August 2011

The Tamaki Transformation Programme has published a resource, Shaping Tamaki's Future Together:  A Transformational Approach.

This resource is for those who want to explore a new way of working with communities, and across organisations, and learn some tools to support them along the way.  It offers snapshots of work undertaken during the Tamaki Transformation Programme's two year foundation period as it evolves new approaches to bring together residents and groups from across community, government and private sectors, in service of common goals.

Tamaki is the place (Glen Innes, Point England and Panmure); the people (diverse communities), the rohe of Ngati Whatua, Ngati Paoa and Ngai Tai.  Initiated in 2007, the Tamaki Transformation Programme is one of New Zealand's largest urban regeneration initiatives. Its goals is to improve housing, parks, schools, infrastructure, local economy and job opportunities for people who live here now and for those who will live here in the future.  Its mandate is to create a new model in New Zealand for collaborative partnerships with the community, government agencies, mana whenua and private investors.  Evidence shows that foundations are being laid for transformational outcomes and that local community contributors are actively engaged in and championing the change.

The Programme has developed a framework to help its partners move towards a transformational approach.  This is underpinned by five principles of practice:

• Forging a transformation vision - Taumata moana

• Adapting to complexity - Here here taniwha

• Whole of community working together - Pa harekeke

• Harnessing community gifts, assets and strengths - Na to rouroru, na taku rourou

• Co-leading and co-designing - Mahi tahi

Being prepared to work differently means being prepared for change on many levels.  On a personal level, it may require taking up new attitudes, and motivations, establishing new relationships, working around formal rules, learning new protocols and putting aside the normal power structures to let others into the process.  It can require moving away from usual controls and trusting that others can and will deliver.  It asks government contributors to think outside their usual service delivery and decision-making paradigms, while at the same time remaining mindful of them.  It asks community contributors to consider the wider government context in order to interact with it, even if this is to negotiate its constraints. 

This resource contains some key tools to help with working differently.  These include:

• A guide for implementing principles of practice

• Frameworks for enquiry

• Tools for working together

• TIES tools for cross sector collaboration, as developed by the TIES TEAM (Tamaki community leaders and friends)

• Strategies for strengthening resident and community engagement, capacity and leadership

• Dedicated resources.

It is not always plain sailing, but we hope that lessons from the Tamaki Transformation Programme to date will be valuable to your own approaches.  This resource was produced by the Tamaki Transformation Community Engagement Team – Jenny Chilcott, Alfred Ngaro, Tamati Patuwai and Moka Ngaro.

• For a copy of Shaping Tamaki's Future Together: A transformational approach, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• To learn more about the Tamaki Transformation Programme visit www.tamakitransformation.co.nz.

Thanks to Jenny Chilcott for providing this article.