West Auckland Together
Collaboration is part of West Auckland’s DNA - colloquially known as the ‘Waitākere Way’, the collaborative approach between community, council and government agencies has become the norm for organisations out West. For decades, small groups have formed collaborative networks, working together, sharing information and advocating for a stronger collective voice.
The West Auckland Together group emerged initially as a response to Covid-19 and its social effects, but is an iteration of an earlier collaborative network, previously referred to as the Community Marketplace. West Auckland Together focuses on the emerging needs of the West Auckland communitities and has continued to adapt and grow, identifying areas of need and inspiring other regions to take action.
In recent times, it has:
developed a Māori cultural capability locator tool that eight organisations are using to develop their own cultural capability.
supported the community in accessing resources dedicated to improving health and wellbeing during self-isolation, through the West Auckland Together digital hub.
worked to develop a weekly fresh food market run by locals, for locals in the heart of Henderson. Te Puna Market is an opportunity for locals to access affordable kai, connect with neighbours and support local makers and artists.
distributed more than 6,000 Easy Choice Family Kai booklets to whānau.
distributed 5,000 copies of the Homelessness, Housing and Community Resources in West Auckland Directory to Citizen Advice Bureaus, community hubs, and social service providers.
supported the development of Kai West, a collective made up of people working on community-based initiatives that focus on the local food system.
created and distributed activity-based NCEA study packs.
supported vaccination drives.
Systems change for Māori and Pasifika continues to be a directional focus and most recently, an West Auckland Together led an advocacy response to lift local voices in West Auckland in response to the recent extreme weather events.