Powering Up Communities to Deliver Local Wellbeing

Impact Stories – Understanding the impact and ingredients of success

This report offers an analysis of the successes and impacts of two temporary community hubs
developed and hosted by Kāinga Ora in Tāmaki Makaurau between 2020 and 2023. Ōwairaka
Community Hub on Richardson Road ran from April 2021 to 31 September 2022 and the Pop Up
Hub on Vincent Street ran from April 2022 and to 31 May 2023 with groups able to use the space
for some weeks after that.

Centring equity and place-based approaches in systemic transformation

This paper was co-produced by an international community of practice Inspiring Communities is part of. Our four organisations each support place-based transformation in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. We come together regularly to share our work, find common ground in many challenges as well as discovering many new ideas and sources of inspiration.

We are:

Collaboration for Impact, Australia

Tamarack Institute, Canada

Inspiring Communities, New Zealand

Place Matters, UK

Make the Move – shifting how the public sector works with communities

Our report calls on public servants to change their ways if they want to see real results.

Responses to recent flooding caused by extreme weather events and Cyclone Gabrielle have again demonstrated how, in times of crisis, it is communities who are well placed to respond to people in need when resourced to do so. However, three years on from the start of COVID-19, while the Government may be ready to adopt ideas about community-led development, change is slow and the public policy system is not well set up to enable localised approaches.

We decided to write Make the Move to map the critical path required for radical change in the way our public policy system works. It is a practical resource for leaders in central and local government agencies, to help them make the shifts required to create the conditions for locally-led change. It is our response to communities and changemakers who share with us their ideas about what can really make a difference.

Community, hapū and iwi leaders tell us they are pleased that the government is wanting to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and embrace the important role communities play in helping tackle complex problems. But these same leaders are also overwhelmed by the demands from government to engage and consult on issues of concern without creating the conditions for that to take place in a way that works for communities.

For example, we heard this from one iwi leader:

This kind of pressure on our community leaders is not OK. This story shows how the public policy system is not well set up to enable localised approaches. We are not arguing that communities should lead policy processes rather that people create positive outcomes in a place and need to be included in decision making. A community-led approach is practical. It allows for ‘learning while doing’ and requires flexibility to change tac when needed. This approach is hard to apply in a public policy system that has rigid rules and low tolerances for risk.

Our current system was designed in a different era, with different assumptions, expectations and rules. It can no longer operate effectively in our changing context. This presents people working in government with an opportunity, to evolve the way they approach their roles and responsibilities now, in order to shape a more ethical and sustainable future.

The resulting 29 recommendations grouped under four insights are from change-makers who work at the intersection of public policy and community development.

Be the Change – Funding and Equity

DOWNLOAD THE RESOUCE

TOP 10 + 5 What a funding sector focused on equity might look like

Reflective questions for funders

Scones, not wine – how great enablers work

Collective Change Kōrero 3 – a collective pathway

Based on previous sessions, in which we compiled a list of what is going on for us as individuals, as organisations, our aspirations and what this collective Kōrero could be, the convening team bought a proposed framework based on this input, to the hui. We began with Whakawhanaunga and then spent valuable and productive time experimenting with and working though the framework pictured below.

Read Collective Change Kōrero 1 here

Read Collective Change Kōrero 2 here

There is no doubt that holding these spaces allowed a rich and diverse sharing and learning from peoples’ mahi, vision, experience, noticing; ideas for action as well as a couple of asks. Below are small snapshots from the discussion; notice common themes occurring across organisation and people’s mahi and insight.

Holding a space for Kōrero, for people’s mahi and vision

We heard about:

The intersection of design, innovation and social technology. Degrowth – how we live in a more sustainable way.

The ongoing work in inclusiveness – IACT continues its mission where everyone has a place to belong. How the need to feel you belong is intrinsic in wellbeing. The work being done to bring networks together and building cross-sector networks to build power and agency. There was a retreat held for leaders working in the NGO sector to deeply dive into what is required to make this happen.

Mahi in which discussion is taking place about the little things that we do that can grow into bigger things. Aotearoa can choose to be a leader – questions then about how we can become more inclusive, continuing to strive for a country that is fair for everyone. Addressing issues such as poverty stemming from a colonial past.  Being brave, not afraid to call this stuff out. Aotearoa is on a knife edge; a game changer or the same old same old? We all need to be brave, take courageous steps, we are small, we can be agile. There is a lot of innovation happening, often despite government systems rather than because of them.

Mental health and wellbeing. The understanding that it is not a defined space – wellbeing is everything. Making sure everyone has what they need to thrive. If they are struggling that they can access the support they need to live the life that works for them.

Moving in innovators, getting the funding and support to make solutions work. The opportunity to use the knowledge within – to take that knowledge into the system – to support those trying to do this innovation within the system.

Inequality of access is top of mind. There are many substantive ideas, we need new leaders, new voices, new ways of working. There are many incredible leaders that don’t get to step into the spaces they should be in. People need to think about getting out of the way so others can claim their space. There is te ao māori, cultural nuances and sustainable models that are not getting enough mandate to make the change that is needed. Solutions will come with people working together and in the power of holding people’s voices, of speaking out, speaking up and calling out the challenges. Until we open up to tough conversations power won’t step aside – change won’t happen.

Cultural responsiveness is having some success in changing and understanding complexity – whether here or in aboriginal communities. Everything is around total wellbeing. Many relationships sit in a negative approach. There needs to be a challenge to the power structure but in a respectful way. Intercultural facilitation is about equality. Noticing Aotearoa is stuck in a cross-cultural space. If we ignore intercultural system when we go through the change space, we can often throw out the good stuff with the bad. New Zealand can lead in intercultural capacity and capability – leaders need to be going deeper than the top layer. If we move the power structure we can start with equity, start with partnership.

Economic wellbeing is busy looking for collaborations. Then it can ask communities – what is the economy they would like to see.  How do we encourage better decision making, address systemic problems.

Integrating personal relationships with professional, strong insight into colonising intergenerational trauma. Creating spaces for joining healing wellbeing and flourishing communities.

Holding a space for reflecting

What people have been noticing – from what’s going on in policy, latest reports, nationally and international trends, narrative and discussions. We heard about:

Reflecting change from 10 years ago, reading many reports such as a fair change for all and reform into local government. Hearing more about co-governance, CTU policy packages, all highlights a change – a te ao māori lens – lots of good work happening – we should celebrate it.

Worth us thinking about the issues that will be at the forefront of the election in 2023, important we have these conversations and don’t seed the ground to some pretty myopic perspectives.

People want to see things happening in different ways, but not sure they know what that looks like. Seeing some very interesting things happening in the health sector. There are challenges with the various stages different aspects are at, be good to see how the good is demonstrated – time needed for this to evolve. Mental health spaces too – how do you bring in the voices that know what they need and want? There are some bright sparks, it will be a test over the next few months to see how it is allowed to unfold.

There are many incredible publications and think pieces it would be awesome to bring them together – because that gives visibility to what is happening. Change is often invisible so people are not seeing the change. People in this Kōrero are exposed to change which inspires us but a lot of people are not. Very hopeful, there is amazing people doing amazing mahi – we see that by getting into community and talking to people, leaders, volunteers doing the mahi whether there is money or not, government is involved or not, they are doing it. Many more people need to have this exposure.

Common themes; everybody continues to have head down stuck in the business, not coming to the horizon to take a breath before plans are put in place – if you aspire for change, take a different approach. For example, a pathway Walk Together is developing to take people through a mindset shift – come into equity as a process, as a pathway rather than it being an outcome. Mindset shifts can only happen if you do it in context.  Walk Together has developed 12 pathways. And there is a campaign; 100,000 cups of tea. It’s about getting groups to collaborate through the cups of tea, partly facilitated, partly co-constructed – get in touch with Arama if you want to have a cup of tea! All sorts of ideas and purpose that could come out of getting out of business as usual. There is an imagined bureaucracy which leads to a ‘not sure if we can do that’ mindset – actually you can!

Online spaces – countering violent extremism and terrorism, involved in the Christchurch Call and the International Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism. What we are seeing is the pathways to radicalisation, it’s the increasingly hostile discourse – online platforms where awful stuff is being said and is happening. Where the basis to judge good and bad information – determine what is truth and not – is undermined. There are malicious players – it is well funded, well organised across the world and we are not immune. Part of advocacy is how do we do better with online spaces – bureaucracy and systems haven’t legislated, very frustrating. So if government isn’t going to act then that just leaves community and that is why we want to be doing stuff rather than just talking – great to talk what are we going to do. It is critical that we allow people to have spaces and be visible. There needs to be a lot better and a lot faster coordination around this.

At a local level initiatives like healthy families’ webinars – what does system change look like? ‘Community up’ is a new term. And internationally people are looking at indigenous ways of achieving the like of carbon net zero, looking to New Zealand to see what is happening on the ground.

There is an interesting risk narrative around mental health – exploring ways to balance the need for safety with innovation. Exploring ways help people understand all the voices that need to be considered – a lot of national and international work around this, but we need to go further.  It is important that we build confidence for people to innovate safely rather than put them off or uphold power dynamics by creating accreditation processes where amazing community leaders have to go somewhere else so as to prove their worth to be able to do their mahi.

Holding a space for sharing

Time was short!

Inspiring Communities are going to do a report working title ‘Centrally enabled, Locally led’. They are interested in hearing from people who may like to contribute. Find out more

WEALL is organising an event with people in Auckland wanting to discuss building a new   economy. If you are interested in this, get in touch with Gareth. Email: gareth@weall.org

The Review into the Future for Local Government – Final Report

The final report, He piki tūranga, he piki kōtuku, proposes 17 recommendations to enable local government to better serve communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. We encourage all New Zealanders to embrace the suite of recommendations it outlines and challenge our leaders to implement the necessary changes to support our communities.

The Productivity Commission – A Fair Chance For All

Breaking the cycle of persistent disadvantage

The Productivity Commission was tasked with studying persistent disadvantage, its impact on individuals and society, and its connection to economic performance. The goal was to gain new insights into the dynamics and drivers of persistent disadvantage across different population groups, and to develop recommendations for breaking this cycle.

697,000 New Zealanders that face persistent disadvantage were analysed, resulting in the following report. The 20 findings and 20 recommendations serve to guide our long-term decisions and actions to a future without persistent disadvantage.

Feedback on the Future for Local Government

Late last year, the Local Government Review panel released their draft report, He mata whāriki, he matawhanui, which outlines the need for a local governance system in Aotearoa that is community-focussed and citizen-centred, based on strong relationships and partnerships with iwi Māori. The report encourages further discussion on a range of topics and invites submissions to shape the final report and recommendations back to Government.

We know that effective, engaged and enabling local Councils play a key role in effective community-led change. Inspiring Communities’ Megan Courtney, has prepared this DRAFT Inspiring Communities Feedback on the Local Government Review Panel Draft Report Feb 2023. We welcome you to read, share ideas and encourage you to also submit through this process. Submissions on the Draft Report close on 28 February 2023. 

Our June Locally-led Matters webinar had a special focus on ideas for growing collaborative local leadership, watch here.

He Manawa Māori – A Māori Heart

In February 2022, Victor Walker (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti) was contracted by IC to help the organisation with its Treaty honouring journey mahi.
The intention was to have conversations with Māori who have established relationships with IC and CLD to learn about their experience and what value, if any, Inspiring Communities has been, explore how they see Community-led Development aligning, intersecting, or supporting Hapū, Iwi, Māori development and to gather ideas and insights on the most useful roles, steps and mahi for others are in this space. This report is the result of those conversations, including key observations and recommendations for next steps.

19 interviews were conducted with Māori in CLD leadership positions. The conversations allowed Kaikōrero an opportunity to review the progress of their personal, Whānau, Hapū, Iwi and Māori community development over three – four decades to the present.

All speakers spoke candidly about the issues and challenges that had been, and in some cases still are, obstacles for them, to set goals for the coming decades and to consider a vision for future generations. Kaikōrero were also very open and expressive about the neat, innovative, and powerful and influencing mahi that they were involved in. They were quite free and frank about what needed to happen if they were to experience the ‘tino rangatiratanga’ and ‘mana motuhake’ they saw as essential to their success at a multiplicity of levels. 

Inspiring Communities thanks Victor, and all the contributing Kaikōrero for their mahi and insights.