How we work
Dream South D’s work is guided by our commitment to kotahitanga and the principles of community-led development.
Kaupapa
Dream South D’s mission is to build on our community’s strengths and work together to get good stuff done.
Dream South D’s purpose is to support the community to make the most out of living in a thriving South D.
The concept of kotahitanga and the belief that we are greater together than we are on our own is at the heart of our dreams for South D.
Kotahitanga is about togetherness, unity and collective action. It’s about coming together to create a shared vision and then working together to get good stuff done.
It’s about extending support and care to those around us so that we all feel a sense of belonging and can play a part in our community now and in the long term. It's also about respecting our differences and learning from each other's strengths and stories so that together we can create a better future.
Ēhara tāku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini - My strength is not mine alone, but that of many.
Dream South D Project Process
Principles
The five principles of community-led development guide Dream South D - how we work with the community, how we operate as a board and how we measure our progress.
Grow from shared local visions - Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora a mua – those who lead give sight to those who follow; those who follow give life to those who lead.
Learn about tāngata whenua, their history and aspirations
Understand who was in this place, who is in this place and who will be in this place.
Build plans with those who live, work, care, play, and invest in a place – the principle of te ahi kaa.
Tailor-make solutions that reflect local ambitions, goals and contexts.
Grow a shared sense of optimism and collective ownership of the future.
Build from strengths - He kai kei aku ringa – there is food at the end of my hands.
Everyone has a contribution to make.
Value residents as ‘experts’ in their place.
Proactively involve people who are frequently ignored.
Recognise the strengths tāngata whenua bring and build respectful relationships.
Value community assets. Use what you’ve got to help get what you want.
Grow collaborative local leadership - Ehara taku toa he toa takitahi, engari taku toa he toa takitini – success comes from the strength of the collective and not of the lone individual.
Seek leadership from across the community – everyone is a potential leader.
Value different cultural approaches to leadership.
Support local people who are doing things and connect them to others to grow their effectiveness.
Invest in developing skills and capacity of local leaders.
Celebrate local leaders and community achievements
Work with diverse people and sectors - Mā whero, mā pango, ka oti te mahi – by red and by black the work will be completed.
Foster connections between groups who don’t usually work together.
Support the aspirations of local whānau, hapū and iwi.
Ensure residents are actively involved in all aspects.
Build relationships between neighbours.
Encourage networking between community-led initiatives locally, regionally and nationally.
Learn by doing - I orea te tuatara ka patu ki waho – a problem is solved by continuing to find solutions.
Plan and work adaptively.
Build in time for structured reflection to understand what’s working and what’s not.
Use data and insights to measure impact. Document and share progress widely.
Embrace small steps that contribute to transformational change.
Use local practice-informed evidence to support system changes locally and nationally.