Welcome to the beginning of your community-led development journey! Here, you’ll find foundational workshops, events, and resources designed to introduce you to the principles and practices of community-led development. This is the perfect place to start building your understanding and skills.

Foundations of community-led development

We are so excited to bring together key ideas, resources and tools for people working in all kinds of community-led development roles in our first online learning module. This self-directed, self-paced course will introduce you to the principles of community-led development and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We explore how to work with complexity, and share tools for how to engage with your communities, map their strengths and assets and establish strong governance structures and processes.

Inspiring Communities has developed this learning module from what we have learnt over many years of working with and alongside communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Represented here are the stories, experiences and initiatives of many community-led groups. We acknowledge the communities and people who have built this body of knowledge and practice, contributed to its growth and shared their learning.

What you will learn

Introduction to community-led development and the principles that guide this mahi:

  • Introduction to community-led development
  • What is CLD?
  • Te Tiriti o Waitangi
  • The Eco-cycle
  • Top tips to get you started

What you will receive

Full access for six months to:

  • 40 lessons
  • 1 hour of video content
  • Downloadable workbook
  • Chapter reflections and key takeaways
  • Practical resources

We hope you will find many useful ideas and tools as you work through this programme.

Cost:

  • $74.75 (incl. GST) for community organisations and groups
  • $172.50 (incl. GST) for central/local government, private sector and funders

To enquire about our group discount, or to pay by invoice please email kiaora@inspiringcommunities.org.nz 

Getting Started in Community-Led Development

Join us for an engaging and interactive online workshop where we delve into community-led development in your unique context. Whether you’re new to this approach or seeking to bring a community-led mindset into your projects, this session will support you with the skills and tools needed to kickstart your community-led initiatives.

Community-led approaches offer great freedom as there is no strict formula for how things should be done. While there are numerous possible starting points, some key skills and tools can empower you to kickstart your community-led initiatives.

In this 2.5 hour workshop, we will design powerful questions that unlock potential and explore effective community engagement strategies. You’ll be inspired to frame questions through a strengths-based lens, explore the art of stakeholder mapping, and discover innovative approaches to community involvement.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have:

  • A fresh perspective on framing questions to harness strengths
  • A practical stakeholder mapping process
  • New ideas for community engagement strategies and how to activate these insights

Throughout the session you will have the opportunity to connect with others from across Aotearoa, and learn from the experiences of other communities that are beginning their community-led journey.

OUR NEXT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD IN EARLY 2025 – SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR UPDATES

Cost: 

  • $74.75 (incl. GST) for community organisations and groups – discounted to $63.25 (incl. GST) for 2 or more from the same organisation
  • $182.85 (incl. GST) for central/local government, private sector and funders – discounted to $166.75 (incl. GST) for 2 or more from the same organisation

Follow-up coaching

Included in the workshop fee is a follow-up coaching session one month after the workshop. You will be given the choice of one of 2 dates to attend and to deepen your understanding of your community-led practice post this workshop.

About your facilitator


Supporting the growth of strong and resilient communities is at the heart of Anna’s mahi. Anna has diverse experience of grassroots community development – having worked on peace building efforts with indigenous women leaders in Bougainville (PNG) to activating the community-led vision for the Valley Project in North Dunedin.  Youth development is a particular passion – often Anna is called in to build processes with young people from the ground up – and to enhance the ways groups and organisations work with young people.

Anna is a reflective practitioner and a systems thinker committed to social justice. Anna thrives when working cross-culturally and enjoys supporting communities to navigate their journey with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Currently Anna is director of Mātāwai Consultancy and supports a number of Otago based organisations to think strategically and grow their impact. Mātāwai offers facilitation, mentoring, strategic advice, research, Te Tiriti o Waitangi education, event and project management.

Originally from Ōtautahi/Christchurch, Anna has called Ōtepoti/Dunedin her family home for more than 10 years.