"We want to create a way of working as a whole community, agencies and us together, that creates hope and optimism"
Georgie Thompson, Ruapotaka Marae, Tamaki

April 2010: First Bay of Plenty Community-Led Development Forum

April2010BoPforum-group1April2010BoPf-grp-extApril2010BoPforum-team

Bay of Plenty Interest in Community-Led Development

14 April 2010 saw fifty people from across the Bay of Plenty gather at Te Ao Marama, Ohinemutu Village, in Rotorua. Inspiring Communities, along with BayTrust and Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust had co-convened the day which included presentations, small group discussions, and time for networking. Participants came from communities across the Bay of Plenty and included people working with Iwi, hapu and whanau, community organisations and networks, local and central government, research and business.

 

This report (PDF) gives a closer look at the day and the outcomes from group discussions: icon BoP CLD Forum April 2010-report (1.14 MB) 

The stories shared confirmed the capability and determination of local communities to design and lead on positive change around complex issues.  A key message coming through was that significant transformation can be driven by neighbourhoods and local communities, especially when there is willingness and capability to work together cross sectorally.

Three examples of this which were highlighted on the day included:

  • A story about Hannah's Bay Reserve in Rotorua - how a neighbourhood environmental focus has, over eleven years of joint thinking, planning and mahi, created a community treasure - and now quietly attracts neighbourhood, city, national and international interest and effort...and a joint sense of ownership and guardianship. 
  • An introduction to the research approach which Whakatohea Iwi Social and Health Services are taking to understanding local needs and aspirations - through personal engagement in local homes with people who don't usually get "counted" through traditional styles of social and community research. This strengths based research approach will inform Iwi-led and community-led development planning.
  • And an overview of the Eastbay TimeBank - one of New Zealand's first free time exchange systems - enabling local people to give and to receive help in their own local communities... and to be more connected with one another irrespective of wealth or status. It is about sharing skills and time. (In Lyttleton, New Zealand, 10% of residents are Timebank members.)

Small group discussions generated information exchange, questions, debate and humour, and resulted in some great "gems". And by the end of the day the forum participants were keen to meet again and keep engaging with each other around community-led development.

Presentations

icon ICE BoP Forum presentation April2010 (1.8 MB)

icon April2010-Whakatohea_CommunityDevelopmentProject (68.85 kB)

icon April2010-Pou_Whakaaro_and_Timebanking (660.91 kB)

icon April2010-HannahsBay_CommunityRestorationProject (5.52 MB)

Barbara MacLennan, Inspiring Communities

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