John Forbes and Dickie Farrar about Opotiki’s journey from past land confiscations to Iwi-led locally driven aquaculture industry; and Karen Clifford (Grest Start Taita) and Carmen Payne (Barnardos) spoke of Barnardos’ ongoing exploration into new ways of engaging community, and Taita’s ongoing development as a more connected community and a great place for kids to grow up.

The overall workshop focus was on leading in communities. 50 people participated in the mix of presentations and activity, stretching the capacity of room that had been booked for 28.  Participants assessed for themselves where they thought leading had come from in each of the initiatives – using the 4 dimensions of change tool adapted by Inspiring Communities (cultural, systemic, relational, individual - see What We Are Learning page 39)

The stories and theory shared prompted some keen discussion and reflection. One funder present, from a trust that has operated for 10 years, expressed being prompted to challenge their approach, saying “We have always  funded what people bring to us. Now is the time to think differently, step back and look at a community-led development way”. A trustee from BayTrust talked about a special fund that they received unexpectedly and which they are using to focus on: community, where there can be a sustainable long term difference and root causes are addressed. Another participant commented that we need to take a broad view of leadership and move from heroic leadership to distributed leadership where we celebrate leadership of all types.

The Opotiki and Taita presentations and discussions were powerful because they demonstrated changes and impacts, some of the underlying challenges, the fundamental strengths that lie within their communities and the practical importance of shared vision, perseverance and working together in different ways. They were honest about the fragility and loneliness that can happen when working differently, and the energy when ‘things come together’.

Karen Clifford of Great Start Taita talked about ‘community’ as the ‘C’ that matters where people are not customers, clients or consumers, and a Taita that now has a myriad of locally grown initiatives that strengthen connections and relationships and well-being. From a disconnected neighbourhood 3 years ago now more than 60% of households are connected with each other through Great Start. For Opotiki’s immensely ambitious total economic and social revitalisation of their town through aquaculture and other developments there is more than 85% local support - all the resource consents needed have been issued with virtually no opposition. This is usually unheard of.

For Inspiring Communities, while we still have much to learn, we were able to share lessons about community-led development, insights, handy hints, examples of initiatives throughout the country, and CLD tools, from WWAL. This was only a hoped-for possibility in 2009!

The presentations are available on DVD at no charge. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it