Our Story

2017 - Inception

Community-focused institutional leaders around Auckland came up with the original vision for a broad-based community alliance based on the success of the Living Wage Movement

2018 - Beginnings

  • Initial proposal collectively supported by: Sisters of Mercy, Wiri, E tū, Anglican Diocese of Auckland, St Matthew-in-the-City, Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, Methodist Mission Northern, Living Wage Movement Aotearoa NZ, Salvation Army, Urban Neighbourhoods of Hope, Pacific Women’s Watch and Maori Women’s Welfare League
  • Successfully secured funding from the Peter McKenzie Project
  • Trustees appointed, charities registration and first staff employed
  • The Trustees sought a name for the alliance and was gifted the name Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga by the Maori Women's Welfare League. The name meaning a collective of groups working together for the whole
  • Formal affiliation to the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF)

2019 - Formalising

  • Began the formal sign-on of Sponsor Organisations
  • Initial 5-day residential training led by Sister Maribeth Larkin (IAF)
  • Proposal for a Community Organiser Internship prepared to develop the next generation of community leaders in Auckland

2020 - Taking Shape

  • Monthly strategy meetings begin with 4 initial Sponsor Organisations, Child Poverty Action Group, E tū, Pacific Women's Watch and Sisters of Mercy, Wiri
  • During 2020 Sponsor Organisations increased to include 14 organisations
  • Community Organiser Internship 2020 develops 8 community leaders from E tū, Salvation Army, Sisters of Mercy, AAAP, and the Anglican Diocese. Over 350 one-on-one conversations held with South Auckland residents uncovering many powerful stories of lived experiences
  • On 1st December 2020 we held a Leaders' Forum with 131 attending, from 26 organisations

2021 - Development

  • Run regular formal training sessions to unlock the potential of our sponsor organisations' staff, volunteers and members as community organisers
  • Continue our successful Community Organiser Internship Programme
  • Institute sponsor-led working groups:
    • Membership and Recruitment
    • Education and Leaders
    • Organisational Development
    • Financial Stability
  • Commence research groups on the most pressing issues facing our communities:
    • Housing
    • Migrants
    • Decent Jobs 

2022 - Growth

  • The year begins with 23 organisations, a commitment to grow and hold a forum.
  • First 5-day training since 2019.
  • 1-Day trainings throughout the year.
  • A few months reconnecting, in person meetings being held regularly for the first time since Covid.
  • Commitment to hold a forum on the Right to a Decent Home, to continue the work of the listening campaign 3 years earlier.
  • September Mayoral Forum, the “Wages and Houses Forum.” First action as “Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga”, in partnership with the Living Wage Movement, commitments from Mayoral Candidates.
  • The year ended with a “Commitment to Founding” event, attended by 90 representatives of 38 member organisations of Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga. 

2023 - Founding 

  • 1on1 meetings starting again, and the beginning of an organisational development plan undertaken by some member organisations.