There is a kind of modern conversation that doesn’t happen at the town hall table, but in the quiet scroll of morning feeds — where voices tagged with names and a small, recognisable place name reach out into the spaces where people already live their daily lives. In Gisborne, district councillors find themselves navigating both the familiar cadence of face-to-face kōrero and the rapid rhythm of social media, where comments, queries, and community chatter arrive with the pace of an afternoon tide. The screens that glow in pockets at bus stops and kitchen tables have become another way for elected members to sit with their constituents, to share ideas, to listen and to respond. This is not a replacement of traditional dialogue, but another path that winds through the landscape of civic life — one that is sometimes fruitful, sometimes fraught, and always evolving.
For some councillors, social media is a well-worn trail — familiar and full of possibility. First-term councillor Samuel Gibson, for instance, brings decades of outdoor passion and more than 30,000 followers to his online presence, using reels and regular updates to share what the council is doing and invite feedback from people who might never open a council report or attend a meeting. To him, this digital engagement is a useful way to bring community voices into local government conversations in language that feels direct and accessible.
Others approach these platforms more tentatively. Gisborne’s mayor, Rehette Stoltz, acknowledges that social media has increased interaction overall, but notes that some of the most meaningful engagements still occur through email, phone calls, or face-to-face meetings. She has found that online spaces can sometimes be sources of misinformation, where attempts to correct misunderstandings quickly become unwieldy and are rejected by participants in the thread.
Councillor Debbie Gregory describes her own cautious approach. In her first six years on the council, she largely avoided commenting online after encountering negative experiences, choosing instead to encourage people to contact her via more traditional channels. Yet she also taps into community groups on platforms like Facebook to stay informed about issues residents are discussing, and on occasion has answered queries there when she had clear, accurate information to share.
Not all councillors are frequent users. Long-term councillor Larry Foster, who has served several terms since 1989, mostly eschews social media in favour of channels such as WhatsApp, which councillors use informally to circulate information among themselves. This highlights a broader point: councillors’ engagement strategies reflect personal preferences and generational comfort with digital tools.
Beyond individual styles, training and guidance have played a role in shaping councillors’ use of social media. A Local Government New Zealand learning module on social media has proven popular among younger members, offering guidance on how to use these platforms constructively and authentically to engage communities. It forms part of a broader effort to help elected members balance immediacy with responsibility and civility online.
Despite the differences in style and usage, one thread remains consistent: councillors still rely on a blend of methods to engage with residents. Social media is an extension of conversation, not its entirety. Whether through a screen illuminated at dusk or a kōrero over a cup of tea in a council office, the essence of engagement remains the same — connecting with people, understanding their concerns, and trying to be present where they are.
In the evolving landscape of digital communication, Gisborne’s councillors are learning how best to weave online platforms into their work, mindful of both the potentials and pitfalls. Social media has offered a new kind of virtual doorstep, one that meets many residents where they already gather. Yet the age-old methods of listening — whether by phone, email, or face-to-face kōrero — continue to be valued and relied upon. What emerges from this blend is not simply a new toolkit, but a reaffirmation that engagement, in all its forms, remains central to the rhythm of local democracy.
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Sources : RNZ News NZ Herald News Minimalist