Building capability across the for-purpose sector
Image via Volunteer Wellington.
Funding to supercharge and strengthen our communities
“If you were to describe the importance of te Tiriti as a founding document for our nation to someone who had never heard of it before, what would you say?” host Kaye Maree Dunn asks guest Pita Tipene.
It’s the first episode of He Kōrero Podcast’s new series Te Tiriti 2024 and Beyond, and Pita, Chair of the Waitangi National Trust, has been invited to share the history of te Tiriti o Waitangi in layperson’s terms. Launched by the Tangata Whenua Community and Voluntary Sector Research Centre (Community Research) in 2024, the series is designed to counter cultural anxiety around te Tiriti by sharing personal stories and insights from inspiring thought leaders across Aotearoa New Zealand.
“The series shares messages of hope, of the importance of education, of understanding our history, of the significance of te Tiriti o Waitangi and how it can positively shape all of our futures,” says Community Research Kaiwhakahaere Matua (General Manager) Lorna Ingram.
Community Research has also hosted episodes on supporting Pasifika youth, advocating for equity and improving wellbeing.
Strengthening community knowledge
The idea to establish a robust research body for the community sector was first floated at the start of the new millennium. Informed by findings of the Community- Government Relations Working Party, Community Research was formally launched in 2008 to develop community capacity and promote community leadership.
“Our vision is to create more equitable, engaged and inclusive communities that are informed by community knowledge,” says Lorna. To do this, Community Research provides an open-access website where community-led researcher and knowledge holders can share their research.
“They say knowledge is power, but when it comes to community development, it can really be gamechanging,” says Lorna. “By ensuring that we are sharing ideas, knowledge and community research effectively, we are helping individuals, communities and organisations to address challenges, work smarter or create better support services.”
By engaging with researchers from a wide range of backgrounds, Community Research aims to amplify a diverse range of perspectives, voices and experiences for community benefit. Accessibility is also key. “We try to make sure that knowledge can be easily shared in spaces that will bring about change,” says Lorna. Alongside He Kōrero, Community Research also shares free online resources in a range of concise and easily digestible formats.
Community Research sought funding to support production costs for this important He Kōrero series. “We hope this series of engaging and thought-provoking interviews inspires people to see te Tiriti o Waitangi as a solution to a more equitable and inclusive Aotearoa,” says Lorna.
“This funding helps us to make a bigger impact – simple as that.”
Building volunteer power
In the late 1980s, Volunteer Wellington Te Puna Tautoko Founder Roger Tweedy was working for a recruitment multinational. At the time, unemployment was high and he was unable to place every applicant in suitable jobs, leaving many qualified individuals with time on their hands.
Seeing this issue first-hand, Roger was inspired to create something that would provide meaningful volunteering opportunities for people. What became Volunteer Wellington Te Puna Tautoko was opened in 1992.
“It was a real win-win – it meant that jobseekers could gain work experience and organisations got more hands on deck,” says Regional Manager Julie Thomson.
Over 30 years into their story, Volunteer Wellington Te Puna Tautoko also works alongside organisations to identify where volunteers could help to streamline, amplify or expedite its work. “Often organisations are so entrenched in the ‘day to day’ that they struggle to see how things could be done better,” says Julie. “We encourage them to think innovatively and help them to find those opportunities.”
Additionally, Volunteer Wellington Te Puna Tautoko equips organisations with the tools and knowledge to develop effective and inclusive volunteer programmes to advance its missions. “The core of our mahi is supporting other organisations to effectively do theirs.” As well as a consultancy service, Volunteer Wellington Te Puna Tautoko offers a comprehensive professional development programme designed to increase the capacity and capability of the sector
“Volunteers bring skills to drive change, to fill gaps and build capacity,” says Julie. “They really enrich organisations, create new conversations, bring new ideas and look at challenges with fresh eyes.”
Mobilising employee power
Launched in 2002, the Volunteer Wellington Te Puna Tautoko’s Employee Volunteering programme places teams of volunteers into community projects ranging from collecting rubbish from coastlines to assisting with aged care services in rest homes.
With funding from Nikau, which helped to support the salary of Volunteer Wellington Te Puna Tautoko’s Employee Volunteering Coordinator, it was able to facilitate 74 projects in 2024 involving more than 500 volunteers. These include projects run by the Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves, the New Zealand Cancer Society, Kiwi Community Assistance and Vogelmorn Community Centre.
“This grant was an investment in more than one organisation,” says Julie. “Supporting our mahi has a powerful flow-on effect.”
Download our 2024 Impact Report
Featuring almost 50 voices from accross the for-purpose sector - from volunteers to donors, funders to people on the front lines, founders to for-purpose organisations - Nikau’s 2024 Impact Report shares stories of impact and generosity from accross Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Maui, the Greater Wellington region, funding and philanrthopy trends and key mahi to grow generosity to support the people and places of our region.