Keeping you informed about community-led research - for a more inclusive and equitable Aotearoa.
Nau mai haere mai
Whakatairangatia i te mana o te rangahau ā-hāpori me te mahi tahi
Community and whānau aspirations for research.

Kaiwhakahaere kōrero 

Kia ora e te whānau,

Even in challenging times, the strength of our communities shines brightest when we stand together — listening, learning, and lifting each other up. Across Aotearoa, people are weaving connections, sharing knowledge, and taking action to protect what matters most.

This spirit of collective action is needed now more than ever. Recent government decisions —  to change the law governing our foreshore and seabed— risk undermining Te Tiriti o Waitangi, weakening Māori authority over whenua and moana, and opening the door to potential environmental harm. Without strong protections, corporate interests could gain greater access to these precious areas, placing commercial gain ahead of kaitiakitanga.

Our sector also faces growing pressure from changes to funding streams. The Government’s choice not to require online gambling platforms to contribute to community grants removes a vital source of support for many grassroots initiatives, stretching already limited resources even further.

In this context, the upcoming local elections and Māori ward referendums are especially significant. Māori wards help ensure Māori voices are present and influential in local government decisions — a crucial step in upholding the commitments of Te Tiriti. We all have a role to play: seek out reliable information, have honest conversations, and most importantly, vote to retain Māori wards.

In this edition of Ngā kete, we share resources, research and opportunities for connection to help you navigate these ongoing challenges, strengthen your mahi, and stand together in upholding equity, justice, and for a more inclusive Aotearoa.

Ngā manaakitanga, Lorna

Māori Wards – Facts, Representation & Your Voice

Māori wards and constituencies create dedicated seats for Māori representation in local government — much like Māori electorates in Parliament — ensuring Māori voices and perspectives are part of local decision-making. Only those on the Māori electoral roll can vote for candidates in these wards, giving effect to representation that is grounded in democratic choice (Vote Local).

This year, the future of Māori wards will be decided through referendums held alongside the 2025 local elections. These votes will determine whether Māori wards are retained or removed in each district or region. The choice is ours — and it is a chance to stand up for equity, representation, and the commitments of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

It's great to see some councils are stepping up to share clear, fact-based information about Māori wards. Campaigns like Tasman District Council’s myth-busting approach are helping communities see through misinformation and understand that Māori wards are about strengthening local democracy, not weakening it.

Local elections shape the places we live — from how our neighbourhoods are planned to the services our communities rely on — so make sure your voice is heard by voting in both the Māori ward referendum and the local elections.

Upcoming Tautoko session LGBTTQIA+ Mahi and Research Communities

"It's hard to know who is doing what."

In July Community Research hosted a Tautoko Session for folks who are in or supporting LGBTTQIA+ community mahi and research. The background to this session was to help Community Research to build its upcoming Special Collection of research and resources about Queerness in Aotearoa (title tbc).
One thing we heard in this session is those working in these spaces often feel siloed and have difficulty knowing what other groups are up to, and folks appreciated a chance to connect, share resources and talk about their mahi.

Next week we're hosting another session. This session is focused specifically on allowing community members to talk about their mahi, and about what they're hearing their community needs. Some questions to ponder before you come: 'What's a resource which our community could benefit from?' and 'What existing research or mahi should more people know about?'

This session is open to all queer researchers, those leading or contributing to LGBTTQIA+ kōrero, and allies. 

Tuesday 19 August 2025, 12noon - 1pm

sign up here

You can find out more about our work-in-progress collection and the notes from previous tautoko session are available here.

Past Tautoko session 

Thanks to those of you who attended our July Ethnic, former Refugee and Migrant Tautoko session that had an emphasis on making connections and informal kōrero. A special thanks to Kyle Tan (Research Fellow at the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies, University of Waikato) for his informal talk about his experiences and reflections as a researcher working across intra- and intercultural spaces. Kyle's thoughtful and insightful reflections through his involvement in queer and racism research really engaged us - sparking further kōrero across the group.

Our next gathering in mid-September will be topic-based - we'll be sending out more details soon! Come along and connect with other researchers, former refugees, and migrant peers who are passionate about research by and for ethnic communities and how it can be used to support collective action and positive change.

Past Webinar - Unpacking the Community Research Code of Practice

Jointly hosted by Aotearoa Migration Research Network (AMRN and Community Research) held Friday 1 August 2025.
Thank you to those of you who attended this webinar. The recording is now available.

First launched in 2007, the Community Research Code of Practice (the Code) has been developed to describe optimum practices in community research as a set of benchmark principles and standards and to help researchers ensure there is minimal risk and maximum benefit to the people, groups, communities and organisations that are participants in research. The Code was developed by Community Research after consultation with, and input from, a range of researchers and others from the community, government, and academia.   The revised and current edition of the Code was released in 2020. It built on and reformatted the 2007 Code presenting five whanonga pono (core values) with an emphasis on research that benefits communities rather than as an extractive exercise. The five whanonga pono are: whanaungatanga, rangatiratanga, manaakitanga, kotahitanga and embedded. 

Bev presents an overview of the Code, touches on potentially relevant tools, and introduces two projects that Community Research are commencing. The first pilot project Unpacking the Community Research Code of Practice from ethnically diverse perspectives is positioned, in the first instance, as a series of online awheawhe (workshops) to unpack the Code and together identify tools and resources to support researchers and knowledge makers to optimise their practices to align with it. The second project scopes the potential value of developing a training resource for the Code and what doing so might look like

Community Sector Insights Report by Community Research

This report provide insights about — the strengths that hold us together, the challenges that we continue to navigate, the emerging opportunities on the horizon, and some collective actions we can take for the future.

Our sector is powered by people: kaupapa-driven, diverse, and deeply connected. But we’re stretched — facing burnout, rising demand, and misaligned public systems. The challenges and strengths identified have been consistent for several years – however the pressures on funding, addressing need, and capacity have increased. Much of what we have identified across the sector is already ‘known’ by many in the sector and we hope this research synthesis helps prompt us to think about how we might do things differently to drive positive change.

This resource isn’t just a snapshot. It’s a call to kōrero, to realign, and to act. As sector organisations look to the future, this research presents some potential ways to translate what we know into positive action. Opportunities for Te Tiriti-led change, collaboration and stronger partnerships are within reach — when we move together.

Read the Community Sector Insights Report here.

New Special Collection in development 

Community Research is developing the Queerness in Aotearoa* collection – a kete of research, resources, and community-led kōrero by and for queer communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This living collection is about making queer-led research more visible, accessible, and connected. It celebrates the richness and diversity of queer experiences, including the voices of tangata whenua, MVPFAFF+, and others, while providing kaitiakitanga for queer knowledge. We're welcoming all forms of knowledge-making – with a commitment to upholding Te Tiriti, amplifying queer voices, and strengthening the links between people across Aotearoa’s diverse queer spaces.

If you would like to contribute to this collection please follow this link to email Moana. 

'Tūhono Impact' is now live

Created by Powerdigm, Tūhono Impact is an open-source resource, completely FREE to use. It’s designed to help organisations across Aotearoa understand, track and show their social impact, on their own terms.

Whether you’re just getting started or refining what you already do, you can move through the site in a way that suits you. Start at the beginning or jump straight to what you need.

Kaiparahuarahi Kotahitanga: Understanding Identities through Intersectionality

The most recent edition released by AraTaiohi:

In this collection of articles, we explore the profound impact of cultural identity on Youth Work through the experiences of three dedicated practitioners.   Each story highlights the unique yet strikingly similar journeys of individuals who have harnessed their own heritage and personal experiences to empower young people from diverse backgrounds. All three authors share backgrounds characterised by a rich history, a story of migration and a youth environment marked by a somewhat forced assimilation. They each broke free by connecting with their communities and reigniting their love for their identities first. 

Read more here

Matike Tāhono

After a successful and meaningful first series of conversations over Summer, we are opening spots for our second cohort for Matike Tāhono – a group of tauira (pupils) coming together to read through He Whakaaro Here Whakaumu mo Aotearoa, the often-cited report completed by the Matike Mai Working Group. Tāhono has set out on this journey to respond to the divisive rhetoric around our current constitution, and the simple fact that this report provides a framework of relationship between Tangata Whenua and Tauiwi.

The rōpū will meet online monthly over five sessions, working incrementally through the report with discussion points and concepts to consider throughout the process.

This process is a time commitment so we ask you ensure full participation. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on our own journey and contributions to the future of Aotearoa. The group is held by a Tāhono facilitator, and once the initial series is completed, tauira have the option to continue working on activities identified by the group that relate to the kauapa.

Initial whanaunga and scoping session: 7 pm, Thursday August 21st. Places are limited, so please submit your interest assuming you will commit to the five monthly sessions.

Register your interest here!

 

'Te Tiriti Based Futures + Anti-Racism 2026' 


📅Save the date: 21-26th March 2026

 

Kōrero for Change | Justice Webinar ⚖️ 

Access Matters Aotearoa invites you to our next Kōrero for Change — a courageous conversation about ableism in the justice system. 

Disabled people, Deaf, tāngata whaikaha Māori, whānau hauā in Aotearoa continue to face systemic barriers when navigating the justice system — from inaccessible legal processes and environments, to bias, discrimination, and lack of representation. This kōrero will explore how we can reshape justice to uphold the rights, dignity, and voices of all. 

Brought to you by Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People, Spectrum Foundation, Foundation North, and J R McKenzie Trust. 

📅 Date: Wednesday, 13 August 2025 
⏰ Time: 9 AM – 12 PM NZT 
🌐 Platform: Zoom 

🔗 Register now to secure your spot! 

Let’s build a justice system where no one is left behind. 

Social investment and communities - free sector webinar
facilitated by Katie Bruce and Atawhai Tibble, who will be joined by Joe Fowler from SIA.

📅 Date: Friday, 15 August 2025 
⏰ Time: 1 PM 
🌐 Platform: Zoom 
🔗 Register here to to join Hui E! and dive deeper into social investment from a community perspective.

This kōrero will be led by the ideas, examples and questions that you send through on registration, and facilitated by Katie Bruce, Kaiwhakahaere Matua | Chief Executive of Hui E! Community Aotearoa and Atawhai Tibble, Kaihautu at Barnardos Aotearoa, whose experience spans national policy, global wellbeing measurement, and community-led initiatives.

Atawhai and Katie will be joined by Joe Fowler, Deputy Chief Executive Investment and Commissioning, from the Social Investment Agency (SIA) who will:

  • Share information about the new Social Investment Fund and its priorities
  • Answer your burning questions
  • Discuss all things community impact with Katie and Atawhai.

The Government has just announced that 'children of families with complex needs' are the priority for the first round of the Social Investment Fund, which opens on 25 August.

There will be a specific focus on:

  • children whose parent(s) are currently or have recently been in prison
  • children of parent(s) who experienced the care system
  • children that were stood down or suspended from school when they were 12 or younger.

Hui E! are keen to hear from you about what you are already doing, would love to see happen, or are challenged by, including measuring/sharing whānau-centred value and impacts, commissioning models, holistic and collaborative ways of working, and the impact capability and supports needed for our sector.

SIA have information about how to apply to the fund on their website, and will be hosting how-to-apply-to-the-new-fund webinars.

Indigenous Futures International Conference 2025 - 
"Indigenous futures unbound: Reimagining Indigenous futures through knowledge and praxis".

Registrations are still open

4-7 November 2025
Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia
More information here

Advancing Equity: Social determinants in Migrant and Refugee Health Research Symposium

The AUT Migrant and Refugee Health Research Centre (MRHRC) and the New Zealand Policy Research Institute (NZPRI) are excited to co-host a research symposium focused on advancing equity in migrant and refugee health through the lens of social determinants.

Friday 21 November 2025, AUT North Campus

Registrations are open here

2025 Nōku te Ao Puna Pūtea | Social Action Grants 

If you’ve got a powerful idea to shift the kōrero around mental distress and reduce discrimination in your community, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Here’s what you need to know: 

  • Applications will be open from 21 July to 31 August 📅 
  • Grants range from $10,000 to $40,000 💰 
  • Chosen projects must be completed within six months ⏰ 

Whether it’s a wānanga series, art project, community event, storytelling initiative, or something else entirely – we’re here to tautoko you every step of the way. 

For tips on how to apply, go to Mental Health Foundation website, and check out this video 🎥 by their Social Action Grants Co-ordinator, Fee Tamani: Watch the video

Our vision is a more equitable, engaged and inclusive Aotearoa informed by community knowledge.
Ko ta mātou whakakitenga he Aotearoa e tōkeke ana, e whai kiko ana, e whakamohio mai ana e te matauranga hapori.

Our Commitment: 
We provide our services free of charge to support tangata whenua, and the voluntary and community sectors. Community Research is a registered charity, sustained by donations and grants.

Your Support Matters: 
If you value our work, please consider making a donation. Your contribution helps us continue to foster a more connected and informed Aotearoa.

Donate now