Focus area 3: Support and work with communities to develop local leadership and the resilience to thrive in a changing world

​A community can be a community of place, interest or identity. A community that is empowered is one that has the ability to influence decisions, take action and bring about change. 

Many people expect to have a more active role in decision-making when decisions affect their wellbeing, their home, community or area of interest.

This involvement in decision-making is an integral part of creating strong, sustainable and cohesive communities. Volunteers, and the organisations that support them, also play a vital role in enabling participation in local action and decision-making.

Local leadership requires a more locally-centric approach, increasing the range and quality of relationships and developing a better understanding of local aspirations and needs.

Organisations have a social responsibility and need to think differently about how they work at the local level and how current and future challenges for Auckland's communities can best be met.

Supporting people to work with and lead their own community can enable many positive results. Local ways of doing things and developing local solutions better addresses communities' diverse needs.  Building strong relationships and a shared sense of purpose brings diverse communities together, builds a sense of belonging, and creates resilience. This means communities and individuals are able to adapt as circumstances change.

Some Aucklanders are already effective at working in and shaping their own community, as seen on the Creating a community-led physical activity space in Grey Lynn page. 

Others need assistance and support to increase their knowledge, skills and human and financial resources to act.  

How this can be done      

Efforts and investment to support local leadership and community resilience can:

• provide support to and share decision-making with local people and organisations so they can actively shape, influence, lead and be part of what happens in their communities and how it happens
• support a strong and well-networked community sector that delivers services to those in need, especially vulnerable communities and those experiencing significant change and growth.