The Southern Initiative

The Southern Initiative The Southern Initiative – Facebook House Rules

We openly welcome your comments and encourage discussion.

The Southern Initiative is Auckland Council’s place-based innovation team tackling social and economic challenges in South and West Auckland to support a prosperous, resilient Tāmaki Makaurau where tamariki and whānau thrive. We ask that you are polite and respectful with your comments and views. We reserve the right to hide or remove harmful posts or comments from this page. This includes any pos

t or comment containing disrespectful, rude, or abusive language; direct personal attacks or disclosure of private information or details of elected members or staff, other Facebook users or individuals; objectionable material; misleading information; inflammatory comments and unsolicited advertising, marketing or spam. If your contributions fail to comply with Facebook’s terms, and/or the above rules, then you may be blocked from posting to this page. We monitor our social media platforms in line with Auckland Council's Moderation Policy and the independent platform's Community Standards. Facebook’s Community Standard policies outline what is and is not allowed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/communitystandards/

Information users share with the community on or through the Facebook platform, including, but not limited to; comments, wall posts, by "Liking" this page, or by "Liking" any social object maintained by The Southern Initiative, may be re-posted on or through the Facebook platform by The Southern Initiative Facebook team in accordance with Facebook's Terms of Use. The Southern Initiative claims no liability in any way connected to the use of or access to The Southern Initiative page. Contact us directly if you have any questions regarding these guidelines.

🚨 Happening this Friday - don’t miss the next Kōrero with Amotai Supplier Scoop 📣 Join Helen Paul-Smith, founder of ŌKU,...
27/07/2026

🚨 Happening this Friday - don’t miss the next Kōrero with Amotai Supplier Scoop 📣

Join Helen Paul-Smith, founder of ŌKU, and Joseph Harawira, founder of Wai Mānuka, as they share how indigenous stories, values and cultural identity have helped open doors to international markets.

This kōrero will explore how businesses can grow without losing who they are, protect cultural integrity while creating commercial opportunities, and use indigenous values as a genuine point of difference.

📅Friday 31 July
⏰12:00pm - 12:45pm
📍Online

A valuable session for Amotai suppliers looking to grow on their own terms.

🔗 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/korero-with-amotai-supplier-scoop-oku-and-wai-manuka-tickets-1992402928794?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&fbclid=IwY2xjawTORapleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFHYnAxTjdPajBiUUphMW1Bc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmT_E8t8yUD19EsAAgclMgM01dBjwUt7QGc3fIMczv3bGAPujrcVNhe3CsHw_aem_U3ZKBTMra-zwz4Q25PT1WQ

📣 Paid internship opportunity for rangatahi who are keen to learn, grow their skills and contribute to kaupapa connected...
24/07/2026

📣 Paid internship opportunity for rangatahi who are keen to learn, grow their skills and contribute to kaupapa connected to kai, community and te taiao 🤎🌱 Gain hands-on experience at Te Maara Kai o Wirihana and Auckland Botanic Gardens over nine months.

Applications close soon! Apply today👇🏾

📣 New Report: New Tech Horizons and the Pasifika Workforce We're pleased to share the release of New Tech Horizons and t...
18/06/2026

📣 New Report: New Tech Horizons and the Pasifika Workforce

We're pleased to share the release of New Tech Horizons and the Pasifika Workforce, a new report exploring the impacts of technological change on the Pasifika workforce in Aotearoa.

The future of work is changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence, automation, and emerging technologies are reshaping industries, jobs, and skills requirements at a pace we have not seen before.

Yet many Pasifika workers remain concentrated in industries that are more vulnerable to technological disruption, creating both challenges and opportunities for our communities.

This report explores the sources of future technologically driven vulnerability, resilience, and opportunity for the Pasifika workforce, and identifies areas where action is needed to help ensure Pasifika are not only prepared for the future, but positioned to help shape it.

Fa'afetai tele lava and thank you to the many whānau, community stakeholders, employers, workforce intermediaries, technology experts, learning partners, and contributors who generously shared their knowledge, experiences, and insights with Uptempo and this research over the course of the programme.

We hope this research contributes to the growing conversation about how we build a workforce that is resilient and equipped to succeed in a changing world.

🔗 Read the Reports here: https://www.uptempo.nz/reports
🔗 Read the Full Report here:https://cd12b735-d938-4c4f-a951-2a99bff8ee12.filesusr.com/ugd/b105e7_2821bd94e196464d991bfa0f4f301464.pdf
🔗 Read the Executive Summary here:https://cd12b735-d938-4c4f-a951-2a99bff8ee12.filesusr.com/ugd/b105e7_72382410367c49aa8e2731978eba6bed.pdf

18/06/2026

Creating pathways into employment takes more than training alone. It takes connection, support and opportunity. Stories like Sio and Filipo's are a reminder that investing in Māori and Pasifika talent is also an investment in whānau, workforce capability and a more inclusive economy for Tāmaki Makaurau. Watch below 👇🏼

Last year, The Auckland Co-Design Lab marked 10 years as an Aotearoa New Zealand public sector innovation initiative. To...
11/06/2026

Last year, The Auckland Co-Design Lab marked 10 years as an Aotearoa New Zealand public sector innovation initiative.

To reflect on this milestone, they have recently released a report exploring what they have learned about system level innovation from a decade of working alongside whānau, hapori, The Southern Initiative, and partners across the motu to address complex social challenges.

One of the clearest lessons is that enduring change cannot be delivered through programmes alone. It requires systems that can learn, adapt, and respond to complexity in ways that are grounded in place and connected to the realities of whānau and hapori.

If the first decade of The Lab was about demonstrating what is possible, the next is about making these ways of working more common across the public sector.

We look forward to sharing more of the stories, insights, and learning from The Lab over the coming months.

Read the full report: https://www.aucklandco-lab.nz/the-lab-blog/ten-years-of-the-lab

This week, we welcomed 15 rangatahi to Auckland Council to mark the beginning of their Rangatahi Pathways placements. De...
05/06/2026

This week, we welcomed 15 rangatahi to Auckland Council to mark the beginning of their Rangatahi Pathways placements.

Delivered in partnership with Community Climate Action (Mātātahi Taiao), the programme is the first initiative of its kind across Auckland Council and provides rangatahi Māori with paid work placements across the organisation. Over 8-12 weeks, participants will gain workplace experience, develop skills, and explore potential career options while contributing to mahi that supports Tāmaki Makaurau. The programme aims to grow talent and support the next generation of leaders across the region.

Over the coming weeks, participants will be based across Auckland Botanic Gardens, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Healthy Waters, Libraries, Auckland Emergency Management, Technology, Tūpuna Maunga Authority, and Community Climate Action, gaining insight into the diverse career opportunities available across council.

It was a privilege to welcome our rangatahi and their whānau and celebrate the start of their journey with Auckland Council. We look forward to seeing what they achieve over the coming months🤗

One of the many hands-on experiences at our event - The Niu Horizons: Tech Futures - saw VAKA invite rangatahi to desi...
28/05/2026

One of the many hands-on experiences at our event - The Niu Horizons: Tech Futures - saw VAKA invite rangatahi to design their own taonga using digital design tools and 3D printing technology 💻🖨️

The workshop helped show how technology can be used as a tool for storytelling, identity, creativity, and innovation - connecting culture with emerging digital skills in a hands-on and accessible way.

Today, the finished taonga were delivered out to schools - here are students from Te Kāpehu Whetū with their finished creations 💜💚

That’s a wrap on The Niu Horizons: Tech Futures for 🚀Across the day, we welcomed over 120 rangatahi from 8 schools acr...
28/05/2026

That’s a wrap on The Niu Horizons: Tech Futures for 🚀

Across the day, we welcomed over 120 rangatahi from 8 schools across South and West Auckland to explore technology - creating space for young people to see themselves in industries shaping the future of Aotearoa and the world.

Students took part in fireside talanoa sessions with Māori and Pasifika tech leaders working across AI, digital/creative tech, health tech, and green tech, alongside a hands-on Tech Playground featuring 3D printing, esports, VR, coding, PC building, digital creativity, and plenty of interactive tech experiences 🎮🤖🕶️⚡

More than just a tech event, the day was about visibility, inspiration, and curiosity - planting the seed and helping māori and pasifika rangatahi see that there is a place for them in technology (and, boy did they hear and see it!)

A huge thank you to our talanoa guest panellists - Julia Pahina, Lui Hellesoe, Amy Dove, Tyrone Tangata-Makiri, Will Fleming, Doug Healey, Kat Lintott, and facilitator/MC Allyssa Verner-Pula - along with our Tech Playground exhibitors and partners including WayFYnders, Buzzly, Tū Ātea, GameTan, VAKA , and Te Ngahere for helping bring this event to life 💜💚

📸 Ask Q / Keu Iorangi

Tomorrow, 120+ rangatahi from across ten South and West Auckland High schools will come together at our booked out Techw...
20/05/2026

Tomorrow, 120+ rangatahi from across ten South and West Auckland High schools will come together at our booked out Techweek event The Niu Horizons: Tech Futures 💜💚

Joined by many friends of The Southern Initiative - including Ngahere, Buzzly, Tū Ātea, VAKA, and GameTan - the day will feature an interactive Tech Playground with hands-on experiences exploring emerging technologies, alongside inspiring fireside talanoa sessions with Māori and Pasifika leaders - including Julia Pahina, Lui Hellesoe, Amy Dove, Tyrone Tangata-Makiri, Will Fleming, Doug Healey, and Kat Lintott.

“You cannot be what you cannot see.”

We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone tomorrow and creating space for inspiration, curiosity, and possibility. ✨

Māori entrepreneurs - this one’s for you (and closing soon!)🔥Tū Ātea’s Te Ara Pakihi incubator is designed to back Māori...
06/05/2026

Māori entrepreneurs - this one’s for you (and closing soon!)🔥

Tū Ātea’s Te Ara Pakihi incubator is designed to back Māori founders to grow and scale their businesses - with access to the support, networks, and capital needed to take that next step.

Fully funded (no fees, no equity), with up to $35,000 of support per business - this is about unlocking growth and building in the digital economy, on our own terms.

If you’re in tech, digital, or creative sectors and ready to scale - back yourself and apply today - EOIs close on 18 May.

Learn more 🔗 https://www.tuatea.nz/incubator

Address

Auckland

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Southern Initiative posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to The Southern Initiative:

Shortcuts

Share