Auckland Council took a step up in its approach to engaging with Auckland’s LGBTI communities this week with the launch of new Rainbow Communities Engagement Guidelines.

The internal staff document, believed to be the first of its kind for local councils in New Zealand, was written in collaboration with the council’s Rainbow Communities Advisory Panel.

Kenneth Aiolupotea, Head of Market Research and Engagement, says the Rainbow Communities Engagement Guidelines are an important update to a wider resource which reflects the growing diversification of culture and identity across Auckland.

“Our region has an incredibly diverse population, and as a council we can make a real difference by making sure we engage with all of our communities in an inclusive and respectful way. These guidelines will help us do that,” says Aiolupotea.

The guidelines are available to all council and council-controlled organisation (CCO) staff and have been designed to be read alongside the council’s Significance and Engagement Policy.

“The guidelines are a valuable resource for any council staff member wanting to make sure they are engaging and communicating in the best possible way,” says Aiolupotea.