Nau mai, haere mai!
Ko Te Whakapunake a te matau a Maui Tikitiki a Taranga te maunga,
Ko Te Wairoa hōpūpū, hōnengenenge, matangirau te awa,
Ko Tākitimu te waka,
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa me Rongomaiwahine ōku Iwi,
Kei Te Puaha o Waikato te kāinga,
Ko Natalia Sexton tōku ingoa,
Kei Weave – Working Together ahau e mahi ana.
He Kaiwhakahare Matua ahau.
Kia ora koutou katoa,
Nau mai, haere mai!
Welcome to the inaugural blog for Weave – Working Together, or ‘Weave’ as we call ourselves, and our collaboration. I am one of many, and I was fortunate to be appointed to the role of General Manager of Weave last year in between Covid-19 lockdowns. I am proudly from the East coast of the North Island but lucky to live on its West Coast. I love my whānau, animals and a really good coffee! Collaboration has always been at the heart of everything I do and have done, so I feel very honoured and privileged to be able to support our team and our communities in this role.
Who is Weave?
Weave has been around much longer than I have been here and, in some ways, is a very well-kept secret as the focus has always been on community collaboration(s) and the work being done rather than the funders involved.
Originally called ‘ The Working Together More Fund’ (WTMF) was established in 2009 with Wayne Francis Charitable Trust, J. R McKenzie Trust, Todd Foundation and The Tindall Foundation. In 2011, Hugh Green Foundation joined; D.V. Bryant Trust in 2013; Len Reynolds Trust in 2018 and the Lindsay Foundation in 2019. With the Lindsay Foundation stepping back, Clare Foundation joined Weave in 2022. These are the eight family foundations that make up the WTMF or ‘Weave’ as we are known today.
Collaboration connects communities
Weave has recently ‘reset’ its strategic direction, and it is important to mention the things that guide who we are and how we support collaboration in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Our vision: To grow collaborative communities
Our values: Community, compassion, learning and responsibility
How: Via funding, capacity building, resources and action
Collaboration connects communities – Improves and strengthens the ways we do things and helps solve problems, brings people closer together, enables learning, better communication and increases trust. I am excited by all the possibilities that collaboration can bring and how we can achieve so much when we work together.
Since Weave started working together we, have supported over a 1000 community collaborations throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand. I/we look forward to sharing the next part of this exciting journey with you.
Mā te wa – until next time!
