Supporting community-led initiatives, strong partnerships, activation of council assets, and grassroots economic development.

People want to shape their communities in ways that reflect who they are and what they care about. While traditional tools (like formal meetings and submissions) still have a place, some people prefer to contribute by: organising street events, painting murals, leading planting days etc.

These efforts might happen outside formal channels, but they show care for place, spark connection, offer immediate value, and help reveal what matters most to our communities. That kind of insight is powerful, not only for creating vibrant towns, but also for helping us make better decisions.

So how do we support these efforts with more than goodwill? How do we build strategic partnerships, back local businesses, and unlock community spaces to ensure momentum is not lost? It is about seeing the big picture, and connecting grassroots energy with longer-term outcomes that benefit everyone.

Our Community Development & Partnerships team help turn great local ideas into real, visible outcomes. We work alongside people and groups to grow projects from the ground up - removing barriers, opening doors, and connecting communities with the tools they need to succeed.

This work gives us a deeper insight into where community energy exists, and where investment and support can have the most impact.

The focus is on four interconnected areas:

• Community-led initiatives:
  • Empower community to lead small, low-cost projects with our support, like pop-up events, youth activities, planting days, and wellness sessions. These bring energy, connection, and pride to a place.
  • The Pride of Place Community-led Initiatives Grant is funded externally which helps us support these ideas that communities are ready to lead.
• Partnerships - collaboration with community groups, iwi, schools, health providers, businesses etc. on shared goals.
• Activating our assets - bringing community into our projects from early input to post delivery, use and activation.
• Grassroots economic development - helping grow small business capability through locally requested workshops using external funding.

This approach helps us to:

• Support practical, inclusive ways for people to get involved.
• Build leadership and capability within communities.
• Ground decision-making in real experience and momentum.
• Build trust and two-way relationships between us and communities.

• What needs to change so everyone knows they can influence local decisions, and what would make more people want to be involved?
• What should we ask the community about, and what should we just get on and do?
• How can we enable more people to shape their towns in ways that work for them?
• How can small, local projects inform long-term priorities and investment?
• What role should partnerships, lived experience, and local capability play in our future?