September newsletter
Observant folk will be aware that it is still August. But, given some events we've got coming up early in September, we wanted to get this newsletter to you so you can put key dates in your diary.
From Chris Clarke, CEO
Every three years, the Wilberforce Foundation reviews its strategic direction as we seek to discern “what seems right to the Holy Spirit and to us” (Acts 15:28). As part of that process, we have spent a number of months now reviewing the results of our work, the state of the Wilberforce community of organisations, the challenges when it comes to seeing the gospel flourishing in Aotearoa, and we have considered how we might most effectively support the extraordinarily diverse and vibrant group of organisations that we are privileged to connect with.
Later in September we will be sharing our new strategic direction. What can you expect to see? Well, to be candid, there will be a few changes, particularly in the intentionality we bring to building community across the 112 organisations and many scholars we support. Secondly, we will be changing how we financially support organisations. Thirdly a reaffirmation of our focus on Māori, on developing leaders, and on the environment, with a new and special focus on evangelism. We sense that across Aotearoa God is stirring people and communities to share their faith in ways that are both winsome and relevant.
One thing that will remain constant is our way of working. We are a catalyst working with para-church organisations and leaders, we work through the Wilberforce community of charities, we have an appetite for risk, and we want to see impact.
Look out for the announcements which will be followed up by a series of regional meetings, where we can work through in more detail the likely shape of the next three years.
Chris Clarke
Visit to VisionWest Waka Whakakitenga,Auckland
We are privileged to have the opportunity to visit VisionWest Auckland in early September and hear more about the haerenga they have been on over the last few years around bi-culturalism. Included in the visit will be a tour of Manaaki Kai, Pātaka Kai and the Whānau Centre. This will be a great opportunity for other CEOs, senior leaders, and Board members to get inspired around your own cultural engagement and learning within the context of your organisation.
Please register below to let us know you are going to join us.
Thursday 5th September
9:15am - 11:15am
97 Glendale Rd, Glen Eden
Te Wiki o te reo Māori Offerings
Te Wiki o te reo Māori is just around the corner, from the 13th-22nd of September.
The Wilberforce Foundation will be hosting a series of Zoom gatherings during this week.
These will be hosted by our Wilberforce Foundation Māori Strategic Partnership Lead: Jade Hohaia. Join Jade and gain some valuable cultural insights, advice and tools for enhancing diversity in the workplace and creating space spaces for cultural expression, including the use of te reo Māori. These 60 minute sessions will consist of a 25 minute introduction from Jade, and will allow 35 minutes for questions from the group.
Please note, these sessions are offered are exclusively to Board Members, CEOs and senior staff within our network. Please do feel free to invite those people you think would benefit from engaging with this learning opportunity.
We ask that you please register your attendance below. You are welcome to join as many sessions as you would like to.
Also... Each time someone from your team attends one of these online sessions, your organisation goes into the draw to win a full day's professional development workshop on Building Cultural Capacity. This will include a free staff lunch shout for your team.
The workshop will be delivered by Holika Uhila and Jade Hohaia. Read more about Holika and Jade for a sense of why this is such a valuable offer.
Holika Uhila
Holika Uhila is a widely celebrated and highly esteemed Tongan ambassador, with expertise in national Pacific strategy, policy, and social investment for youth and families to be restored and flourish.
An Honours graduate from the University of Canterbury in Social Work and Te Reo Māori, Holika is a strong advocate of Tangata Tiriti partnerships and cross-cultural connectivity through a Pacific creative lens. He recently designed an award-winning app which helps teach people how to speak the seven main languages of the Pacific. He is also the Pasifika lead for the Wilberforce Foundation Scholarship Committee, advocating in the indigenous philanthropy space.
As an alumni of Venn’s residential programme with credentials in Christian leadership, Holika takes his faith with him everywhere he goes, from the Beehive to his Tongan traditional church choir—and everywhere in between.
Jade Hohaia
Jade Hohaia (Raukawa/Ngā Puhi/Ngāi Tahu) is the Wilberforce Foundation’s Māori Strategic Partnership Lead. She manages the Te Rongopai portfolio with a focus around indigenous Aotearoa-contextualised leadership investment.
Jade has a background in Psychology and Māori communications and is an accredited member of PRINZ (Public Relations Institute of NZ). She was the former Communications Manager for Waikato-Tainui and editor for the Kiingitanga magazine Te Hookioi. Jade is a part of the Wilberforce Scholarship Panel and also leads the Māori Women in Governance programme, Hinengākau.
A lover of words and photography, Jade just published her latest book: Tāmihana- a Legacy of Servant Leadership in Aotearoa. She lives in Te Awamutu with her husband Zacchaeus and their tamariki.
She was proudly born and raised in Ōtautahi. She has been walking with the Lord for 21 years and currently attends Te Awamutu AOG church, Reach. She loves te reo Māori, and her whānau attend and work in kura kaupapa (total immersion Māori schooling).
He Māhuri Tōtara
He Māhuri Tōtara is a Christian environmental leadership development course.
It explores the unique environmental challenges and opportunities of our
world and the biblical imperative to care for creation in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The experience is full of workshops, hands-on activities, outdoor adventures, and building relationships with like-minded people.
He Māhuri Tōtara for youth will be based at Te Ahi Kaa in Ōtautahi.
30th Sept – 4th October 2024
This course is supported by the Wilberforce Foundation, and facilitated by our team member James Beck.
Whanaketia - Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry Reflections
We are aware that a number of people have found the video with reflections on the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry a very helpful resource.
At the request of a number of people, Charlotte, who put together the content and delivered the video message, has made the transcript available as well.
You will find this posted now in the Resources section of our website, alongside the video.
October Lunch and Learn
Without a doubt, funding is one of the key challenges for Christian ministries. The fundraising struggle can feel lonely, draining, and hopeless at times.
With this in mind, we are bringing together a group of experts for this fundraising-focused Lunch and Learn webinar.
Our three speakers have different areas of expertise – gifts and wills, fundraising strategy, and fundraising for growth.
We encourage you to gather the relevant people from your team to join us for what will be an informative, helpful, and inspiring session.
