Community Engagement – Aiming for Acceptance
The goal of quality community engagement for projects impacting our neighbourhoods isn’t universal approval. That’s impossible in any community. Regardless of the project, you're going to have people who love it, hate it, and those who say ‘meh’.
Rather, community engagement is about getting to a point of acceptance that change is needed, and that the proposed solutions make sense.
Effective engagement builds understanding and trust through transparency, consistency, evidence, and genuine listening. This is easier said than done, especially in a climate of low trust in government/institutions. Not to mention the vast competition for people’s attention.
That’s why a strategic, well-planned, and community-focused approach is imperative. Along with the commitment and drive to see it through.
When it comes to community engagement for a new project, our first objectives are to:
Show why change is needed and how decisions are made
Create space for genuine input into key decisions
Understand the opportunities and challenges of the project from the community’s point of view.
The core principles to support this engagement are:
Transparency
Be open about decisions, budgets and funding, delivery timelines, and how community feedback will be used.
Face-to-face + active listening
Meet people where they are (go to them, don’t make them come to you) and seek views before telling.
Clear, inclusive communication
Use plain language, visuals, and translations where needed.
Responsiveness & flexibility
Adapt in real time if you're not reaching your audience
Patience
Recognise that change and building trust takes time.
What works:
Commit as a project team to a clear strategy, realistic timeframes, and transparent decision-making. State the non-negotiables upfront to build trust.
Get the words right. Our audience aren’t planning and design pros…and they are busy. Make it simple and understandable.
Use impactful visuals to overcome language barriers. Don’t lose sight of the fact that 30% of Aucklanders are bilingual or multilingual.
Be clear about what you're asking and need from people.
Work through community champions (teachers, business owners, non profit leaders)—people trust those they know.
Community engagement early in a project sets the scene for change, keeps projects moving, strengthens reputation, and shows there’s nothing to hide.
