Our way of working – Ā mātou tikanga whakahaere
This approach is shaped by Inspiring Communities’ whakapapa and long-standing commitment to community-led development grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Our understanding of working with tāngata whenua has evolved through practice, reflection and learning alongside whānau, hapū and iwi over time.
Our engagement with Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi
With your basket and my basket we will sustain the people
Inspiring Communities acknowledges Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the foundational document upon which Aotearoa New Zealand was established. Hapū Māori did not cede sovereignty when they signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Inspiring Communities recognises and affirms tino rangatiratanga of whānau, hapū and iwi Māori over their lands, resources, and taonga.
Applying a Tiriti lens
We understand the commitments made in Te Tiriti o Waitangi as being critical to the context of community-led development (CLD) in Aotearoa. Therefore, we apply a Tiriti lens to our CLD work. The following questions guide us in this:
- What does the concept/initiative/project look like when viewed through a Tiriti lens?
- Who is shaping this work and which perspectives does it reflect?
- How is this work grounded in an understanding of tāngata whenua relationships to place?
- How does this work affirm and support tino rangatiratanga?
- What is the local whakapapa of this place, and how is it being acknowledged in this work?
We recognise that Tiriti responsiveness is not a static state, but an ongoing practice of learning, unlearning, and relationship-building.
The following tool is designed to support tāngata Tiriti organisations, groups and communities to engage respectfully and responsibly with tāngata whenua.
The following resource was generated from the kōrero and collective wisdom shared in the Community Building Block session: Acting Responsively to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, facilitated by Anna Parker, Moko Morris and Gwyn John in late 2025.
You can also explore some useful te reo Māori resources to support learning and everyday practice here:
Everything is connected
CLD principles underpin everything we do.
Ka arahina ngā tikanga whakawhanake ā-hapori i ō tātou mahi katoa.
We are committed to a Tiriti honouring Aotearoa. As a small tāngata Tiriti organisation, our te Tiriti o Waitangi commitment is reflected conceptually, structurally and practically in what we do.
Ka whai tātou i te ara e whakahōnoretia te Tiriti. Kua whakaata tēnei takohanga ā-whakaaro, ā-whakatakotoranga, ā-tinana i ō tātou mahi katoa.
We build capacity, skills and knowledge to support both the national CLD movement and achievement of local aspirations.
Ka whakapikitia e mātou te raukaha, ngā pūkenga, me te mātauranga kia tautoko i te whakawhanake ā-hapori ki Aoteroa, ki te tutuki hoki i ngā whainga o te hapori.
We work ‘with’ others, not on our own. We model active listening, collaboration and building trusting, respectful relationships.
Ka mahi takitini, tē mahi takitahi. Ka whakatinanahia e mātou i ngā tikanga o te āta whakarongo, te mahi tahi, me te whai i ngā whanaungatanga mā runga i te whakawhirinaki me te whakaute.
We’re responsive, adaptive, enterprising and committed to reflecting and learning from all we do.
Ka whai whakaaro, ka whai urutau, ka whai rawa tātou. Ka piri tātou ki te tikanga o te whakaaroaro, me te ako i ō tātou mahi katoa.
We’re prepared to take risks and creatively model innovative responses to complex challenges and opportunities ahead.
Ka āhei tātou ki te whakawhara, ka auaha tō tātou tukanga ki ngā wero matatini me ngā huarahi whai hua.
We share what we know, using our connections, networks and knowledge for greater gain of the CLD movement and effective CLD practice.
Ka mahi tiritiri tātou.
Ka whakamahia ō mātou tūhononga me tō matou mātauranga mō te hua o te rerenga whakawhanake ā-hapori kia whakatinanahia tika ai.
The Inspiring Communities wharenui model reflects how our values, principles and ways of working are held together through Te Tiriti and community-led development.