Community-driven solutions taking shape in Kawerau

Thanks to funding from New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT), Sport Bay of Plenty’s Locally Led Advisor role is supporting Kawerau to lead its own pathway toward more accessible, culturally-grounded physical activity opportunities for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau.

Over the past year, NZCT investment has enabled the locally led approach in Kawerau to progress from relationship building into systems change. The work is underpinned by a clear principle: community members are best placed to define both the challenges they face and the solutions that will endure. Guided by mātauranga Māori, rangatahi voice and community-led decision making, this approach is strengthening trust, ownership and long-term impact.

A key achievement has been ongoing engagement with rangatahi, tamariki and whānau and enabling pathways for their voices to shape decisions that affect how communities move, play and connect. By listening first and supporting design alongside the community, those most affected by change are helping influence opportunities for physical activity in meaningful ways. This approach has strengthened trust and alignment between council, iwi and community priorities, and is leading to decisions that better reflect local aspirations and support more active, connected communities.

NZCT support has also enabled the Locally Led Advisor to identify and strengthen locally led initiatives with strong potential for sustainable impact. These include Tūpuna Games, which revitalises traditional Māori games and movements; Pūtauaki rāua ko Whatuira, a cultural and physical kaupapa for tāne of all ages grounded in mau rākau, haka and pūrākau; and Kori Tinana, which removes financial barriers to gym access for rangatahi needing additional wellbeing support.

By investing in locally led capability, NZCT is strengthening the conditions for community-driven solutions in Kawerau that are sustainable, coordinated and enduring.