First elected to Local Government at the age of 19 and later serving as Mayor of Christchurch New Zealand for nine years, Vicki Buck presented the keynote address titled ‘There are no rules just do it’. A firm believer that Local Government can make a huge difference, she said that with no rules for community development you can start anywhere.
“You don’t have to have all the answers, you can make it up as you go,” she said. “Be as bold as you like and feel free to make mistakes.”
She said steal ideas from others and if people tell you it can’t be done just go ahead and do it.
“We all have the power to make a difference,” Vicki Buck said. “Everywhere in the world people are looking to Local Government. Central Government is too big to do the small things and too small for the big things.”
She said Local Government has a huge ability to be innovative, to try anything on a small scale either at street level, neighbourhood, suburb or city wide.
“Look at the resources you have within your community,” Vicki Buck said. “Children are great social developers with huge enthusiasm and capabilities. Similarly, with residents groups, things happen when people come together.”
She suggested that all Councils need an ‘anti freeway group’ because from this crystallising of community sentiment, unrelated community development initiatives can then be built on this strength. By starting anywhere, she said your first step will show you the next one. Look for something a little bit different, people like boldness.
“The key is to involve people through all sorts of events and festivals,” she said. “When people are feeling good about where they live, this is often all the advertising a town needs. Work with the local media they are wanting to help, because like all your business groups, they make their money from a prosperous town.”
