Child and family policy

Contents | Introduction | Why have a child and family policy? | Children and families in Auckland city | Getting your views | Guiding documents | Auckland City's role | Making things happen | Work progressed during 2005/06 | Child and family action plan 2006/07 | Appendix: Other relevant Auckland City policies

Appendix: Other relevant Auckland City policies

The child and family policy is linked with other council policies, strategies and plans including:

Active Auckland – the purpose of this policy is to guide and direct the council decisions that affect or influence leisure in the city, enabling the council to do all it can to contribute to the city's vision for leisure. It includes giving grants to the YMCA so they can provide a range of activities and events for the whole family to enjoy and participate in.

Alcohol strategy (draft) – this strategy aims to help reduce alcohol-related harm. Recommendations include promoting alcohol-free events for children and families, not allowing alcohol sponsorship of events aimed at children, and prohibiting licensed venues operating within 100m of a primary, intermediate or secondary school.

Arts Agenda – this agenda sets out a vision for Auckland that will see the city as the arts and cultural centre of the Pacific, with a unique identity based on our Pacific roots, natural and cultural heritage, and cultural diversity. It includes making Auckland a vibrant city where there are plenty of opportunities for children and families to express themselves and interact with public art.

Auckland's CBD Into the future – this project proposes a strategic vision for the CBD and sets out actions to achieve the vision. It includes looking at ways of making the CBD a high-quality place for people to live and providing an environment, services, events and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Community centre policy – community centres provide activities for the whole family to enjoy and a place where people feel they belong. They are innovative in the ways their activities meet the needs of children and their families and increase their well-being (for example, through their fun after school and school holiday programmes).

Community group assistant policy – this policy means we can respond more effectively to the needs of the city's diverse community groups. It also ensures the council's assistance targets community initiatives that encourage building strong and healthy communities.

Community facilities strategy – the goal of this strategy is to ensure there is a network of venues across the city for people to meet and participate in the life of their communities and neighbourhoods. These venues may be used for a variety of child and family activities including leisure, arts, cultural, educational, sporting and other activities. The strategy also encourages and seeks ways to support schools to provide community access to their venues, and will investigate partnerships with schools when developing existing and new venues.

Cycle and walking strategy – this strategy aims to develop cycleway and walkway routes across the city and encourage their use. This includes a mix of wide kerbside lanes along most arterial roads, the creation of separate off-road facilities, and improvements to walking and cycling facilities around town centres. It also includes providing places for the whole family to get fit and healthy.

Disability framework for action – its purpose is to provide direction on how the council can enable disabled people's increased contribution to, and participation in, the city. It includes providing access to events and facilities for the disabled, supporting them to run their own events, and providing ways for families with disabled children to voice their concerns and be listened to.

Events strategy – this strategy seeks to ensure a wide range of quality events and make the city an exciting place to work, live, visit and enjoy arts and recreation. It includes family events like Pasifika, the Auckland International Cultural Festival and the Santa Parade.

Facility partnerships policy – this policy has been developed to help foster partnerships between the council, community organisations and other not-for-profit organisations to provide community, arts and cultural and leisure facilities. For example, the Philips Aquatic Centre in Mt Albert is a great place for children and families to learn to swim in a fun and safe environment.

Greening the city – this aims to enhance the natural environment and protect significant ecological areas so current and future generations can enjoy and value them. Local children and families will be encouraged to play a more active role in looking after our natural heritage and get behind projects such as friends of the forest, wildlife corridors and preserving the marine environment.

Growth management strategy – this strategy aims to manage Auckland's growth in a sustainable way. Children are the future of the city and the council will work with them in planning for change and growth. The council will also provide a variety of ways in which families can have their say.

Waste management plans – there are three waste management plans for the city – one for the central area, one for the Hauraki Gulf islands and the other for the isthmus. Their goals are the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste. The education and cooperation of children and families in reducing their waste is crucial to achieving these goals.

Reviewed August 2007