Community Advisory Services Ratonga Kaitohutohu Hapori

What we seek to achieve

We are committed to helping New Zealand build strong communities. We seek to promote a culture of lifelong learning and engagement, where people are aware, knowledgeable, resourced and skilled to participate in their own communities and contribute more broadly to society.

Why we do it

The increasing cultural and social diversity in New Zealand has reinforced the importance of fostering communities that are resilient and prosperous. People and communities that are resilient and prosperous have the skills, knowledge and resources to work together to achieve common goals.

We also recognise that participation is a key feature of a well functioning and civic society.

What we do to achieve this

We provide advice, information, support and resources to assist the development of resilient and prosperous communities, hapū and iwi.

How we do this

We provide Community Advisory Services from 16 regional offices throughout New Zealand. Our advisors are able to assist communities in various ways. These may include advice about

how to plan for your organisation's development or project or community event
how to set up a community organisation
developing volunteer support policies and practices
effective governance, operational and/or service delivery practices
fundraising or applying for funds, or managing funds
sources of government and non-government funding
bringing other funders and central/local government agencies together to support community initiatives
who else can help

There are a number of ways that advisors become involved in a community project or activity. These may include:

a direct request from a community organisation, hapu, iwi, or a collective for support and advice
a request from a local council or central government agency to participate in a collaborative project or activity
findings from community research projects or community profiling that highlight an area of high need and limited resources
priorities set by the Department / the region / or the regional office.

As part of our work to support communities, hapū and iwi, advisors gather information that assists them in developing and maintaining a sound knowledge of communities’ needs and strengths. The information they gather is used to inform work priorities, as well as the priorities of other central and local government agencies and funding committees.

Also, as part of supporting communities our advisors continuously work at:

cultivating positive and productive working relationships with communities, hapū and iwi;
working collaboratively across a range of other central government agencies, local government and non-government organisations; and
developing flexible approaches to assist communities, hapū and iwi in accessing community development information, advice, support and resources, and, funding advice and information.

For further information, advice and assistance contact an advisor

Principles

We apply the following principles to our community advisory work:

Self determination – Communities own and drive the process. Activities aim to empower individuals, groups and communities to improve their wellbeing through collective action.
Participation – Individuals and communities are active participants, identifying their vision for the future and the means of achieving it. Processes and structures include and empower marginalised and excluded groups within society.
Respect – Approaches demonstrate respect for the knowledge and values held by communities, whānau, hapū and iwi Māori and their respective tikanga (practices).
Co-operation – Community members work together to identify and take action based on a shared respect for all contributions. Partnerships are fostered to achieve positive outcomes for all community members. Community groups work and learn together, sharing knowledge gained through their successes and failures.
Strengths based – Approaches build on skills, knowledge and resources available to communities, encouraging them to work together to achieve the communities’ desired goals and outcomes. Activities aim to build on strengths and to develop resilience within and across communities (rather than focusing on problems and needs).
Innovation – Policies, practices and interventions contain sufficient flexibility to support and encourage innovation. Community –led innovation has the potential to address community aspirations in ways that are often quicker and more effective than the public sector.
Equity – Opportunities and resources are allocated in ways that improve the capacity of all sections of the community to achieve wellbeing. Interventions aim to address disadvantage and redress power imbalances.
Sustainability and resiliency – Approaches recognise the connections between different aspects of individual and community wellbeing. Community resources are developed and maintained to achieve change for the good of the community as a whole – no and in the future.

Te Whakamotuhaketanga Hapū Strategy

Te Whakamotuhaketanga Hapū is an internal strategy that sets out the way we work beside hapū and iwi. It provides a framework for the way we integrate te reo, tikanga and kaupapa into our systems, structures and processes.

Te Whakamotuhaketanga Hapū uses an ‘investment in strengths’ approach, in which the strengths’ of hapū and iwi are identified and then used as the starting point for their development.

The strategy allows and encourages our staff to consider development aspirations from a Māori perspective, and to ensure that our policy advice and service delivery is aligned to the needs of hapū and iwi.

In undertaking community advisory services we recognise and support Māori aspirations in respect of a number of core values which include:

Tino rangatiratanga – includes concepts of self determination, self-reliance and the desire to be in control of one’s vision and destiny.
Manaakitanga – includes acknowledging the mana of others in a number of ways, for example through demonstrating mutual respect.
Kotahitanga and mahi tahi – includes concepts of until and working as one.
Motuhaketanga – includes concepts of independence, autonomy and supporting self-reliance.
Whakawhanaungatanga – includes concepts of collective wellbeing and relating well to others.

Te Atamira Taiwhenua

Te Atamira Taiwhenua is the Department’s kaumātua advisory group. The group consists of 16 kaumātua and kuia who represent whānau, hapū and iwi from across the country. They work closely with our advisors to support them in their community advisory work.

Te Kakeega Strategy

Te Kakeega is an internal strategy that aims to achieve strong, sustainable Pacific communities by strengthening their ability to participate and contribute to New Zealand in their own way, and become self sufficient.

To do this, we encourage our staff to work with Pacific communities in a way that builds trust, respect and confidence.

communitymatters.govt.nz

Helping New Zealand build strong communities