Porirua to help shape the future of community-led social services
A week on from the Government’s announcement that Porirua is one of three communities selected to progress to the Design and Discovery phase of its Community-led Commissioning initiative, local leaders say the opportunity is an important recognition of the strength and collective leadership already present across the city.
On Wednesday 5 August, Hon Nicola Willis announced that Porirua had been selected to take part in the initiative, which aims to shift decision-making closer to communities, recognising that local people are best placed to understand local needs and shape services that achieve better outcomes for people and whānau.
Community-led commissioning will explore how communities and government can work together to design more joined-up, locally informed approaches to social services.
For Porirua, the opportunity builds on years of collaboration and collective leadership across the city, and provides a significant opportunity to help shape what community-led commissioning could look like in practice.
Chief Executive of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Helmut Modlik, said the opportunity belonged to the whole community.
“This isn’t recognition of one organisation. It’s recognition of what our community has built together over many years.
“Through the Porirua Community Leaders Forum, Ngāti Toa, Porirua City Council, community organisations, government agencies and residents have built trusted relationships, identified shared priorities and demonstrated what is possible when communities work together.
“This is a natural next step in the journey our community has been on. It gives us the opportunity to work alongside Government and our community to design an approach that reflects the strengths, aspirations and lived experience of Porirua.”
The Social Investment Agency identified Porirua’s strong strategic leadership, clear vision, ability to work across systems, strong iwi leadership, direct mana whenua involvement, and strong connections across local government, organisations and community networks as key reasons for its selection.
Over the next six to twelve months, Porirua will work alongside the Social Investment Agency and the wider community through a Design and Discovery process.
This next phase will focus on:
working with the community to design what community-led commissioning could look like in Porirua
developing a proposal for Ministers to consider in early 2027
ensuring community aspirations remain at the centre of the design process.
Modlik said it was important people understood what the announcement did and did not mean.
“This isn’t a promise of additional funding, nor does it mean services or contracts are changing tomorrow. The Design and Discovery phase is about working with our community to explore what is possible before any future decisions are made.”
Porirua’s vision remains unchanged: Making Porirua the best place to raise a whānau.
The Government’s original announcement can be read here: Government announcement – Communities to design local social services
ENDS
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