Future search
Future Search is a process that brings together people who share an interest in a particular issue or challenge to collaborate to find solutions.
What is Future Search?
Future Search is a principles-based action planning model that brings the ‘whole system’ into the room. It is a globally renowned process that brings together people who share an interest in a particular issue or challenge to collaborate to find solutions and act on them together.
The three main purposes are:
- To create a shared vision and action plans for an organisation, network or community
- To enable diverse voices to find and act on common ground and take responsibility for their own action plans
- To help people implement an existing vision that they have yet not acted on together
In the below video Miranda Cassidy-O'Connell and co-facilitator, Lisa McNab, talk about the steps involved in planning and running a wānanga using the Future Search method.
The Future Search process is formed around four principles:
- Get the “whole system” in the room. Invite a significant cross-section of all parties with a stake in the outcome – those with authority, resources, expertise, information and need.
- Explore the “whole elephant” before seeking to fix any part. Get everyone talking about the same world.
- Put common ground and future focus front and centre while treating problems and conflicts as information, not action items.
- Encourage self-management and responsibility for action by participants before, during and after the Future Search.
When utilised in Aotearoa New Zealand, a fifth principle of Treaty Partnership guides the Future Search process:
- From co-leadership throughout the project planning to co-facilitation at the wānanga, running a Future Search in Aotearoa New Zealand embraces Treaty partnership.
Future Search in Aotearoa New Zealand
Here you will find case studies of Future Search in action in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Ngā Puāwai o Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe
Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe (formerly known as Ninety Mile Beach) is a deeply spiritual and iconic coastal location of Aotearoa New Zealand and years of human activities have taken a toll on its mauri (life force), affecting the delicate balance of its ecosystem, and causing the shellfish toheroa an indicator of beach health, to face severe challenges. A wānanga using the Future Search method was used to ignite systems-change action and to restore the mauri of Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe. Miranda Cassidy-O’Connell and co-facilitator, Lisa McNab, talk about the steps involved in this three-day event held in 2023 here.
This article from the Northern Advocate provides additional insight into the process and the participant experience.
Read the 3 page case study here.
"The style of hui and the facilitation team helped connect a few dots - that allowed a few long overdue kōrero and understanding of different perspectives as well as drafting strategies or amicable strategic relationships going forward." - Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Te Rarawa
Page header image: pōwhiri at Te Ahu in Kaitaia, Birds eye view. Photo credit: Jos Wheeler.
Waiheke Marine Project Future Search
A hui using the Future Search method was used to protect and regenerate Waiheke Island’s marine environment. Waiheke Island is centrally located in Tīkapa Moana (the Hauraki Gulf). The gulf is under threat from numerous factors, including population and tourism growth, increased sedimentation, overfishing, pollution, invasive pests, and climate change. These factors have degraded marine habitats, upsetting the natural biodiversity and balance, and significantly reduced kelp forests, shellfish beds and fish.
Details on the many outcomes that have emerged from the foundations of the 2020 Future Search can be found on the Waiheke Marine Project website here.
Read the 3 page case study here.
"The marvel of the Future Search hui to me was the amount of common ground it allowed us all to establish, and the amount of listening to other peoples’ perspectives that it allowed, in such a short period of time." - Mark Russell, Conservationist
Above image: toheroa shells held as taonga. Photo credit: Jos Wheeler.
Murihiku Southland
Following the July 2020 closure announcement of the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter(NZAS) – otherwise known as Tiwai - the Government committed to supporting the Southland region through a “Just Transitions” programme. The aim of this was to help Southland ‘build its economic, environmental, and social resilience through and beyond the planned closure of the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter in December 2024’.
Read the 3 page case study here.
Above image: participants mind mapping.
FISHinFutureSearch
Driven by recreational fishers of all types and places, the purpose of the FISHinFutureSearch was to come together on a strategy to drive positive change for recreational fishing. The event was to identify the core issues that are in front of recreational fishers in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Read the 3 page case study here.
"It is enlightening and comforting to know there is so much in common. It makes me optimistic." - Taputukura Raea, Youth
Sustainable Seas workshop for Government
In 2022 Miranda co-facilitated with Dr Dan Hikuroa a workshop for Government departments responsible for the natural environment, to explore the Future Search method. As part of this workshop, a panel of participants who experienced the Waiheke Marine Project Future Search in 2020 share some brief reflections. They are:
- Alex Rogers – Executive Officer, Hauraki Gulf Forum
- Dr Andrew Jeffs – Auckland University Senior scientist and member of the Auckland Conservation Board
- Matt von Sturmer – Waiheke Island resident, fisherman, and business owner
- Pippa Coom – Ex-Councillor for Waitematā and Gulf Ward and Ex-Co-Chair of the Hauraki Gulf Forum
- Lucy Tukua – Ngāti Paoa and Ngāti Whanaunga descent with whakapapa ties to Tāmaki Makaurau including Waiheke Island, member of the Hauraki Māori Trust Board and Kaihautū Whakarito (Technical Director Regenerative Outcomes) for global consultancy firm Mott MacDonald
- Apanui Skipper – Ngā iwi o Hauraki Tainui, Scribe for the Future Search
Above image: participants of the FISHinFuture Search.
Below video still: Sup, image from Waiheke Marine Project by Martin Mac Mahon Photography.
Future Search global network – FSN
Future Search is a global network established in 1993. Thousands of communities, organisations and business all over the world have used Future Search to date.
The FSN welcomes anyone who will learn the basic principles of Future Search and seek ways of using these principles for the public good. The mission of FSN is to help communities everywhere become more open, supportive, equitable and sustainable.
FSN has several points of contact with Aotearoa NZ. CSI Associate Miranda Cassidy-O'Connell trained as a Future Search facilitator in the USA in 1999 and as a facilitator of FSVS (online Future Search) in 2021. FSN Founders Sandra Janoff and Marvin Weisbord visited Wellington in 2008 and ran two workshops focused on their textbook “Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There!” Then in 2013, Sandra, with the support of Miranda, facilitated the FishinFutureSearch event in Nelson. Listen to an interview on Radio New Zealand where Miranda and Sandra Janoff (Future Search guru from the USA) talk about Future Search and the FISHinFuture Search event.
Miranda is a regular participant in FSN monthly Learning Exchanges, where FS facilitators from around the world come together to share experiences and improve their practice. These Learning Exchanges are hosted by Director Sandra Janoff and Co-Director Michael Donnelly and welcome all people interested in Future Search.
Future Search Network membership is open to anyone who wants to use Future Search principles to benefit society.
Read more about the rich history, theory and stories of Future Search in action across the world on futuresearch.net
Future Search Aotearoa is proud to be an active local chapter of FSN and is committed to upholding the principles of Future Search with integrity and contributing to the FSN strategy of changing the world one meeting at a time.
Is Future Search for you?
Deciding whether Future Search is right for you depends on the issue or challenge that you are facing and the communities of interest involved.
| Consider a Future Search if… | Go slowly when… |
| You want a shared vision | Key people seem reluctant |
| You need an action plan | You can’t get the minimum conditions |
| Other efforts have stalled | Nobody but you wants a Future Search |
| New leadership is taking over | It is a force fit to preplanned meeting |
| A key transition is at hand | The content is preconceived |
| Opposing parties need to meet and have no good forum | People have no planning time |
| Time is growing short | Everybody but you wants it, and it’s your decision |
How to get started
Take a first step by reading the case studies of Future Search in action in Aotearoa above.
Then explore the extensive examples on the global FSN website showing how Future Search is used to build trust, commitment, focus, and continuing action.
If these narratives inspire you and you are feeling an itch that the Future Search method could scratch, please contact us on contact@csinz.org.
Key things to consider when putting on an event using the Future Search method:
- A host and compelling kaupapa for the Future Search – need a reason and host
- Lead time – at least 3 to 6 months to plan the event and for follow-up
- Planning group – a diverse snapshot of the whole system
- Future Search facilitator(s) – ideally have two co-facilitators, one to be FS trained
- Venue – with lots of wall space and natural light
- Funding – depending on how much can be donated and volunteered, need to raise funds
FAQs
Frequently asked questions.
The global FSN site has excellent FAQs and the following are questions specific to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Q - Why does the global FSN site talk about 16 hours yet the Aotearoa case studies refer to 22 hours?
A - Each event in Aotearoa using the Future Search method is tailored to the specific priorities of the host, issue and place. Each of the case studies described in Aotearoa included tikanga Māori and site visits.
Q - How do you raise funds for an event using the Future Search method in Aotearoa?
A - Each of the case studies described appealed to sponsors and funders who had an interest in the topic being discussed. This includes a wide range of funding options, from Community Trusts to central and local government to businesses.
Q - Why does Future Search Aotearoa encourage co-facilitation with tangata whenua?
A - Running an event using the Future Search method indicates a commitment to embrace systems change. CSI and Future Search Aotearoa believe that systems change necessarily includes a commitment to working with Te Tiriti practice.
Contact
If you are interested to discuss Future Search further, or explore running one.
Please get in touch via contact@csinz.org.