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Hunger and Poverty (SDGs 1,2)

An update by Dr Amber Hammill, Kai Challenge ActivatorOver the past few months we have been working alongside Community Waikato, GoEco, Creative Waikato and Trust Waikato to put together a community event, ‘Thriving Tomorrow: Navigating Resilience’. This event arose in response to reflections on a(nother) year of climate-related disruption, and the impacts of these events on communities. As we said in the event invitation, in reflecting on these events, “we are reminded of the power that e...

Looking After and Restoring our Awa (SDG 6)

The WWP has been proud to support two amazing initiatives which are working to clean up and restore the Waikato River, especially between Ngaruawahia and Kemureti | Cambridge. Both Deep Dive Division and the Waikato Kaitiaki River Sweepers are bringing together the community to restore the mauri of the mighty Waikato River which is at the heart of our region. Their complementary skills mean that we can fully support the shared vision of Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato which is:“where a hea...

Lots of Little Fires

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

Te Ara Poutama- Hauraki Opportunity

We have now partnered with Huber Social, Te Tara o te Whai (the Hauraki Primary Health Organisation (PHO)), TCDC, Hauraki and Matamata-Piako District Councils 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 important choices regarding the present and future wellbeing of the region can be made wi...

Celebrating collaboration and empowering young parents through housing security

In July 2023, the Waikato Wellbeing Project joined forces with Twenty20 Housing to produce a compelling story as part of the ‘Lots of Little Fires’ series.This collaboration brought to light the essential role of exceptionally run transitional housing providers, like Twenty20 Housing, in supporting adults and rangatahi (young people) experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness.Angie Simpson, director of Twenty20 Sustainable Housing, saw a previous ‘Lots of Little Fires’ story shared...

Kōrero Waikato: Event Manager/Coordinator

Call for Expressions of InterestKōrero Waikato: Event Manager/CoordinatorAre you an awesome event and project manager with a passion for wellbeing in the Waikato, and the skills and energy to lead a programme of regional leadership conversations?The Waikato Wellbeing Project (WWP) is a regional initiative to achieve a more environmentally sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive Waikato region. As part of our portfolio of activities, in 2024 we are launching Kōrero Waikato.Kōrero: Waikato is ab...

Impact Lab and the Kai Challenge

While we might associate our university days with tight budgets, in 2022 The People’s Inquiry into Wellbeing (2022) found things had gone beyond ‘tight’.According to their research, over the preceding year, 22% of students were “unable to afford food weekly or daily, rising to 32% fortnightly”.This year, the Kai Challenge worked with students in the University of Waikato’s Impact Lab to understand more about the experiences of food and food insecurity among students on campus....

Waikato Wellbeing Project- 2023 Summary

Harvey Brookes, Executive DirectorThe WWP has continued to evolve and develop, and 2023 has been no exception. As we approach the end of the year, it’s worth pausing to reflect on the scale of our wellbeing challenge and the progress made. I also want to acknowledge the people and partner organisations who continue to contribute massively to and support the Waikato Wellbeing Project and its vision that our Mokopuna are Thriving.At a Kaitiaki Advisory Board Workshop in October, community develo...

SDG Summit

Co-hosted by the WWP, University of Waikato, Waikato Tainui and Te Pukenga, the Fourth SDG Summit in February (Home / | Aotearoa New Zealand SDG Summits) was focused on Implementing the SDGs in Aotearoa.Held at the Gallagher Performing Arts centre, we hosted several hundred people from across Aotearoa and explored a wide range of sustainability and wellbeing related topics, with fantastic speakers and workshops. Field trips on the second day visited Whaingaroa | Raglan and the Ruakura Superhub a...

Rangatahi Wellbeing (SDGs 4,8,10)

An update by Lead Social Innovator, Joe WilsonSince our work in 2021-22 on Rangatahi Opportunity and Case for Change, I have worked with the ‘Stronger Together’ Business Collective and the Kirikiriroa Youth Sector Services to build a united relationship between the business and youth service sectors. The bringing together of both sectors was carefully documented (Rangatahi | Youth Waikato | Waikato Wellbeing Project). This video story captures the whakawhanaungatanga as it happened and the s...

Youth Homelessness/Housing (SDGs 4,8,10 and 11)

In 2023, Joe has connected and facilitated a hui and process between 20/20 Sustainable Housing and He Puaawai Teen Parent Unit. Gill Cotter (Lead at He Puaawai) and Angie Simpson (Director of 20/20 Sustainable Housing) were introduced in September where they shared their mahi, experiences with youth housing and what opportunities may lie ahead.As a result of this first hui, we have since had three more and very quickly it has been identified that at least eight of the teen parents are living in ...

Hunger and Poverty (SDGs 1,2)

An update by Dr Amber Hammill, Kai Challenge ActivatorThe WWP identified SDGs 1 and 2 as major priorities at the commencement of our implementation phase in 2021. Across 2023 we have engaged with stakeholders and leaders in the Waikato kai system, engaged a Kai Challenge Activator and have commenced a process to:·       Develop a picture of the systems currently in use around the region to support our conversations about the future.·     &...

Other SDGs

Across other SDGs, we have worked with our Manu Taki and community stakeholders to identify and take opportunities to accelerate wellbeing.SDG 5 (Gender Equality) we have welcomed Riikka Anderson from YWCA Waikato as Manu Taki for this SDG. An initial SDG 5 scorecard for the Waikato has been developed and published on Te Ara Poutama. In October we supported Rainbow Hub Waikato and Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura – Outing Violence to launch a report on the wellbeing for Takatāpui and Rainbow elders in...

Te Ara Poutama

2023 has seen further development of Te Ara Poutama- moving from concept to development. We were delighted in May 2023 to have Trust Waikato come on board as a key funder and supporter for Te Ara Poutama, along with continued support from Waikato Regional Council.  With our partners we launched the Te Ara Poutama Wellbeing Dashboard, showing progress at a number of scales (Global, New Zealand, Waikato, SDGs, districts) and through several lenses (frameworks, data and update reports).As well...

Introducing Tui

We have just launched Tui, our AI search facility for Te Ara Poutama. Powered by Chat GPT, Tui is a learning AI application which can search Te Ara Poutama and the internet to answer your wellbeing knowledge questions. You can find Tui on our website: Te Ara Poutama Waikato | Waikato Wellbeing Project...

Hauraki Wellbeing Assessment

In early 2023, along with key Waikato wellbeing agencies, we were invited by the Mayor and Council of Thames Coromandel District Council (TCDC) to visit their district and discuss support in the aftermath of cyclones Hale and Gabrielle. At that meting the role of wellbeing knowledge was discussed at length and it was agreed that the WWP could support TCDC and other wellbeing agencies in the area, to better understand what wellbeing means for people in the Hauraki rohe and how that night change o...

Lots of Little Fires

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

Waha: Using our Voice to Advocate for Positive Change

Across 2023 we have used our voices- individually and collectively in many ways to advance the Waikato Wellbeing project kaupapa. As part of the choir of Waikato change-makers, we’ve also humbly lent our voices to support the other awesome people making a difference as well.As well as what’s been mentioned already, some of the other ways we’ve supported positive change include:·       Making submissions to the government on key inquiries and change proposals ...

Celebrating Excellence: Joe Wilson and "Lots of Little Fires" Receive Prestigious Billie Award

The Waikato Wellbeing Project is thrilled to announce that Joe Wilson, the visionary behind the Lots of Little Fires storytelling research project, has been honoured with the Billie Award for Strengths-Based Research at the Te Auaha Pito Mata – New and Emerging Researcher Awards, hosted by Community Research New Zealand.The Billie Award, named after Garth Nowland-Foreman's mother, who was known for her ability to see the positive in everyone, recognises the transformative work of Lots of Littl...

Lots of Little Fires an Award Winner!

We are not the only ones who believe in the power of storytelling; Lots of Little Fires has just been awarded the Community Research ‘Billie Award’ for Strengths Based Storytelling. Joe Wilson will travel down to Pōneke to receive this award in October. We thank all the incredible people and communities who have so vulnerably told their stories and trusted us to share with you all.  This award is absolutely yours, for the heart, mana and mahi you do in your communities. Ngaa mihi nui.L...

Congratulations Dujon Cullingford!

Kaitiaki Advisory Board member Dujon Cullingford was recently awarded a civic award for services to the community by Mayor Paula Southgate.Dujon says “his journey started in the hood with parents who valued expression. Stumbling into dance, church, youthwork and Hip Hop culture young, took me to places I would have never imagined and built a strong base. The amazing mentors and people I've had in my life since have influenced me for the better, helping me grow and serve community, youth and th...

Kia Ora and Welcome Dr Rebekah Graham

In August we were excited to welcome Dr Rebekah Graham to our Kaitiaki Advisory Board. Rebekah has a passion for community wellbeing and expertise in various interconnected areas, namely food insecurity, but more recently disability.“The Waikato Wellbeing Project’s strategic priorities and focus areas (such as leading impactful projects, sharing wellbeing stories through data and insight, fostering community engagement, advocating for positive change, and supporting regional plans), resonate...

Community Led Youth and Business Collective

As part of the cross-sector collaboration including the ‘Stronger Together’ Business Collective and the Kirikiriroa Youth Sector Services, the WWP has facilitated this ongoing community led project to build a united relationship between the business and youth service sectors.The bringing together of both sectors was carefully documented and captures the whakawhanaungatanga as it happened and the sharing of, what were both polarising and shared perspectives and experiences. The result was an ...

Outward Bound and Youth Employability

Joe Wilson has built a strong relationship with Bevan Smith (Principal Advisor at MOE) and Krishan Kumar (community development lead at Outward Bound). Together, along with Elle Freestone (Mayors Taskforce for Jobs), the WWP are funding two places out of a group of 14 for rurally placed rangatahi in the Waikato entering employment. This is an incredible opportunity to attend the 8-day Whakatipu Course with Outward Bound in Anakiwa. This is a Waikato based kaupapa and we hope to build this furthe...

Waikato Kai Challenge

Thanks to the many people who took the time to share their work with me over the Winter, the Kai Challenge comes into the Spring with a path forward into the next phase of the work.The big message from people working at the hungry end of the food system in the Waikato is that the need for their support is growing. This is echoed across the motu. A recent paper from Kore Hiakai shows that, amongst the services they’re in touch with, the number of food parcel they are distributing per month rose...