Collective Impact Initiative
The Collective Impact initiative was established in 2018 in response to research and community feedback and is intended to support efforts to strengthen biodiversity restoration led by Waikato community groups. The Waikato Regional Council (Council) is leading and funding this initiative alongside financial support from Trust Waikato. It aims to target key barriers identified by community conservation including:
- improving funding models and reducing administrative burden
- improving reporting and monitoring
- enabling and supporting access to technical advice and expertise
- establishing and supporting initiatives which contribute towards a connected, landscape-scale approach to biodiversity action
Oversight is provided by the Collective Impact Steering Group, which includes representatives from Council, Trust Waikato, the Department of Conservation, University of Waikato, iwi, and community leaders. The initiative has also engaged community biodiversity hub leaders through a Community Representatives Working Group and is positioned to support hubs and their networks to maximise biodiversity outcomes in the Waikato.
Initial delivery has focused on two priorities:
Mapping and data management tool - Kete Taiao
The first priority is a simple, powerful mapping and data management tool, Kete Taiao Waikato, designed to help community groups manage projects and demonstrate outputs and outcomes such as planting, pest control (animals and plants), monitoring and volunteer hours, all in one place. Kete Taiao Waikato can be used on desktop or mobile device to make it easier to plan activities, track progress, and report on what’s being achieved.
If you're a community conservation group interested in using Kete Taiao Waikato, Waikato Regional Council would love to hear from you.
We're looking for groups who are:
- comfortable using technology (or keen to learn)
- willing to actively use the tool and provide feedback
- able to put some time into learning and using the system as part of their project work
- positive about helping test the tool and providing feedback so it works well for community groups.
Please email ketetaiao@waikatoregion.govt.nz including your group name, a contact person, and a short description of your project.
Community hub funding distribution
The second priority is the Small Scale Community Initiatives Fund (SSCIF) hub funding distribution model. This project is intended to test proof of concept in distributing funding via local community hubs to increase efficiency and allow for local hubs to fund local projects to have the greatest impact for biodiversity.
During the first part of the trial, two biodiversity sub regional hubs were allocated thirty percent of the SSCIF to distribute to smaller community groups for pest animal and pest plant control materials, with funding for hub administration provided by Trust Waikato. The trial demonstrated potential to streamline funding processes and empower community led biodiversity outcomes, reducing effort and time for both Council and community groups, while enabling hubs to add practical value beyond funding distribution, e.g. hubs helped upskill groups to deploy traps.
Three hubs will be involved in the next phase of the trial:
