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Last week Auckland Council began consulting on a proposal that would require all its employees, and some others engaged in work for Council, to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
This could potentially alter the current policy, which is to strongly encourage vaccination. A Council survey found that 91 percent of the staff who responded had either had their first dose or were fully vaccinated. Another 2.1 percent said they intended to get vaccinated.
Council’s governance director, Phil Wilson, says although this policy is about employees, not elected members, guidance for elected members is being developed in parallel so that both can take effect at the same time – from early December.
“In the event that vaccination is required for entry to offices and meeting venues, options for remote attendance will need to be put in place for unvaccinated elected members, because their right to exercise their democratic decision-making role must be respected,” Wilson says.
In the meantime, local board members are being given information regarding vaccination as well as the opportunity to share their own stories or vaccination status on Council communication channels, such as local board Facebook pages.
“This has all been optional but underscored by the Council’s support for everyone who is able to, to be vaccinated,” Wilson says.
Last month Council suggested that local boards should discuss whether or not to make members’ vaccination status public – Orakei Local Board is among those who have posted a photo of members with the local Councillor on its Facebook page with the statement “We are fully vaccinated for our community”.
Hibiscus & Bays Local Board member Julia Parfitt asked members at the start of their October 28 workshop whether they could discuss the issue, and perhaps do something similar on their Facebook page.
In response, chair Gary Brown said they would discuss it later and that it is a difficult one, as vaccination is a personal choice.
Parfitt says that members should show leadership as they are in public facing roles and spend a lot of time meeting the community, including vulnerable people.
Council will spend two weeks consulting with its staff and expects to have the policy regarding employees and guidance for elected members in effect from December 1.
