The document describes a collaborative initiative in Waihi, New Zealand to address social needs arising from the planned closure of a gold mine. A group of 15+ social services organizations came together to develop a "community village" hub. While a physical hub was not built, the group worked collaboratively on various projects. They established shared values of equality, consensus-based decision making, and utilizing each organization's strengths. The group facilitated events like a hip hop expo to engage at-risk youth and worked to develop social housing. The collaboration allowed for better information sharing and more holistic service delivery to address community needs.

1. Tessa Mackenzie
Natural Assets Ltd
 Holistic approaches to personal and professional
development
 Collaborative initiatives
 Research, Action and Evaluation
 Professional Supervision
 Group Facilitation services
Ph: 0272329940
Email: natural.assets@paradise.net.nz

2. • Moving from competitive to collaborative
multi-agency projects.
• Building interagency relationships based on
shared values and trust.
• Collaborative project management from
inception to completion and beyond using a
flat-line management structure based on
agency strengths.
WORKING SMARTER NOT HARDER. JULY 29 2014

3. A Waihi example
The need:
 In 2004 Newmont Waihi Gold announced they would be closing in 2007. The
Hauraki District Council called a public meeting for community to plan for the
social and economic impacts mine closure would cause.
 A 23 sector consultative group was established of which Social Development
was one.
 The Social Development Group comprised some 15+ members of organisations
and groups delivering social services in Waihi.
 3 projects were identified through a series of public meetings of which the
priority was seen as the development of a hub which would be a central point for
community to access not only social sector services based in Waihi as well as
those delivering satellite services from the region
 Acknowledgement of the role music, art, dance and food have in engaging
people meant that these activities would also be catered for in this ‘community
village’ model.

5. Vision: To develop a community village where social
health and education services can work together
Youth development
Residential support Family and
Community
Services
Matauranga Maori - cultural knowledge
and education woven into all services
to provide more choice for the client
Employment and
Education
Health and Well
Being
Shared
Reception and
Administration
Space

6. Waihi Social Development Group
comprised members from the following Organisations/groups
 Waihi Baptist Community Ministries
 Hauraki Maori Wardens
 Complementary Health Services
 Family & Community Services
 Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki
 Waihi College
 DHB Health Promoter
 Pathways Trust
 Probation Service
 Counsellor
 Action Plus (youth/vocational)
 Housing New Zealand Corporation
 Waihi Community Marae
 Waihi Community Resource Centre
 Waihi Budget Service
 Work and Income Waihi
 Citizens Advice Bureau
 Waihi Central School (primary)
 Stregthening Families
 Hauraki Family Start
 Life & Hope Trust
 Yhe Uth XL
 Hauraki Enterprise Agency
 Hauraki District Council
 Waikato District Health Board

7. What’s in it for those
stakeholders?
 Implements Central Government demand for social
health and education services to be working
collaboratively.
 Contributes to district agencies visions around
Nation Building and Primary Health objectives
including the needs of people with disabilities, social
isolation, youth at risk, Maori, mental health and
socio-economic deprivation.
 Provides vehicle to implement actions identified
through HDC’s community outcomes process, and
meets their LTCCP
 Provides measurable achievements to WCV which
contributes to Newmont’s request from shareholders
to do better by the communities in which they
operate.

9. Values established through group process
aka ‘relationship building’

10. Flat-line management
structure
Everyone has equal speaking rights
There is no hierarchy
People get assigned tasks based on their strengths
Co-ordinator facilitates the meetings
Decisions made through consensus
No legal structure
Funding is applied for through the most relevant organisation. They
manage the funding, not the project. E.g. Social housing project.
Funding applied for and held by Enterprise Agency. Project managed
by Community Resource Centre. Partnerships with HNZC and all
other referring agencies.

11. Membership form
Name: Sector/Organisation:
(note: membership does not imply
representation of Organisation employed by
except where nomination specifies that mandate)
Cultural affiliation:
(that you want the Group
to be aware of)
Mandate to represent organisation: y/n
(If yes please attach resolution or
nomination form)
Contact details
Phone: Work: a/hs: Mobile:

12. Declaration:
1. I will work collaboratively with any Social Development Group members where I believe it
is in the interest of the Waihi community or social development in general.
2. I will work collaboratively to further the Group’s vision to “Create a Community Village
where social health and education services can work together”.
3. I will raise awareness of, and be supportive of, the projects undertaken by the Social
Development Group by actively communicating with relevant or interested parties.
4. I will share any information and personal knowledge relevant to the development of the
Group and it’s projects where this does not contravene any privacy conditions I am bound
by.
5. I will actively take part in reviews/evaluation/business and action planning and any other
group process or projects needed to further the Group’s work where it is feasible for me to
do so.
6. I am accountable to my own integrity and to that of the Group and will declare any past or
current activity or behaviour which may jeopardize the Group’s integrity
7. I understand that as a member I agree with, and am prepared to work by, the Group’s
values.
Description of personal and professional strengths I offer to the Group:
Particular areas of interest I would like to contribute to:

13. Adding value
Although there was an over-arching focus project, the
group’s collaboration became a default group for
facilitating social change projects.
These included a
 Developing social housing in a collaboration between
social agencies and industry
 Hip Hop Expo as part of the “It’s not OK” campaign
 Gauging community opinion on the Mine’s expansion
plans

15. A Virtual Village was created in
lieu of the physical one
 Develop and partner with community driven events
where agencies have “captive audiences” to engage
with
 Have accessible interagency/community forums to
share and implement ideas (from basic determinants
of health to specialist needs)
 To model best practice around self determination, self
accountability and service to others
 Promote community connectedness and the
philosophy that the whole village is responsible for the
health and wellbeing of it’s citizens

16. Local Marae rep identifies
local at-risk youth with hip
hop talent wanting forum to
express this.
Probation Service
willing to look at
supporting
establishment of
sustainable life skills and
Maori leadership
programmes after the
event.
PUKEWA VILLAGE
Group explore what they can offer
to provide added value to support the
development of a “Hip-hop Expo”. Establish
principles around engaging people in positive
change to apply to the event.
Utilise local and regional networks to bring in
resources not already available within Group
Stalls and personell present at expo:
Smokefree/Health promotion
Careers Services (Music, dance)
Hauraki Family Violence Intervention
Sport ‘n’ Action – sponsored subs for
youth x 10
Waihi Community Resource Centre –
youth social worker + services info
YHee Uth XL provide healthy snack
stall
College kapahaka
group participate to
welcome guest
performers from
out of town
Kohanga provide
fundraising hangi
Work & Income
Fund clients
participation in life skills
and personal
development
programme after the
event
Local youth with Hip
Hop talent organise the
event with support from
adults
Hip Hop experts
provide advice, MCs
and share successful
ongoing programme
with organisers
Waihi Community Marae
provide venue and powhiri
for Hip Hop Expo and
ongoing kaupapa Maori
programmes and activities
Maori Wardens provide
security for the event
alongside Parents
Police provide funding,
music equipment and back-
up security
Action Plus
Well-placed to
manage process
for client entry into
ongoing
programmes
Project Co-ordinator
applies for funding to
Hauraki District
Council to appoint
person to work with
families/whanau to
develop ongoing
programmes for youth
at risk.
Community and agency
workers support at-risk
youth to engage with
ongoing programmes e.g,
Kaupapa Maori
programmes, personal
development and life skills
Hip Hop Expo

18. Other opportunities
 To be the first point of call
to address gaps in Waihi
services
 To find solutions
through collaborative
delivery of services
 To share information in
order to reduce any
duplication of services
and maximise
effectiveness for families
through agency
accountability

19. We want to change the current
picture of how many of our
children, youth and adults
experience this town,
and support a climate where
normality includes social
connectedness and equity,
positive activities are there for the
taking and support services are
freely accessible to all.

21. It started with a perceived
need…
 And someone taking the initiative to start a conversation
 Tap into your existing networks to find if others feel as
passionate as you do
 Have a get together and talk. Collective wisdom kicks in and
added value benefits are exposed
 Look for the value add opportunities. E.g. social housing
project assessed person/family’s needs around managing a
sustainable home by utilising whatever agencies were
relevant to work with the family to achieve this. Education
around Welcome Home loans and support services were run
by those involved in the project to the wider community.

22. In summary
 There are plenty of needs out there, but sometimes it is easier
to start with strengths and then pull in creative approaches to
address the needs
 Just because you are starting a whole new project or service
doesn’t mean you have to create a new legal entity. Use the
idea of UMBRELLA organisations to apply for funding.
 It’s all about RELATIONSHIPS based on shared values and
trust developed over time. Projects are a great way to get to
know each other
 There are some great existing networks of agencies (TMAPS,
VCAG, Connect 4 Youth etc) who currently get together for
specific issues – use these forums to float an idea and guage
the passion.