We have been working with Dorothy Adams, ex-CEO for the Social Investment Agency, and an iwi leaders working group to develop our social investment approach. This approach is about investing in people, helping them now and setting them up for a better future. The goal is to prevent problems before they happen.
By using data and evidence, we can better understand what outcomes are important, who needs help, and how to make the right support work. Alongside government-funded support, we are committed to making the most our resources that help whānau and communities’ flourish.
While Wairoa has a lot of potential, there are challenges. The area faces high levels of deprivation, poor education outcomes, and a higher number of adults reliant on government support compared to other parts of New Zealand. A key issue for Wairoa is the education of young people. Right now, our rangatahi face bigger hurdles and have poorer educational outcomes in school than many of their peers across the country.
We have decided to make improving education outcomes for young people a top priority. When rangatahi succeed in school, they have more opportunities in life. Education not only helps them find work but also leads to better career chances and earning potential down the line.
The next steps are developing our social investment approach and digging deeper into what’s needed to help young Māori in Wairoa succeed in school and beyond. This means understanding what support is needed, and which barriers are stopping rangatahi from achieving their potential through localised research.
