OUR HISTORY

2010: On 31 October, Auckland’s seven local councils, including Manukau City, cease to exist, and on 1 November, the newly formed Auckland Council begins operations.
2011: The Auckland Council begins work on the first Auckland Plan, setting a vision for Auckland to become the world’s most liveable city.
2012: The Auckland Plan is published, with a focus on regenerating South Auckland. The Southern Initiative (TSI) is identified as a key priority for this transformation. John McEnteer is appointed as the first General Manager of TSI, overseen by a Joint Steering Group led by Councillor Alf Filipaina and Karen Wilson of Te Ākitai Waiohua Iwi.

2013-2014: TSI secures two significant central government contracts - Māori and Pasifika Trades Training and Healthy Families but faces political challenges that prevent the full realisation of its multi-sector action plan.

2015-2016: TSI shifts focus to become an agile innovation team, tackling critical social and economic issues in South Auckland. Under Gael Surgenor’s leadership, TSI established the Auckland Co-Design Lab with funding from the Better Public Services Treasury Innovation Fund. TSI also advocates for social procurement, leading to the creation of Amotai to support Māori and Pasifika businesses.

2017: The Co-Design Lab becomes nested within TSI, strengthening the partnership between central and local government while continuing to address key challenges in South Auckland.
2018: TSI expands its influence with the launch of the Western Initiative (TWI) in west Auckland, applying TSI’s methods for local economic development and regeneration.
2019: TSI takes over the Youth Connections programme, focusing on building young people's economic literacy. It also secures investment from the Next Foundation for tamariki wellbeing, concentrating on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
2020: In response to COVID-19, TSI supports Māori and Pasifika businesses with $20 million in contracts. TSI rebrands the Youth Connections programme as the Youth Economy team, launching Amotai and the Uptempo programme to address in-work poverty in Pasifika communities.
2021: TSI’s portfolio grows to include Uptempo, Amotai, Tamariki Wellbeing, and more. Despite pandemic challenges, TSI launches a hybrid earn-and-learn model in partnership with Manurewa High School.

2022: Gael Surgenor is appointed to the panel reviewing the future of local government, resigning from TSI. Tania Pouwhare takes over as General Manager. The success of the Manurewa High School prototype led to the establishment of Te Taiwhanga Rangatahi (Youth Lab) to further support youth development.
Today: TSI has grown from a small team experimenting with innovative approaches to a leader in economic equity, public sector reform, and systems change. With a strong national and international reputation for social research and development, TSI continues to integrate mātauranga Māori and lived experiences into macro social and economic policies.