Maungakiekie Tamaki, the gate way to the south, is a vibrant and diverse community full of challenges and great opportunities.

Auckland Council’s Community Development Team support the delivery of a number of community projects.

Local Board Work Programme

Youth Development

In partnership with the Local Board services team, support is provided to the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board Youth panel as the panel enters their 2nd year. This includes supporting initiatives identified by local youth in the area, managing their panel meetings, engaging with local youth on the Local Board’s draft annual plan and supporting projects with units from within Auckland Council. Support is also provided to the Local Board Youth Advisory Panel representative who is one of 21 representatives on the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Panel.

The Youth Panel has led and been involved in numerous events, youth engagement workshops and environmental projects. For example, with support from the Local Board and YMCA Onehunga, the Youth Panel organised ‘360MT’. This provided opportunities for youth from across both sub-divisions to come together to do spoken word workshops and enjoy performances from local artists who have achieved international success including Identity Dance Crew (World Hip Hop Champions) and Ginny Blackmore (musician).

Historically, young people have rarely engaged with Local Boards or their plans. The Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board and the Youth Panel have worked together to change this. They employed a special consultative procedure, using IAP2 spectrum of participation, INVOLVE, which delivers targeted engagement to specific communities including youth.

The Youth Panel delivered two targeted workshops to students councils and prefects in which they discussed the Local Board’s desired outcomes and gathered feedback on whether these outcomes met the needs of young people.

The Youth Panel were also involved in the project design of KATA (Ko Au Te Awa), giving input into the youth engagement and arts components of this project.

Capacity Building

The Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board identified that a number of community organisations within the ward lack capacity in areas of governance, financial literacy and strategic planning. The capacity building project provides the opportunities for community organisations to undertake an organisational ‘health check’, helping them identify areas for development. Additional support is available to groups that have the capacity to deliver on Local Board objectives.

To find out more, contact Gina Tupou on (09) 890 7251.

Has numerous social services organisations, community groups and NGOs working hard to serve the people of MT. The MT Local Board now wants to serve them. The Board offers a programme which builds the skills and capacity of these groups so they can excel in their work.

Groups can receive support and guidance in many areas, particularly governance, financial literacy and strategic planning. One great aspect is that groups can receive an organisational ‘health check’, helping them to identify opportunities for development. Training and support are also available to groups who meet specific criteria.

To find out more contact Gina Tupou on 354 2115.

Youth Connections

The Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board has set up the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Youth Connections Steering Group with representatives from local high schools, tertiary providers, local businesses and Ngati Whatua. With 1,500 young people not in employment, education, or training, the steering group takes a collective approach, looking at ways various stakeholders can support youth employment by addressing systemic reasons for youth unemployment. The Board states that “through Youth Connections we will continue to work collaboratively with local young people, schools, youth services and employers to understand what our business want in young employees and work to address that need, and to develop strong pathways between businesses and work-ready young people.”

Support is provided to the steering group by Auckland Council officers which includes reducing the barriers surrounding youth employment.

Projects include:

Driver license training at One Tree Hill College and Onehunga High School where 50 students from each school were supported to obtain their learner licenses.

Business research: The Maungakiekie-Tamaki Youth Connections Steering Group identified the need for a clear understanding of local employers’ needs and approaches to employment. In June 2014, the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Board undertook a telephone survey of 121 key business decision-makers. Due to the Board’s priorities around youth employment, the survey focused on understanding the ways young people are employed, the skills and qualities employers need them to have and businesses’ general views on employing them. The outcomes of the study will inform how the Board will work with local businesses and youth to positive economic outcomes for Maungakiekie-Tamaki.

Business breakfast: A breakfast was held in September where local businesses and training providers heard presentations from the Local Board Chair, local youth, Auckland Chambers of Commerce and Sir Stephen Tindall about the Steering group’s projects and were encouraged to hire young people.

Community Networks within Maungakiekie-Tamaki:

There are a number of opportunities for networking in Maungakiekie-Tamake, these include:

Panmure Network -Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month

Glen Innes Community Network – Meets the 3rd Thursday of the month

Onehunga District Council of Social Services (ODCOSS) – Meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month

Maungakiekie Health Working Group (MHWG) – Meeting the 3rd Wednesday of the month

For more information contact Gina Tupou on 09 890 7251