina and Corren saysomelocals are doing it tough and will find it harder to bounce-back. While each have backgrounds in Waipa¯‘s community sector— Gina with Sport Waikato and Corren with social services— both admit being surprised athow muchis going on in the community.
Gina said they have already found groups and issues they weren’t aware of, or issues they didn’t realise the extent of.
“Our immediate goal is to cast our net far and wide sowecan work in those areas of most need,” she said.
“It’s obvious there aresome significant inequities inhowsome parts of the community are doing. What’s great is that people are very receptive to us and they clearly want amore localised, co-ordinated approach to community services, which I completely support.”
Bothwomenhave recognised somekey issues, particularly the availability of rental properties and the rocketing cost of housing in the district.
“It’s easy for people to ‘flip to’ social housing because the private rental market is incredibly expensive. But even people with moneyto spend on ahouse can’t afford to buy here so it’s extremely challenging,” Corren said.
“The other thing Ihave pickedup on is a real underlying level of anxiety out there and a lack of early mental health interventions.
“There are people needing supportwhomaynever have needed it before. Somehave already spoken to us about specific concerns they have about Waipa¯ children and the additional pressuressome children arenowunder because of stressed circumstances.”
Council’s group manager strategy and community services, Debbie Lascelles, said there was no “magic wand” but there wasnowa clear conduit between the community and council which had not previously existed.
“Gina and Corren’s immediate job is to get out into the community, see what’s needed and then create a measurable action plan based on that assessment,” Debbie said.
“Economically Waipa¯ isholding itsownbut the next 12-24 months are uncertain and there will be tough times ahead for plenty of our people.”
Meanwhile both Gina and Corren knowthewaythey shape theirnew roles, and interact with the community, will be vital to the results they achieve.
“The onus ison us tomakea success of thesenewroles. Weare navigators of sorts and on behalf of our community, wehave a big and important task ahead,” Gina said.