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What is Karamea Community's community-led development approach?

Karamea Community

Location: Karamea is an isolated and geographically defined community within the boundaries of the Kahurangi National Park and the Tasman Sea, 100 km North of Westport in the Buller district
Population: Census 2013 show a residential population base of Karamea township itself is 375 (Census 2013; a decrease of 48 since Census 2006) with a total of 582 across the catchment

The area has an economic history of resource extraction based on flax, timber and fishing with a current economic base of dairy farming, tourism and horticulture. Two factors dominate the cultural demographics – an aging population and a history of newcomers intending to settle for the long term but moving on in the absence of employment opportunities – only 8% of the community had lived in the area for more than 30 years. As with all small isolated communities, economic independence is difficult to maintain and in order to attract newcomers, particularly younger people, and more employment opportunities need to be created whether through new enterprises based on local resources, self-employment or paid work.

Karamea Community Incorporated is recognised as the backbone organisation for the Karamea CLD partnership and was formalised in April last year as a result of a range of public and face to face meetings that started in 2014 to support and encourage intentional discussions. A diverse stable of community drivers continue to look toward more ways that create opportunities for people to feel they are part of a participatory process, are heard and can share their gifts, talents and strengths to enhance community life.

Extensive surveys in 2007 and 2014 confirmed that the core strengths of the community are:

  • a strong sense of connection to the natural environment 
  • a strong sense of community
  • isolation is seen as both an advantage and a disadvantage
  • that people are generally friendly towards each other and will help out in times of need
  • lack of employment opportunities and distance from core services are seen as downsides
  • there are considerable community assets which have been built up through community contribution since settler arrival in the 1870s.

There is also good alignment with the aims and objectives of the 2008-2011 Community Development Scheme funded by Internal Affairs; the five CLD principles, and the 3 pillars of sustainable community development, that is, environmental protection, social equality and economic growth. The community is by and large a proactive community that recognises its assets (human/social, built, natural and cultural) and has had recent successes with a broadband upgrade that has improved cellular connectivity for the district; the successful bidding for funds for a number of anchor community projects that include redevelopment and beautification of the centre of the township to increase social connection and the development of a long-term Town and Country Plan which, at its core, has the objective of achieving an integrated, sustainable and cohesive approach to growing Karamea’s future.

Although there are challenges to overcome, Karamea has a solid history of creating inclusive social gatherings and community meetings to explore issues and opportunities that connect people and groups to build on local strengths and assets. The general aim of the community-based project is “to achieve an inclusive self-supporting community culture in Karamea, ensuring that no one is left out unless by personal choice. We want to be a community where all of our members flourish.”