Author: Inspiring Communities/Powerdigm, 2024.

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC) commissioned this report to explore local structures and approaches that can enable and deliver community-based outcomes. It also examines the relationships and support that help these structures survive and thrive.

Written by Powerdigm, the consulting arm of Inspiring Communities, the report reflects a collaborative inquiry approach. Both WBOPDC and its strategic community sector partner, SociaLink, contributed to shaping the project to ensure its relevance to Western Bay of Plenty communities.

The report is founded on the belief that local communities hold insights, resources, know-how, and capacity to actively generate and lead solutions to local issues. While communities have significant strengths, external support is essential. The findings are intended to stimulate further thinking about collaborative, community-led approaches and encourage experimentation with different ways to support and work alongside local communities, both in the Western Bay and across Aotearoa.

The authors emphasise that thinking about what is possible works best when done collectively and in ways tailored to local contexts – there is no single community model that fits all.

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