AI Policy Making Day 7: Getting Down to Business (... oh wait ...)

Always Have a Plan B

Midjourney prompt: a cow dressed in a business suit --ar 7:4

We are now ready to move onto the content for the subject based chapters of the Alternative Bootleg District Plan we are building for the Kaipara District. You will recall that the Chapter Headings and Topics within them are:

- **Natural Environment** Land Water Air Biodiversity Coastal Environment Protection of Outstanding Natural Features and Landscapes Protection of Significant Indigenous Vegetation and Significant Habitats of Indigenous Fauna Protection of the Margins of Lakes and Rivers

- **Built Environment** Infrastructure Transport Energy Waste Urban Design and Heritage Protection

- **Cultural Heritage** Historic Heritage Archaeological Sites

- **Hazards and Risks** Natural Hazards Climate Change Adaptation

- **Economic Development** Economic Growth and Employment Opportunities Rural Economy

- **Community Facilities and Services** Education, Health, and Other Community Facilities Public Access to and Along the Coastal Marine Area, Lakes, and Rivers - **Recreation and Open Space** Provision for Public Open Space Protection of Public Access to and Along the Coastal Marine Area, Lakes, and Rivers

All of these Chapter Topics generally have the same content structure:

• INTRODUCTION • OBJECTIVES • POLICIES • METHODS • MAPPING • MONITORING AND EVALUATION

These collectively give effect to the Strategic Direction Chapter (which itself gives effect to the RMA and the higher order National and Regional Policy instruments). You have also previously set out content outlines for each of the sub-topic headings within these Chapters.

Given the methodology we have followed so far, would it be better to populate the content horizontally (the 'Indroduction' section of each topic, followed by the 'objectives' for each topic), or vertically (ie, complete the 'introduction', then 'objective', then 'policies' on a topic by topic basis)?

Given the significant number of topics and the interconnectedness between them, I suggest a horizontal approach to populating content. This means writing the 'Introduction' section for each topic first, then moving onto the 'Objectives', 'Policies', 'Methods', 'Mapping', and 'Monitoring and Evaluation' sections.

This approach allows for a more holistic understanding of each topic, as it ensures that all topics are fresh in mind when writing about the specific details within each section. This way, connections between topics can be more readily identified and incorporated into the plan, providing for a more integrated and cohesive document.

For example, when writing about 'Objectives', understanding the broader context of all topics will be useful in forming objectives that align with and support each other, rather than inadvertently creating conflicting objectives. This also applies to the other sections.

It's also important to note that this approach does not prevent us from making adjustments or additions to previous sections as new insights or connections emerge during the writing process. This iterative approach can help ensure that the final plan is coherent and effective in addressing the various challenges and opportunities within the district.

However, this is just a suggestion and the final decision should be based on what works best for your team and your specific circumstances. Both horizontal and vertical approaches have their merits, and it might even be beneficial to use a combination of both, depending on the stage of the process or the specific needs of the project.

Okaaaaaay … I guess we will be learning about cross prompting next!