Local Board Member, Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board

-

Nerissa Henry

“We are the closest decision-makers to communities that affect everyday things like the water from the tap, the pathways you walk, the roads you drive along, the events you attend locally, the parks and reserves you use, the local sports clubs you enjoy and town centres that are your local shops.” 

Since 2016, Nerissa Henry’s been pulling double duty – serving on both her local board and the Mt Wellington Licensing Trust. She's also on the Auckland Conservation Board, Tūpuna Maunga Authority, and the Community Liaison Committee of Tāmaki Regeneration Company — New Zealand's biggest regeneration project. 

For Nerissa, the real magic of local government lies in the tables she gets to sit at and the people she gets to meet. It's a bit surprising how it takes over her life, she notes — she's all in, even though it's part-time. Passion has its way of doing that. 

When thinking about elevating local government, she's all about smashing representation barriers, stacking up the funds for wiser decisions, and drawing up a future-proof plan that stands strong no matter who's on the team. 

For Nerissa, the best elected members are the ones who're hungry to learn, amped up about sparking change, deliberate in decision-making, bold enough to take risks, and masters at weaving connections. 

Besides her local government work, Nerissa’s often found at her kids' school events, or busy being a beacon of support for various causes.