The role of advisory panels
Advisory panels advise elected members on specific areas or issues that affect the communities they represent.
They offer advice on:
- policies
- strategies
- important issues that affect the city and region.
They don't make any decisions for Auckland, but they do offer advice and influence decisions elected members make.
Types of advisory panels
There are two different types of advisory panels.
Demographic panels
Demographic panels advise on how issues affect their demographic communities. There are six demographic advisory panels.
Pacific Peoples' Advisory Panel
Provides knowledge on issues that are important to Pacific people, and advises on how to engage effectively with them.
Ethnic Advisory Panel
Provides knowledge on issues that are important to ethnic people and advises the council on how to engage effectively with them.
Disability Advisory Panel
Provides knowledge on issues that are important to people with disabilities and how best to engage with them.
Youth Advisory Panel
Provides knowledge on issues that are important to young Aucklanders, and advises us on how to engage effectively with them.
Rainbow Communities' Advisory Panel
Provides knowledge on issues that are important to Auckland's LGBTQI and Takatāpui, or Rainbow communities.
Seniors' Advisory Panel
Provides knowledge on issues that are important to older Aucklanders, and advises us on how to engage effectively with them.
Sector panels
Sector panels advise on how issues affect their specific sectors of Auckland. There are five sector advisory panels.
Auckland City Centre Advisory Panel
The Auckland City Centre Advisory Board is a key advisory group, supporting the City Centre Masterplan's vision.
Heritage Advisory Panel
Advises the council on built and archaeological heritage issues, including heritage sites, structures and places.
Public Art Advisory Panel
Assists the council with planning arts projects and programmes in public places
Auckland Urban Design Advisory Panel
Provides independent design review of significant projects across Auckland.
Rural Advisory Panel
Advises the council on policies and plans specific to the rural sector.
Ethnic Advisory Panel – Community Storytelling
The Ethnic Advisory Panel advises us on issues that are important to ethnic people in Auckland.
Auckland’s population is expected to grow a lot in the coming years, meaning that we will have more diverse populations and views on what is best for our region.
The Ethnic Advisory Panel engaged with Auckland’s ethnic communities to share their stories, hopes and dreams for the future of Auckland.
This video contains a collection of these stories, and an example of why the advisory panels are such a valuable part of the Auckland Council.
Read the
full transcript of this video.
Sign up for learning resources
Register to receive a link to our civics education resources for schools and community groups.
You will receive separate educational resources for four lessons based on the information on this site.
Each lesson takes a closer look at the topic through four fun activities with clear learning objectives that are easily adaptable for any classroom or interest group.
Sign up now 
