What we do
Waimate2gether sprang to life as part of the Community Led Development Programme.
Waimate formed a partnership with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), then the Waimate2gether Committee was created to ensure wider community representation.
All around New Zealand, communities like Waimate, are bringing people together to create good stuff for the folk who connect within these communities. Waimate is one of 16 communities that is developing ideas and working with the DIA.
Community-led what?
It all took hold with Inspiring Communities who proudly describe themselves as a 'backbone organisation' operating across many sectors at multiple levels. They are the reference point for Community-led Development (CLD) in New Zealand and they have developed a te reo Māori term for CLD: Te Whakawhanake ā-Hapori. This reflects the weaving and inter-relationships of everyone who contributes to the whenua/place. They have built on international and local practice to grow and share expertise. It makes good sense. There are five core CLD principles that they follow:
Principle 1. Grow from shared local vision.
Principle 2. Build from strengths.
Principle 3. Work with diverse people and sectors.
Principle 4. Grow collaborative local leadership
Principle 5. Learn by doing.
Check out more detail at Community Led Development.
What’s next?
Since 2018 we’ve supported local projects to help our community thrive, funded by the Department of Internal Affairs and its Community-Led Development Programme.
We consulted with our community for ideas and brought them to life including revitalising the White Horse and Centrewood Park, bringing disc golf to Waimate, co-ordinating the district’s first Winter Festival, and doing the groundwork for the Waimate Trail.
The development programme ends in October 2023, but building our community and our district’s wellbeing through community projects doesn’t stop there. We’ve amalgamated the committees of the Waimate2gether Leadership Group and Pro-ject Waimate and rebranded under Pro-ject Waimate - trading as Waimate2gether so we continue the great work for our community.