You might have wondered if there was smoke coming out of the SociaLink office at The Kollective lately. Don’t worry, it wasn’t a fire – it was just the heat generated by our researcher, Liz Stewart, and our CE, Liz Davies, as they worked double-time over January and February!

As the peak body representing For-Purpose organisations in the Western Bay of Plenty, SociaLink has a core commitment to being a strong voice for the social and community sector. Lately, the government has been busy, which means we’ve been busy responding. In just two months, our team has compiled and submitted five major responses to local and national policy changes.

Our goal is always the same: building up a thriving social sector where community agency, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, social justice, and equity are at the heart of decision-making.

Here is a quick look at the five big issues we’ve been fighting for on your behalf:

Following the tragic landslides in Tauranga and the Western Bay in January 2026, this submission was deeply personal. We advocated for a “one door” approach so the public can easily report concerns 24/7, and we strongly recommended that marae be formally recognised and resourced as essential emergency community hubs. We also emphasised that “community resilience” shouldn’t be an excuse for the government to underfund emergency management. We also called for stronger representation of hapū, iwi, and local community voices on Emergency Management Committees, as they hold the knowledge and insight needed to understand and respond effectively to the needs of their communities.

Infrastructure isn’t just about pipes and roads; it’s about people. While we support funding for community centres and recreational spaces, we expressed deep disappointment over the lack of consultation with tangata whenua regarding changes to how Māori land is viewed. We believe the Crown must engage in good faith from the very start.

This was a big one covering two massive pieces of legislation. We are concerned about a “top-down” approach that takes power away from local communities and centralises it in Wellington. We argued that local knowledge and Te Tiriti principles must be protected, as strong communities are built with people, not for them.

Sometimes, advocacy is about calling out the process itself. This Bill was rushed through with only three days for public submissions, which we believe is a failure of democracy. We are particularly opposed to applying these changes retrospectively, which could unfairly force vulnerable people—including survivors of abuse—to pay back “debts” through no fault of their own.

Land (whenua) is a fundamental determinant of wellbeing. We submitted on this Bill to protect Māori land rights and prevent further land loss through unfair acquisition processes. We advocated for equitable valuation and stronger safeguards to ensure that future generations can flourish on their ancestral land.

Want to help us keep the fires of advocacy burning?

We’d love to hear from you. Are there specific policy areas where you feel the social sector’s voice is missing? Or perhaps you have a story about how one of these Bills might affect your organisation? Reach out and let us know – your insights are what fuel our research and advocacy team!