Upcoming Events
Online Kōrero 2024
Connecting communities and practitioners with stories, ideas, resources and learning from the ground up.
Taking a community-led systems approach to improving outcomes in the early years - learnings from place-based initiatives in the US.
Thursday 4th July, 9:30am - 11:00am
Communities have the answers to many of the challenges and questions we are facing. Place-based approaches that bring decision-making and leadership closer to children, youth, and whānau in their own communities are gaining recognition worldwide as an important mechanism for achieving better and more equitable outcomes.
In this kōrero, Aimee Hadrup, Manager of Tamariki Wellbeing at The Southern Initiative will share insights from her recent Harkness Fellowship, where she engaged with a range of innovative early years-focussed place-based initiatives in the US.
Aimee will share learnings from community-led systems change efforts that are moving beyond a focus on discrete programmes and services, towards strengthening the ecosystem for early childhood development in the places where children and whānau live their lives. This session will provide an opportunity to kōrero together around what is needed in Aotearoa to support locally led systems change and ensure all tamariki get a great start in life.
Aimee Hadrup (Pākehā)
The Southern Initiative, Auckland Council
Aimee leads the Tamariki Wellbeing team at The Southern Initiative (TSI), a place-based innovation team embedded within Auckland Council that is focussed on social and economic transformation for South Auckland. Her work at TSI is currently focussed on building the capability of the public service to support locally-led approaches, and developing mechanisms to enable whānau, hapū and communities to actively participate in transforming Aotearoa’s early years system.
Previous Events
Enabling Our Young People to Lead
Thursday 28th March, 2024
When tamariki or rangatahi are given the space to lead and effect development in their community, positive change can happen, bringing together community while also increasing outcomes for youth and child wellbeing.
Join us for our first online kōrero of 2024! Our online kōrero are not your standard webinar; they enable connection and collaborative learning with people who are working in grass roots child-rich community-led ways, as well as those who are working in the wider child and youth wellbeing space.
Our speakers Mark Bruce-Miller, General Manager at Whenua Iti Outdoors and Natalie McNulty, Rangatahi Recreation Advisor at CLM Community Sport bring a wealth of experience and inspiring stories to share. This kōrero is an opportunity to gain insights, network with like-minded people, and be part of a movement towards a brighter future led by our youth.
A Child Rich Place Matters
Online Kōrero 5, 2023
We know the importance of child/ youth-caregiver relationships on the ability of those rangatahi and tamariki to thrive. The natural and built environment they find themselves in also dictates the healthy development of our mokopuna and rangatahi. Place too matters, and all are not equal!
How can Communities, businesses, and government work together to increase access to all children, young people and whānau, to positive healthy environments? What is being done already around the motu and what still needs to be done? Are we honestly asking the right questions of ourselves to begin to change the inherent inequity in systems, planning and community? How do we ensure all places are child and youth rich for all?
Join us to hear insights from our speakers, Dietrich Soakai, Ihapera Martin Waru and Nevaeh Tawhi-Marsters and to connect with others around the motu.
Mātauranga Māori, Indigenous Family Values and Child Rich Communities
Online Kōrero 4, 2023
Pre-colonial Aotearoa was a place where tamariki were acknowledged as taonga, where all were committed to raising and caring for children. Whānau shared the care of tamariki, they were loved and cherished and the community way of life centred around them.
Indigenous knowledge and practices today can support a shift in thinking in how we view our tamariki, rangatahi and whānau, and how we can create child rich in our thinking, actions, policy, planning and our communities. Join us to hear insights from our speakers and to connect with others around the motu.
Children's Rights and Community-led Development
Online Kōrero 3, 2023
Ensuring that tamariki and rangatahi are central in all community-led development initiatives is one crucial way we ensure the United Nations Rights of a Child Convention commitments are met.
When this is done, children and rangatahi voices are heard and they become leaders in our communities, positive change can occur not just for those young people, but for the community as a whole.
Enabling play in Aotearoa
Online Kōrero 2, 2023
Within Aotearoa, there is growing recognition that play is one of the most essential aspects of a child and young person’s development.
Hear from three great speakers who are supporting the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi by enabling play, fun and connection at our upcoming, free online kōrero.
Beyond Programmes – appreciating the informal spaces that grow tamariki
Online Kōrero 1, 2023
Let’s talk about what happens outside programmes that make a difference for children in our communities, in this first online kōrero for the Child Rich Communities movement in 2023.
Learn more from David Hanna, Director of Wesley Community Action, Carla Moore from Flourish Taranaki and Kiri Olds, a community educator specialising in Tamariki / Te Reo.
Uplifting the Mana - Hui November 2022
Uplifting the mana of tamariki, rangatahi and whānau with community-led development
This hui brought together people, organisations and communities to share and learn from each other!
Hear from people and projects around Tāmaki Makaurau through using a community-led approach
Network with others working in child and family led ways
Get new ideas, share the challenges and see what else we can do together
We have all done it hard the past couple of years, especially some of our mokopuna and whānau and those who are supporting them. Despite the difficulties, some amazing work has gone on, often in creative, inspiring ways, often by local people leading the change in their own communities. Come along and hear stories from four community initiatives working in Child Rich ways, including Bays in Action Think Tank, Healthy Families Waitākere and Communities Feeding Communities. These speakers have generously offered their presentations for viewing - please see buttons below.
Locally-led development meets responsive services
Online Kōrero 4, 2022
In a Child Rich Community both community-led development AND responsive local services are seen essential for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau wellbeing. Too often, the focus is just on services. But by connecting and integrating both, so much more becomes possible.
Learn more from Claire Achmad – CEO of Social Service Providers Aotearoa, and David Hanna - Director of Wesley Community Action, as we explore and kōrero about this essential way of achieving positive change in our communities.
Enhancing Mana and Wellbeing for Tamariki, Whānau and Communities
Online Kōrero 3, 2022
This online kōrero explored the role and contribution of both whānau-led and community-led development approaches to enabling better wellbeing outcomes for tamariki, whānau and communities.
Joined by panellists Kathy Parnell from Stone Soup, Whanganui; Leanne Karauna from Te Arawa Whānau Ora/Mangakino Whanau Ora Navigation; and Sher Gestro from Lifewise Auckland - Mana Whānau, these people - working from different perspectives and places, shared examples from their work and learning that demonstrate key whānau-led and community-led principles and practices in action.
Giving voice to tamariki and rangatahi - child and youth-led community action
Online Kōrero 2, 2022
How do we enable tamariki and rangatahi to voice their needs and be a central part of their own community development?
Making Connections
Online Kōrero 1, 2022
Despite the challenges a pandemic brings, we know there are lots of creative and passionate people and initiatives working in ‘child rich’ ways!
This first online kōrero covered connecting and sharing ideas with other communities doing awesome mahi to keep children, young people and whānau enriched and connected, including guests Lizzie and Dennis Makalio (Jnr) from WhānauFluence.
Action plan 2022
Take a look at the Child Rich Communities Action plan for 2022
Pictured: Playing games at a community event run by Te Aroha Noa, Palmerston North.