Respected Kiwi author, journalist and economist Max Rashbrooke is coming to Wanaka next month to hold a talk about community growing pains and how people can positively influence change.

Max’s talk, ‘Power to the People? Leading Change in Wanaka and New Zealand’, will discuss where power and influence lie – and how government, business and community sectors effect change. Max will also share what other towns and countries have done to achieve successful engagement and consultation.

LINK Upper Clutha, Ignite Wanaka Chamber of Commerce and Scope Media are hosting the conversation at the Lake Wanaka Centre on Thursday August 1 at 7pm.

"Towns like Wanaka are getting squeezed on all sides of the democratic debate,” Max said. 

“They are rapidly expanding, and know that they have to engage the public in a discussion about what that looks like, who is affected, and how infrastructure copes. But at the same time, they face a public increasingly dissatisfied with the traditional forms of 'engagement' and the predominance of the usual suspects in consultation processes.”

Max is the author of Government for the Public Good, and Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis. He plans to discuss the ability of individuals and communities to influence decision-making – and how to keep people engaged in a rapidly growing community such as Wanaka.

“What I'll be talking about is an escape route from that increasingly ugly conversation – ways that public bodies can deeply and thoughtfully engage people in conversations that bring out their best views and shape an ideal or at least consensus-driven path forward,” he said. “It's not easy – it takes time, money and a different mindset – but it can be done."

LINK Upper Clutha facilitator Kathy Dedo said Max brings a deep understanding of government, economic forces, and democratic engagement, and she is thrilled he’s returning to Wanaka after his previous very popular talk at Aspiring Conversations in 2014.

“With growth bringing both opportunity and challenge to our region, we’re keen to find ways forward that accurately reflect community sentiment on key issues,” Kathy said.

Tickets to the event are $10 and available from the Ignite Wanaka website here or by emailing [email protected].

PHOTO: Supplied