Lifting Governance in the Community
Te Tumu Paeroa recognises that lifting governance at the community level can have a significant impact on the ability of Māori landowners to successfully self-govern.
More than 114,000 non-government organisations (NGOs), charities, trusts and community groups operate in Aotearoa. This includes everything from Māori land trusts, marae committees, whānau trusts, and kura boards to waka ama clubs.
For the approximately half a million people currently volunteering for a governance role in the community sector, these roles can be rewarding but difficult. Community organisations are diverse; trustees, board and committee members are often time-poor volunteers and whānau, and there are limited resources currently invested in training and development.
As part of the Steering Group of the National Strategy for Community Governance we've contributed to the development of a national action plan that will create a step-change in how we recognise, support and develop community governance.
Māori governance and groups face unique challenges when navigating between te ao Māori and te ao Pākehā. With Te Puni Kōkiri, and supported by the Centre for Social Impact, we ran a workshop with people experienced in Māori governance. The group focused on the wero 'what actions are needed to ensure that all kaitiaki exhibit and role model the right behaviours needed for success in their governance roles'.
In total more than 150 participants from across with motu contributed to the development of the National Action Plan for Community Governance.
The national action plan vision is:
All community organisations in Aotearoa / New Zealand are well governed
The outcomes from this strategy are:
- All community governance group members will have basic governance skills.
- All community governance groups perform their governance function well.
- Everyone values community governance.
- Diverse, talented community governors are appointed to community boards.
- Best practice in community governance is identified and shared.
- All boards are well chaired.
- All kaitiaki exhibit and role model the right behaviours needed for success in their governance roles.
The launch was streamed on Facebook
The full Community Governance document can be downloaded here.