Has The IAP2 Framework Been Efficiently Implemented In The Formulation of Auckland Film Policy?
The Growth of Auckland Film Industry
Auckland screen industry has grown from times to times. It is seen that from 2014 until 2017, production and post-production sector’s gross revenue for feature films in Auckland has increased.
In 2017, Auckland film production revenue was estimated at $489 million, increasing 37 % from 2016 (Stats NZ, 2018). This growing industry was considered to be further regulated to ensure that Auckland’s citizens can be benefited from it. Therefore, in 2018, Auckland’s city council conducted a survey in the people’s panel platform. But, was it representative enough? And has it followed the IAP2 framework?
Clarity About the Decision
The first step in implementing the IAP2 framework is about to be clear on what we are aiming for in a policy and why it is important. We also need to be clear about stakeholders affected and when the resolution needs to be achieved (IAP2, 2015). In the case of Auckland’s film industry policy, it is seen that the main objectives of this policy have been stated clearly, which are: (1) bringing economic growth into Auckland and (2) reducing public inconvenience or other negative consequences caused by film production activities (Auckland Council, 2018a). Another goal is also to ensure that the filming process will not disturb the environment and native species (Auckland Council, 2018b).
Not only for the sake of Auckland’s people, the regulation is also being clear about the stakeholders affected, which are: (1) the elected members of the governing body and local boards; (2) staff within the wider council organisation who are unfamiliar with Auckland’s film-friendly commitments, protocols and guidelines; (3) residents, businesses or community organisations who would like information on best practice and filming processes in Auckland or are impacted on by filming; (4) Mana Whenua, (5) other local authorities or film offices and, of course, ATEED. It is also relatively efficient in terms of its progress, considering the people’s panel was held in 2018 and the draft of Auckland Film Protocol was made available in 2019. Due to these reasons, in my view, the regulation of Auckland’s film policy has efficiently followed the IAP2 first framework about being clear on the decision.
IAP2 Spectrum
Reflecting the framework to the case, it is seen that the Auckland city council has implemented the spectrum until the involvement step, not yet to the empowerment step. In the inform step, the council has kept the people in Auckland informed about the policy formulation by sending out the invitation to join a survey in the people’s panel platform and information regarding the proposed policy through newsletters and emails.
In the consulting step, the Auckland city’s council has received feedback and published it on its official website (here) and YouTube channel (here). The feedback concludes that Auckland’s people generally support the film industry since it benefits them. However, from the survey, most people also indicate that the industry must not sacrifice the environment and cultural heritage. They also mentioned some inconvenient situations they usually face during the filming, such as road closures, increase in traffic and limited access to public areas. Up to this point, the public participation goal in the “consult” step was achieved.
In the involvement step, it is seen that some of the feedback given by the public in the surveys regarding the environment, cultural heritage have been included in the summary of proposed changes (here). In the 2019 draft protocol (here), some points regarding the inconvenient situations have been addressed. This means the public participation goal in this step is achieved as the aspiration has been consistently understood and considered.
However, the collaboration and empowerment steps have not been obviously implemented in the engagement process. This is probably because the circle of the policy is not done yet as in 2019 the target is to release the draft of the Auckland new Film Protocol or might be because these steps are not initially included in the engagement plan. Thus, in my opinion, the government’s effort for engaging publics in the policymaking through people’s panel platform is quite good. However, we cannot see whether the public opinions will be substantially included in the final regulation as the circle of the policy has not completed. But as some of the main concerns of the survey are represented in the summary of the proposed change, the chance of the public’s opinion being included in the policy is quite big. However, uncertainty always exists, so there is also an opportunity of not including the opinions in the policy at the end.
IAP2 Core values
In general, the 7 core values of IAP2 frameworks have been implemented by Auckland’s city council in the Auckland film policy through people’s panel platform. The first core has been implemented by providing two different kinds of surveys, for the public in general and the screen industry actors. The second core has been represented in the summary of proposed points for the Auckland Film Protocol which include feedback from the public. The third core is represented in the way the government includes all the stakeholders (explained in the clarity of the decision part above). The fourth core is seen in the way people’s panel involved everyone in the survey. It sent out an invitation to 35.332 panellists who are indicated as potentially affected or interested in the policy. The fifth core is seen in the channels provided in the people’s panel: by an online survey, email and post. The sixth core is illustrated in the Auckland film protocol- consultation documents (here), which explained the importance of the policy and its impact on society. The seventh core is communicated in (here).
In A Nutshell?
Generally, through the people’s panel platform, the Auckland city council has quite efficiently implemented the IAP2 framework. However, as the circle of the policy is not yet done, we still do not know whether the people’s opinions will be included in the final policy or whether the collaboration and empowerment steps on the spectrum will be carried later. But some points in the proposed changes have included people’s concern in the survey. This means the probability of people’s opinion is included in the policy is quite high although there always be uncertainty.
Reference:
Auckland Council. (2018a). Auckland Film Protocol. Retrieved December 28, 2019, from https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/have-your-say/topics-you-can-have-your-say-on/auckland-film-protocol/Pages/default.aspx
Auckland Council. (2018b, September). Survey results: Filming in Auckland. Retrieved December 28, 2019, from https://aucklandcouncil.uq.co.nz/surveys/printable/report/xpQ8xLxrokGiDQjWLUzGzg
Auckland Council, Refresh of the Auckland Film Protocol (Summary Proposed Change), Retrieved December 28, 2019, https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/have-your-say/topics-you-can-have-your-say-on/auckland-film-protocol/Documents/auckland-film-protocol-summary-proposed-changes.pdf
Auckland Council, Youtube Channel. Retrieved December 28, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1C2Gh_mmGE
Auckland Council, Draft Protocol, Retrieved December 28, 2019, https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/have-your-say/topics-you-can-have-your-say-on/auckland-film-protocol/Documents/draft-2019-auckland-film-protocol.pdf
IAP2. (2015). Quality Assurance Standard: For Community and Stakeholder Engagement. Retrieved from https://iap2.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IAP2_Quality_Assurance_Standard_2015.pdf
Stats NZ. (2018, April 10). Auckland screen industry powers up | Stats NZ. Retrieved December 28, 2019, from https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/auckland-screen-industry-powers-up
