Whakamanawa 2024 Reflections
Photo credit: Heather Joy Milne
Whakamanawa 2024 panel kōrerorero on social investment, featuring Sir Bill English, Nicola Nation (CEO Tumu Whakarae, Ākina), and Dr Craig Jones (Acting Chief Executive, Social Investment Agency).
I tērā Rāhina, te Tumu Whakarae o Ākina, a Nicola Nation, i haere ia ki Ōtautahi ki te Whakamanawa 2024. I kōrero ia i runga i te kōrererero ki ‘Social Investment’. He tona whakaaro ēnei…
Last Monday, Ākina Chief Executive Nicola Nation went to Ōtautahi (Christchurch) to the Social Service Providers Whakamanawa Conference 2024. She spoke in a panel discussion on social investment. Here are her thoughts…
The Current Challenges
The front lines of social services are facing significant strain. Providers are grappling with a surge of frustration towards the Government, especially concerning Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Section 7AA at Oranga Tamariki, and recent funding cuts. The exhaustion is palpable, with many organisations operating on a shoestring budget.
Panel Reflections
Nicola shared the stage with Sir Bill English and Dr Craig Jones, the Acting CEO of the Social Investment Agency. The panel delved into the potential of social investment to deliver meaningful outcomes. Dr Jones highlighted Social Investment Agency’s efforts to build a robust framework and improve consistency across government reporting, which is anticipated to benefit everyone involved.
Sir Bill English introduced the concept of social investment, emphasising the importance of leveraging data and evidence to drive impactful change. He also advocated for greater collaboration among social service providers to address shared challenges, reduce duplication, and identify gaps in service delivery. This collaborative approach aims to provide the government with a clearer picture of ground-level needs.
Nicola Nation’s Perspectives
Nicola Nation framed social investment as an opportunity for improvement rather than a problem to be solved. She presented three key recommendations from Ākina’s white paper:
Community Representation: Ensuring that the community has a seat at the decision-making table.
Collaboration for Impact: Encouraging government to partner with private funding sources to amplify social investment efforts.
Long-Term Commitment: Advocating for a social investment approach that endures beyond the 2026 election and is supported by a bipartisan consensus.
Nicola also inquired about how the Social Investment Agency plans to balance the need for data and evidence with the acceptance of potential failures, a challenge highlighted by the Minister.
The conference underscored the need for a nuanced, collaborative approach to social investment, one that recognises the challenges faced by providers and seeks to harness collective efforts for lasting change.
Get in touch with Ākina
If you’re struggling to measure the positive impact your organisation creates, want create impact or are keen to start your social investment journey, get in touch with Ākina by emailing info@akina.org.nz
Read Ākina’s Social Investment White Paper here.