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WWP: 2024 in Hindsight

Every year, the WWP reports to the Kaitiaki Advisory Board, WRC the WEL Energy Trust and our valued stakeholders on our performance and achievements over the past 12 months. The report gives an aggregated summary, as well as a detailed breakdown of the performance of each of our major programmes of work, measured against our 2024/25 Business Plan.Overall, we are very pleased with the progress made in 2024, especially given the scale of the task we have taken on, our small size and limited mandat...

WWP Review

At its Annual Plan hearings and deliberations in early 2024, the WEL Trust resolved to continue funding the Waikato Wellbeing Project, subject to “a robust review of future funding models and project deliveries.”We contracted Natalie Richards of Versus (www.versus.co.nz ) to undertake the review, which was completed in February 2025. The review was conducted in late 2024 using a qualitative data collection approach. A total of 36 people participated in the review, including funders, capital ...

WEL Energy Trust Annual Plan

The WEL Energy Trust was the foundational funder of the Waikato Wellbeing Project through a 5-year Partnership and Funding Agreement with the Waikato Regional Council. We are now approaching the fifth year of funding under this agreement from the WEL Trust.Each year the Trust prepares an Annual Plan, which is open for public comment before making a final budget decision on 25 March. The draft 2025/26 Annual Plan can be viewed here (Draft-Annual-Plan.pdf).  You can make submission on the pla...

Kai Challenge Update- Foodshed Analysis

In December we shared the results of our baseline research on food in the Waikato region - Want Amongst Plenty. This report brought together, for the first time, a series of indicators regarding food security and insecurity in the Waikato region.The second in our series of research reports on Kai have now been completed. A foodshed analysis measures how much food the Waikato region produces, and how much food the people of the Waikato need for a good, healthy diet. The report was commissioned as...

Anna Casey-Cox: The need for Affordable Rentals

Hamilton City Councillor and SDG 1/2 Manu Taki, Dr. Anna Casey- Cox shares her thoughts about the importance of affordable rents- not only in terms of the need for safe and secure homes, but also the relationship between housing and kai security- which was highlighted by the WWP’s 2024 report Want Amongst Plenty.  For more information contact Anna at Anna.Casey-Cox@council.hcc.govt.nz...

Taurikura: A Story of Treaty Partnership and Thriving Together

A preview of our upcoming Lots of Little Fires Story....

Young Waikato Women’s Wellbeing Baseline Report and Event

WWP SDG 5 Manu Taki Riikka Anderson is the General Manager of YWCA Hamilton and is a champion for SDG 5 Gender Equality. No target for this important SDG was developed at the commencement of the WWP as there was inadequate baseline data on the wellbeing of different genders in the Waikato, including for woman.In partnership with WEL Trust, Trust Waikato and YWCA, we have co-funded research to better understand the key drivers of wellbeing in the Waikato for young woman and people identifying as ...

YWCA Hamilton launch report on Young Women's Wellbeing in Waikato

YWCA Hamilton has launched the Young Waikato Women’s Wellbeing Baseline Report, a study that highlights the wellbeing of young women and sex/gender diverse individuals in the region. The report, developed in partnership with Huber Social and co-funded by YWCA, Trust Waikato, WEL Energy Trust, and Waikato Wellbeing Project, aims to provide critical insights to drive meaningful change.The launch event will take place on Wednesday, 19 February, at The Link in Hamilton.YWCA Hamilton General Manage...

Mere Kirihimete

It has been a busy and positive year for the Waikato Wellbeing Project. We started the year with discussions with the WEL Energy Trust as part of their annual plan. Through these discussions, we were able to demonstrate the depth and breadth of support for the project and the positive outcomes achieved so far. These discussion helped to refine our 2024-25 Business Plan, which has guided our work programme and describe our ‘Theory of Change’ to funders and stakeholders. An updated 2025-26 Bus...

Introducing Hera Denton

In October we announced our Kai Challenge partnership with GoEco. The purpose of the partnership is to ensure that the WWP works with an organisation which is focused not only on better understanding why there is food scarcity in the Waikato but is at the front line of making a difference and is able to convene together other change leaders.The partnership will see the WWP contribute to funding a new Kai Challenge Lead for a fixed period, and we will share all our insights, stakeholder partnersh...

Treaty Principles Bill

The Treaty Principles Bill was introduced to Parliament in November 2024. It is now being considered by the Justice Select Committee. Submissions to the committee are open until 7 January 2025. You can make a submission to the Select Committee here.The Waikato Wellbeing Project has lodged a submission in opposition to the Bill and you can read our submission below. We have also supported a joint submission from Community Waikato, Creative Waikato, Go Eco, Diversity Counselling NZ, Seed Waikato, ...

Partnership with MAS Foundation

We are excited to announce, as part of the Waikato Kai Challenge, the formalisation of our partnership with the MAS Foundation. MAS Foundation is committed to improving health and wellbeing equity in Aotearoa New Zealand. The foundation’s vision is:Kia ora ngātahi ngā tamariki me ngā whānau i Aotearoa – Ola Manuia.Children and families flourishing together in Aotearoa New Zealand.…and the foundation’s purpose is:Kia whakapikia te ōritenga hauora, toira hoki.To improve health and wel...

Kai Challenge Report: Want Amongst Plenty

Our recently released report on food insecurity in the Waikato region, Want Amongst Plenty is now available online.  The report and associated resources can be downloaded here. If you would like a hard copy, please get in touch.The objective for the Waikato Kai Challenge programme is:To reduce the extent and risk of food insecurity in the Waikato region and in doing so increase the agency of those at risk of limited access to healthy food and with less need for charity....

Development of a Draft Knowledge Framework

Quanita is developing our knowledge programme for 2025 and refreshing the strategic framework underlying Te Ara Poutama.As part of the Kai Challenge workshop, an infographic was created to share key research findings and encourage stakeholders to collaborate in developing a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities for Kai in the region. This infographic served as a prototype to discuss the need for a structured knowledge framework to understand, measure, and enhance well-being ac...

Launch Event: Young Waikato Women’s Wellbeing Baseline Report

The Young Waikato Women’s Wellbeing Baseline Report presents a community wellbeing baseline for young women and sex/gender diverse people in the Waikato. This work is being led by YWCA Hamilton General Manager and WWP Manu Taki Riikka Anderson. The project has been co-funded by YWCA, Trust Waikato, WEL Energy Trust and Waikato Wellbeing Project. The work was undertaken by Huber Social.If you would like to know more about the findings of this research and see the full report, an event will be h...

Hauraki Opportunity

The online wellbeing survey opened on the 15th of October, with responses off to a good start.  As at mid-November, responses were at just over 400, with higher response rates expected as project partners share and promote the survey through social media channels and via community organisation partners.The project aims to reach 2,000 responses by 28 February 2025, with enough responses to reflect the ethnic, socio-economic and geographic diversity of the Hauraki rohe. The project team (whic...

Framing Food Insecurity in the Waikato Region

The Waikato Wellbeing Project has unveiled the first of three pivotal research reports aimed at tackling food insecurity and poverty in the region. Framing Food Insecurity in the Waikato, conducted by StrategEase, Kelvin Norgrove and Alan Johnson, is part of the Waikato Kai Challenge and Te Ara Poutama Knowledge Initiative.This foundational report provides crucial insights into the paradox of food insecurity in one of New Zealand’s most agriculturally rich regions. It sets the stage for action...

WWP Review

As the WWP nears the end of its fourth year of implementation, we are commencing a review of the progress made by the project so far, and how might be funded in the future. A review of the deliverables and funding options for the project was also requested by the WEL Energy Trust as part of the current 5-year funding agreement.We have discussed the review with several potential providers and have selected Natalie Richard of Versus Research to undertake the review. The review will explore the fol...

Welcome Quanita Ali

As part of our 2924-25 Business Plan, we committed to a greater focus on our existing programmes, including Te Ara Poutama. We undertook a search for a suitably qualified and experienced person to lead Te Ara Poutama and were delighted with the quantity and calibre of people who applied, both from within the Waikato and across New Zealand.We are very excited to welcome Quanita Ali to the Waikato Wellbeing Project as our Te Ara Poutama Lead. Quanita brings an impressive set of skills and experien...

Partnership with GoEco

Our work in the kai (SDG 1,2) space has been ongoing for more than 2 years and several major pieces of work are current underway (see below). When our previous Kai Challenge Lead Amber Hammill moved into her new role at Te Whau Ora, we decided to explore other recruitment options that could create more lasting impact and opportunity.In partnership with WWP Manu Taki and GoEco CE Jo Wrigley, we are pleased to announce a new and exciting partnership for the Waikato Kai Challenge. We will jointly r...

Hunger and Poverty (SDGs 1,2)

As was reported in our July update, we have several major pieces of work currently underway:A baseline survey of the measures and indicators currently available to assess food security in our region. Currently being undertaken by StrategEase LtdAn analysis of the regions’ ‘foodshed’ – that is, a measure of our nutritional needs and outputs across the region. Currently being undertaken by Whirika Ltd. At this time, both pieces of work are nearing completion and will be available for ...

Lots of Little Fires

An update by Lead Social Innovator, Joe Wilson...

Te Ara Poutama- Hauraki Opportunity- Survey Open!

The Hauraki Opportunity is the flagship project of Te Ara Poutama, designed to deliver in co-construction with the people of Hauraki a repeatable Wellbeing Measurement and Management System that measures what matters to them, so that their needs, aspirations, and priorities can be further understood and evidenced, and so that – aligned to the intentions of Te Ara Poutama - important choices regarding the present and future wellbeing of the region can be made wisely.Completing the Community Sur...

Community Leaders Ecosystem Event

In partnership with Community Waikato, Hamilton City Council, and the Good Day Matrix, the Waikato Wellbeing project is delighted to be supporting the 2024 Community Leaders Ecosystem Event.This is not your ordinary leadership event. We all have a stake in the future, and we are setting the stage to make magic happen. If you are a community leader, a member of a not-for-profit organisation, a local government official, or someone who cares about their community thriving, we are inviting you to d...

Upcoming Creative Waikato Events

Jeremy Mayall, CEO of Creative Waikato and WWP SDG 3 Manu Taki is facilitating several amazing events in Kirikiriroa Hamilton over the next few weeks- please see details below.Ihirangaranga – Te Hua o Koanga: The Elixir of SpringSaturday 19th October - 5pm @ The MeteorWelcome the energy of Koanga (Spring) with the next iteration of Ihirangaranga, titled:  “Ngā Hua o Koanga: The Elixir of Spring“, where sounds and visuals will captivate and transport you to an experience you will...