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What do I need to consider if I want to use a community-led approach?

If you’re interested in starting a community-led development journey, here are questions to help guide your thinking:

Principle 1: Grow from shared local visions

  • Does your community, hapū or iwi get together to discuss common issues? 
  • Are there some common themes or ideas already in your community, hapū or iwi? 
  • Do you have regular hui or meetings to talk about where your community, hapū or iwi is heading in the future?

Principle 2: Build from strengths

  • What are some of the strengths your community, hapū or iwi already has that you can build on or use better?
  • Do you know how you might identify what assets or strengths your community, hapū or iwi has?
  • It’s not always about building something new; you may find that your community, hapū or iwi just needs to rediscover some of the old magic that’s already there. What do you value or want to celebrate?

Principle 3: Work with diverse people and sectors

  • How might your community, hapū or iwi get together in new ways to achieve its goals?
  • How do people in your community, hapū or iwi with great ideas for making things better connect with others to make it happen?
  • Do you have examples where a range of people have been able to get together to achieve something in your community, hapū or iwi?
  • How can you include others?
  • What are the different ways you can reach into your community, hapū or iwi?

Principle 4: Grow collaborative local leadership

  • Are there people who help build connections across your community, hapū or iwi, making it stronger and more united?
  • Are the same people leading all the time? Is there something stopping others from contributing or taking up a leadership role? 
  • How might you encourage other people in your community, hapū or iwi to contribute? 
  • What activities could be led by local people in your community, hapū or iwi? 
  • How could your community, hapū or iwi make sure everyone is included and made welcome?

Principle 5: Learn by doing

  • Have you thought about what your community, hapū or iwi might need to do to get to where it wants to be?
  • Are there milestones or ara poutama along the way that will help you to know you are making progress?
  • Do you know what you want to achieve at the end?
  • What types of planning does your community, hapū or iwi do?
  • How do you reflect on the progress you are making or celebrate achievements along the way?
  • Are you able to learn from what happened when things don’t go as expected?