Community well-being is personal
OPINION: Staying healthy at both an individual and community level is hugely important.
Not only is exercise good for a healthy body but it also helps with managing stress and relaxing, and provides the added bonus of creating family fun when we do it together.
Our communities are enhanced by recreational facilities and public participation in sporting activities.
In my home town Ngaruawahia, we’ve seen the opening of a new fitness trail which will add to the town’s popular DoC walkway and riverbased activities.
Public health action can also make a difference. I note the April 4 story in the
about the withdrawal of an application to open another liquor store in Takanini in the face of widespread local opposition, including from a Ma¯ori public health provider.
Protecting and supporting physical and mental and community health are interrelated.
At a time when we are increasingly facing the compounding effects of diseases like diabetes and obesity I’m critically aware that individuals and communities taking some control over well-being is clearly part of the solution.
The other part is through the way government sets its priorities and works with other stakeholders to improve wellbeing.
We need to look after the wider health of our communities through things like adequate housing and access to good health services.
As Local Government Minister I’m mindful of the leadership role that councils play to make a difference.
I have just introduced a bill to parliament that will help councils focus on the ‘‘four wellbeings’’.
The Local Government (Community Well-being) Amendment Bill seeks to restate the promotion of social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of communities to the statutory purpose of local government.
That will help us better face serious challenges such as the impact of population growth, climate change and ageing infrastructure.
The bill also seeks to give councils back the ability to collect development contributions in order to fund increased demand for community facilities, such as libraries, sports grounds and swimming pools resulting from developments.
This will provide some relief to councils as we continue to work towards a broader range of funding and financing tools to assist local government.
- Nanaia Mahuta is MP for Hauraki-Waikato, Minister for Ma¯ori Development and Local Government, Associate Environment Minister