The strengths-based model we use demands we work in ways that best suit our leaders and investors: iwi, young people and small businesses. The word pivot is used a lot at Te Hōnonga a Iwi. Some people see the need to pivot as a result of undercooked planning. Many people find pivoting unsettling, stressful. For us, being flexible, quickly shifting to meet needs, and expectations of diverse partners, including Te Taiao, enables us to perform pirouettes that have a high degree of inclusivity...

Student journalist Roshni chats to youth leader Chris Kumala. Chris Kumala is a regular chicken carer at Restoring Rosedale. He is an Indonesian-Chinese Year 12 student at Rangitoto College, who was born in Aotearoa New Zealand. Chris started attending working bees at the restoration in Year 9 initially for tree-planting, because he saw the impact made. Adding on to his ‘chicken carer’ role, he also has another very intriguing role, which we would call, “Business Activator.” When asked...

Te Hōnonga a Iwi Chair Sheryl Blythen reports back from the May meeting of the Strategy Committee. The work we are doing to support climate change adaptation, improve soil, water and air quality through planting a native forest and increase food security with our mara kai community garden is an essential part of our goal to increase the wellbeing of the natural environment in the Rosedale rohe. We can’t do that work without the involvement of people from across our community – iwi, local...