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Te Ara Poutama Public Webinar

The Waikato Wellbeing Project is proud to introduce Te Ara Poutama, a digital library aimed at equipping individuals and communities with the essential knowledge needed for making informed decisions that positively impact their lives.Developed with support from Trust Waikato, Te Ara Poutama embodies the mission of the Waikato Wellbeing Project: to transform lives through meaningful initiatives. This innovative digital library represents a significant stride towards realising this vision.Join the...

Waha: Using our Voice to Advocate for Positive Change

It's nearly three years since the operational phase of the Waikato Wellbeing project started. In that time we have done a huge amount to partner, collaborate, communicate and share our wellbeing insights and to celebrate the awesome mahi of those in the community who are leading and being the change we champion. Here’s a snapshot of our activity since January 2021!...

The Good Day Matrix: Take Ten Leadership Event

The Good Day Matrix is hosting a Take Ten Leadership Event on Friday 10 November at the Galagher Hub, Te Pukenga (WINTEC) campus in Hamilton.  Hear from ten amazing leaders each taking ten minutes to share their leadership stories and insights. Speakers are:David Galbraith - Olympics Performance Psychologist & Performance CoachCarol Brown - Sales Director @ Microsoft & Forbes Coaching CouncilHusain Al-Badry - Datacom Associate Director of Innovation and Growth & Refugees as Surv...

EDNZ Conference

The annual Economic Development New Zealand (EDNZ) conference is being held this year in the mighty Waikato.To register for the conference please go to: Personal Information - EDNZ Conference 2023 (cvent.com)Economic Development continues to evolve and change. As a profession it is good for us to step back and assess changing landscapes and what it means for us as economic development practitioners.Thursday morning will provide the opportunity to hear and reflect on some important aspects of new...

SWIFT have launched a $50,000 scholarship scheme

South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) have launched a $50,000 scholarship scheme to help South Waikato residents of all ages with their tertiary education.The scholarship programme is not only for school leavers....

2023 Climathon Waikato Impact Report

In this pivotal year for humanity, the call for decisive climate action is more urgent than ever. So, what happens when you bring together students, professionals, climate experts, and citizens to co-create solutions for our shared climate challenges? That's what we sought to find out in the 2023 edition of Climathon Waikato. Through a series of interactive 'warm-up' events and workshops in the lead-up, plus a 13-hour hackathon-style 'Ideathon', we brought together more than 200 aspiring ch...

Matariki

Matariki is the name of a star cluster in the constellation of Taurus, commonly also known as Pleiades, which rises on the horizon towards the end of May each year and heralds Te Mātahi o te Tau, the Māori New Year. The arrival of Matariki signals that it is time for people to gather, honour the dead, celebrate the present, and make plans for the future....

June Manu Taki Hui

Consistent with our kaupapa of being flax-roots led and informed by lived experience, a key component of the wider leadership model of the WWP has been the call for manu taki to join with the WWP movement.Manu means bird, Taki means to entice, to lead, to bring along. Manu taki therefore symbolises leadership, uplift and succession. Our Manu Taki are leaders who can catalysing the Waikato wellbeing targets into action. As with a murmuration of flocking birds, our Manu Taki are not...

Poutoko: Impact Project Update - The Rangatahi Opportunity

Following our 2022 case for change report, we have been focusing on supporting our rangatahi in two areas- youth homelessness and youth employment.Youth HomelessnessWWP Lead Social Innovator Joe Wilson has been working closely with the ‘Manaaki Rangatahi’ collective, a ‘End Youth Homelessness’ kaupapa lobbying and advocating to government for policy and housing change to tackle the endemic problem facing so many rangatahi, across Aotearoa including here in the Waikato.Joe sees his role a...

Poutoko: Impact Project Update - Waikato Kai Challenge

An Update from Kai Challenge Project Activator: Amber Hammill...

SDG 13 Climate Action

Waikato ClimathonAs part of our contribution to SDG 13 Climate Action, alongside Trust Waikato, Hamilton City Council and the University of Waikato, the Waikato Wellbeing Project co-sponsored the Impact Hub’s 2023 Waikato Climathon. The second Waikato Climathon was held 2023, culminating in an ideathon at Waikato University on 20 May. WWP was a co-sponsor for the events. The ideathon was preceded by a series of events held across towns in the Waikato, supporting local climate leaders who ...

SDG 13 Climate Commons

At the 2022 Waikato Climathon (which we also co-sponsored), Sija Soman shared her ideas for a new collective impact initiative to support people and communities to take positive action to address climate change. At the Climathon, Sija’s idea won the Community Prize, which was a great encouragement to continue to develop her ideas further. Climate Commons has now been launched.It is a free collaborative platform for positive climate action which aims to inspire and support grassroots climate ac...

SDG 11 Waikato Housing Initiative- Dashboard update

Together with the Waikato Wellbeing Project, the Waikato Housing Initiative have been working to reach the region’s housing goals. Our partnership has focused on the quality and availability of high-quality information on the Waikato housing system. In 2021, the Waikato Wellbeing Project funded the development of an on-line dashboard for the system, which allows users to access data at the smallest scale available, using a highly accessible digital portal.The WHI has been working to update and...

SDG 6: Beyond the Surface

In May we shared the work being done by Deep Dive Division, in partnership with the Waikato River Authority and Waikato Tainui, to start to clean up the Waikato River by removing large scale rubbish and dumped material, including cars. To date, the programme has removed:12 cars21 tonnes of debris8 Lime scooters2 gaming machines6 bikes2 motorbikesThe Waikato Wellbeing Project has supported Deep Dive Division by co-funding the videography to share their story....

SDG 17 Partnership for the Goals The Good Day Matrix: Community Leadership Workshops

Alongside Trust Waikato and Hamilton City Council we have partnered with the Good Day Matrix to support their community leadership workshop programme.  The workshops are designed to invest in the people in our community who are doing great things and ultimately having a positive and meaningful impact. The first Community Leadership Workshop Series got underway last month with 40 amazing community leaders signed up!The 6-part workshop series kicked off with the focus of 'Who am I as a leader...

Hau Kāinga: Lots of Little Fires | He Pakipūmeka

An Update from Lead Social Innovator: Joe WilsonLast month we released the story about Shani- her journey through meth addiction and gang life and how she is now using her experiences to support rangatahi and whanau who are at risk of falling into the same trap she did.  Click on the image below to see Shani’s story:...

Waha: Using our Voice to Advocate for Positive Change

Since 2021, we have focused our engagement effort on New Zealand scale initiatives which are also motivated by the search for insight into root causes to some of our wellbeing challenges, and where there is a movement for change in the way wellbeing is led, funded and delivered. This has seen us focus on two major pieces of work:·       Productivity Commission: A Fair Chance for All- breaking the cycle of persistent disadvantage (Productivity Commission |...

World SDG Summit 2023

On 18-19 September 2023, world leaders will gather at the SDG Summit in New York for the mid-point review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the implementation of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The Summit is expected to adopt a political declaration that will provide a roadmap for putting the world back on track to achieve the SDGs by their 2030 deadline. The Summit will be informed by the 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report prepa...

Climate Commons Documentary Screening

The Climate Commons Movement is a nationwide collective dedicated to tackling the climate crisis through knowledge sharing, practical action, and partnerships. With a strong focus on scientific research, indigenous wisdom, and practical solutions, the movement inspires individuals, communities, and governments to work together to protect our shared resources and build a climate-resilient Aotearoa.Find out more about the screening herehttps://events.humanitix.com/climate-commons-documentary-scree...

Welcome Amber Hammill

We’re extremely delighted to announce the appointment of Amber Hammill as Project Lead for the Waikato Kai Challenge. Amber, an Australian who moved to New Zealand from Europe in the late 2010s, recently completed a PhD on older people who use the radio for company along with an exhibition of images from her research. Amber's background in research and her passion for food and community development attracted her to the role.Amber brings a wealth of experience in research and community engageme...

Kaitiaki Advisory Board - Vacancy

We have a vacancy on our Kaitiaki Advisory Board and are keen to hear from people who would like to join the Waikato wellbeing movement.We recently said farewell to Jannat Maqbool, who has been a member of the Kaitiaki Advisory Board since its inception in July 2021. Jannat brought a wealth of experience to the board across a number of important areas including digital technology, smart cities and AI, as well as her significant community leadership roles.  After more than 20 years working a...

Poutoko: Impact Project Update - The Rangatahi Opportunity

On the 12th May we will host and facilitate 15 businesses and approximately 15 youth organisations to share perspectives, have constructive conversations and develop relationships. We anticipate this will provide a strong and trusting foundation for future developments in grass roots systems change and ethical business development, with regards to safe and holistic youth employers.We will film this event and present it to a wider business audience, showcasing what “good” looks like in terms ...

Poutoko: Impact Project Update - Waikato Kai Challenge

As reported previously, we held a kai workshop with 28 stakeholders with an interest in the Waikato food system early this year. We were interested in how the Waikato kai system works and what needs to change to meet our goals.Attendees at the workshop were asked to envision what success would look like for the Waikato Kai Challenge. Comments included:·       Food charities out of business as they are no longer needed·       People gr...

Poutoko: Impact Project Update - Waikato Climathon

As part of our contribution to SDG 13 Climate Action, alongside Trust Waikato, Hamilton City Council and the University of Waikato, the Waikato Wellbeing Project is excited to again be a major co-sponsor of the Impact Hub’s Waikato Climathon. Waikato Climathon is your chance to act - and for the second year in a row, this global hackathon event is coming to the Waikato region. At the heart of Climathon is an Ideathon, where you can work in a team with fellow changemakers from across the r...

Beyond the Surface: WWP Partners with Deep Dive Division

We are excited to be supporting Deep Dive Division and their work to help clean up the Waikato River.The WWP’s SDG 6 target is to increase the number of swimmable rivers and lakes in the Waikato region from 30% (rivers) and 73% (lakes) in 2019 to both waterway types achieving more than 80% by 2030. Our 2023 update report also reported that:·       70% of the rivers in the Waikato have satisfactory overall water quality (measured by the presence of E.Coli)- no cha...