What we do

We bring our mahi to life through two main strands. MADE to Lead is our structured community leadership programme that supports everyday people to grow their skills, confidence and impact. Alongside this, the Manaaki Collective is our wider network that brings together emerging leaders, volunteers and grassroots partners — backing each other, sharing resources and taking action where it’s needed most.

Our programmes & initiatives

MADE to Lead

Community Leadership Programme

MADE to Lead is our two-year community leadership pathway for people who have faced some of life’s toughest challenges but want to turn their story into hope and action for their whānau and wider community. Many of our participants have been on the receiving end of help and are now stepping up to lead change in their own communities.

This programme backs emerging leaders with training, connection and support, helping them build the skills, confidence and networks they need to turn their story into hope and action for their whānau and wider community.

MADE

“Make a
Difference
Everyday”

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  • Year One is all about personal healing, growth and laying the groundwork for strong, community-led leadership. Participants get mentoring, pastoral care and training that supports mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

    Our programme is accessible for all learning styles – including people who haven’t finished school or who are neurodiverse – so everyone can build confidence, skills and strong relationships in their own way. There are also opportunities for practical group outreach projects and volunteering, so participants can put what they’re learning into action and make a real difference in their communities.

  • Year Two is about growing confident, practical leadership and communication skills. Building on the personal growth of Year One, participants deepen their spiritual maturity, strengthen their emotional resilience and step up into real-world leadership opportunities.

    In this phase, they explore their unique gifts, develop public speaking and relational skills, learn different leadership styles, and build healthy habits to sustain their mahi for the long haul.

    Alongside this, participants keep building strong connections with each other and the wider community, and take part in hands-on outreach and volunteering to grow their confidence and make a real impact where it’s needed most.

  • Our graduates go on to lead support groups, share their stories through our online platforms and other community initiatives, and step into roles of leadership in their workplaces and communities. Many continue their studies, sit on Trust Boards, and become role models and people of influence for their whānau and wider community.

    They stay connected and supported through the Manaaki Collective, so they’re never walking the journey alone.

  • We start each year with a new intake of people into Year One. Each intake has up to 15 spaces. Training happens fortnightly on a Tuesday night, from February to November with a graduation celebration in December. Every session begins with a shared meal - connecting over good kai is very important!

  • The programme is designed for whānau who have experienced challenges in their lives but want to heal and grow as a person and make a difference in the lives of others.​​

    You need to be:

    • aged 18+

    • committed to attending

    • open to spiritual & emotional growth

    • recommended by one of our graduates or community partners

Manaaki Collective

Community Support Network

The Manaaki Collective is our growing network of MADE to Lead graduates, grassroots community groups, and volunteers. It’s all about collaboration, working together on projects that meet real community needs, sharing resources, and looking after the people doing the mahi so they’re not doing it alone.

The Collective offers care, connection and practical support for leaders and volunteers – helping prevent isolation and burnout so community leadership stays strong for the long haul. We also provide an umbrella for informal groups that need one, as well as sharing our own resources and expertise to support their work – like our wellbeing workshops and Caring for the Carers. We also provide a platform for people to share their Stories of Hope online, shining a light on local heroes making change happen every day.

Manaaki:
care
support
uplift
respect

  • Mobilising volunteers and networks for crisis response, community events, local clean-ups, and practical awhi for whānau in hardship.

  • These groups are led by our graduates and are happening in homes and community venues all across Auckland. Whānau come together to share kai, find belonging, support, accountability and purpose.

  • Practical workshops designed as resources for our community partners and graduates to strengthen their mahi with their own people. Each workshop is shaped to meet the real needs of specific groups – like young mums, rangatahi, or whānau with gang backgrounds.

    Key workshops include:

    • Flourishing People – Building resilience and wellbeing after trauma (tailored for each group)

    • Flourishing Relationships – Strengthening relationship skills to reduce conflict and break cycles of harm (e.g. couples affected by family violence)

  • Workshops and support for those doing high-trust, high-stress mahi in the community, helping prevent burnout and reduce isolation

  • Our “Stories of Hope” digital project shares the real-life journeys of everyday people who have faced adversity and now lead change in their communities. When someone feels ready to tell their story, we help them record and share it on our platforms – inspiring hope and showing what’s possible for others walking a similar path.

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Let’s work together

Interested in partnering with us? Fill out some info and we will be in touch!