Social policy concerns raised

Access to public transport, recreational facilities and housing for the mentally unwell could be reduced under government plans for a supercity, a social policy specialist warns.

Massey University Albany school of social and cultural studies lecturer Grant Duncan presented these findings at the Passing Go – Social Wellbeing during the new Auckland Council conference.

Dr Duncan says the cabinet wants a greater role for central government in managing Auckland’s social well-being.

"Social policy is about more than just funding. There is a danger that social policy becomes an abstract, statistical problem with a few crumbs thrown at it," he says.

Mr Duncan says Auckland’s increasing cultural diversity and population growth will bring added pressures to those charged with the city’s governance.

He says the set up of the
supercity could result in greater social divisions and might mean moving low-cost community mental health accommodation located in wealthier suburbs to poorer areas, increasing risk for vulnerable members of society.

"We need to ask what is the relationship between people who define social problems and those being defined," says Mr Duncan.

About 350 people attended the one-day conference, organised by the North Shore City Council and community groups, at North Harbour Stadium last Friday.

- © Fairfax NZ News