Tēnā koutou
Climate change is top of mind for us all right now. Papatūānuku is now roughly one degree warmer than she was in the late 1800s. That doesn’t sound much, but because Papatūānuku is part of a larger system, the smallest increase in temperature has far reaching effects on how we live; our health, safety and ability to grow food. We are seeing the consequences of climate change in intense weather patterns, droughts, fires, melting polar ice and reduced biodiversity.
Cyclone Gabrielle brought more devastation to Te Tai Tokerau communities, forcing us to to draw on all our resilience as we come together to support one another. In this edition of the Dial you will find a link to a list of funders compiled on behalf of Foundation North to assist our Tamaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau communities needing help as a result of recent weather events.
And at this time everyone can use a little bit of extra self-care. Our first Te Pūaha Talks session for 2023 will be held on March 21 where we will be offering a free online session to nurture our interconnectivity and embed holistic wellbeing practices in our lives.
Finally, CSI is proud to announce the arrival of three new people into the team, Michelle Gallagher, programme co-ordinator, and Esther Whitehead and Arohanui West who will be our new Climate Leads.
Ko te whenua te waiu mo nga uri whakatipu
(The land will provide sustenance for future generations)
Ngā manaakitanga
Karinia Lee, Head of Centre
Centre for Social Impact
Te Pūaha Talks: Ngahere
Our first Te Pūaha talk for 2023 is coming up on Tuesday 21st March at 10-11.30am. Facilitated by our associates Tuihana Ohia and Louise Marra, this free online session will take participants on a voyage to embed holistic wellbeing practices in their lives through nurturing our interconnectivity.
The title, Ngahere, is a kupu often associated with the forest in Aotearoa that is also used to describe the hononga, connection, from us to Papatūānuku, Ranginui and the various atua. The Ngahere workshop will explore how connectivity enables wellbeing; and how to build a greater sense of connection and draw nourishment from Papatūānuku, and how to bring this to our whānau, work, and community.
Ko au te whenua, ko te whenua, ko au
‘I am the land and the land is me’
More information and registration is available here.
Haumanu - community of practice update
During 2022 we shared the Haumanu Framework for restorative system change and tested it with our Haumanu Community of Practice in a range of community and organisational settings. The community of practice came together for six hui to share the Haumanu approach, and discuss what they were learning in their application of it in their own lives and mahi. Evaluative learning processes have helped us capture what is being learnt to help us evolve the approach.
For our wider Haumanu audience of individuals and organisations who wish to take a healing-orientated approach to systems change and build capacities for this work, we are developing a rourou of resources, including tools, processes and practices. Available here.
Flood and cyclone relief resources
Our guide to flood relief resources, produced for Foundation North following the Auckland floods in January, has been updated here.
Cyclone Gabrielle brought more devastation to North Island communities, including Auckland and Northland, and new resources are becoming available to support those affected. As the recovery from the cyclone progresses, new relief resources and initiatives are being considered. As these emerge, we will add them to our resource.
While our guide includes some resources that are available for all regions affected by flooding and the cyclone, it was produced primarily for Foundation North’s Auckland and Northland communities. If you are outside these regions, other government, local government, community and philanthropic funders may also offer region-specific support.
Hui E! Community Aotearoa has information on the funding from the Government’s $11.5 million Community Support Package. This support package includes two funds designed for community groups, the Community Support Fund and the Community Providers Response and Wellbeing Fund. Hui E! has information on their website about the funds, and can connect small-sized community groups who wish to apply with skilled volunteer grant writers. Link here.
Welcome to the team
As 2023 starts, CSI welcomes three new people to our team.
Michelle Gallagher has taken up the role of Programme Coordinator for CSI. Michelle brings an impressive range of skills and experience to us. Her most recent role was as a recruitment co-ordinator in a fast-paced environment at Synergy Consulting Group. She has also had experience in the not-for-profit sector, with her first job following the completion of a Bachelor of Fine Arts being an administrator at Artists’ Alliance, supporting the delivery of resources, information, advancement, career path advice and networking for visual artists.
Arohanui West and Esther Whitehead join us as climate action co-leads. CSI is providing support to them as they work to implement The Funders Commitment on Climate Action for the Combined Community Trusts Aotearoa signatories.
Arohanui (Te Arawa whānui, Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa) has a background in waste minimisation, wetland restoration, journalism and communications. Her formal involvement in climate issues began with a role as an environmental intern with Te Arawa Lakes Trust. Current roles include consulting to Para Kore, a Māori, not-for-profit, zero waste organisation with vision of oranga taiao, oranga whānau, oranga marae.
Esther brings extensive experience working in the not-for-profit sector, the Centre’s climate change kaupapa. A passionate advocate for the natural environment, Esther has a BSc in Ecology. She is a founder of Sustainable Queenstown Community Trust, and a councillor at Queenstown Lakes District Council. Other significant roles include being an educator, author, change facilitator and key researcher on Social Impact, for example, the Ākina Foundation's Impact Initiative on Transforming our Economy.
Auckland Council Proposed budget - consultation opens
Consultation is now open on Auckland Council’s proposed budget for 2023/2024.
This article by Sam Brooks at The Spinoff provides an overview of the potential impacts on Auckland’s youth and community sector, including this list of services that would be stopped, reduced or would have to find alternative funding:
• Community and social innovation programmes (including the Southern and Western initiatives)
• Community programmes and social services (eg. ending Citizen’s Advice Bureau funding)
• Outdoor experiences supporting young people
• Funding and staff for council’s operational homelessness response
• Regional coordination or support of community focussed initiatives
• Climate action related behavioural change activities
• Defunding COMET, a council-controlled organisation that supports skills training
Community and youth organisations in Tāmaki Makaurau who receive funding from Council may wish to provide feedback on the proposed budget can find out more information and register to provide feedback here.