The West Coast has become one of only three regions in New Zealand selected by the Social Investment Agency to establish a community commissioning partnership. The initiative aims to give local communities a greater role in shaping decisions about how government funding is used to improve wellbeing across Te Tai o Poutini, recognising that local people are best placed to identify local priorities and opportunities.
The partnership will support a more coordinated, locally led approach to social investment, bringing organisations together around shared priorities and improving outcomes for West Coast communities.
The selection recognises the West Coast's long history of collaboration between iwi, community organisations, local government, health and education, and creates an opportunity to build on those partnerships to achieve better outcomes for whānau and communities.
Community commissioning brings organisations together to identify local priorities, coordinate investment and focus on achieving better long-term outcomes for whānau and communities. The partnership has been established to design a community commissioning model for the West Coast and will not directly deliver services or replace existing organisations.
Partnership spokesperson Lisa Tumahai said the announcement was an exciting opportunity for the West Coast.
"This is about trusting West Coast communities to help shape West Coast solutions. The people who understand our challenges and opportunities best are the people who live here.”
"By working together we can make better use of existing investment, strengthen collaboration across the region and ensure decisions are informed by the voices of our communities."
The initiative will begin with a discovery and design phase involving communities across Buller, Grey and Westland. Over the coming months, the partnership will work with whānau, service providers, iwi, local government and government agencies to identify priorities and develop a commissioning approach that reflects the needs and aspirations of Te Tai o Poutini.
The initiative will be governed by a Regional Governance Board comprising respected West Coast leaders from iwi, health, education, philanthropy and the community sector. The Board will provide strategic oversight of the commissioning programme, helping guide investment decisions through local knowledge, evidence and community priorities, supported by a Community Advisory Network representing communities across Te Tai o Poutini.
Further information about community engagement opportunities will be released in the coming months.
Media enquiries to:
Regional Governance Board
The Regional Governance Board provides strategic oversight of the West Coast Community
Commissioning Partnership and includes leaders representing iwi, health, education,
philanthropy and the community sector.
The inaugural members are:
• Lisa Tumahai – CEO, Pokeka Poutini Ngāi Tahu
• Caro Findlay – Chief Executive, West Coast Health
• Lorraine Scanlon – Chief Executive, Homebuilders West Coast
• Simon Bastion – Chair, West Coast Community Trust
• Renee Rooney – Education sector representative
• Lynette Beirne – Community representative