WHO WE ARE

The Southern Initiative (TSI) &

The Western Initiative (TWI)

TSI and TWI focus on data driven, community informed approaches across South and West Auckland, working to break systemic barriers to equity. Through strategic partnerships and innovative approaches, we drive policy, practice, and mindset shifts, alongside targeted investments and interventions that address the root causes. By fostering collaboration across systems, TSI mobilises transformative projects that align with Auckland Council’s mission to reduce disparities and enhance the quality of life for New Zealanders.

A key difference in the way we work, are our intraprenuers. An intrapreneur is a change-maker within an organisation — someone who thinks like an entrepreneur but works from the inside. They use creativity, innovation, and a willingness to challenge the status quo to spark new ideas, build fresh solutions, and drive meaningful change. Like entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs take initiative and calculated risks — but they do it using the resources, networks, and structure of the organisation they’re part of, in this case Auckland Council. They’re catalysts for progress, helping established companies stay future-focused and responsive.

TSI - FOCUS AREAS

First 2000 Days

Ensuring children get the best start in life.

Workforce and Rangatahi

Helping young people successfully transition into the workforce.

Whānau Prosperity

Lifting the economic status of households to provide for well-being and resilience.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Supporting Māori and Pasifika businesses for inclusive growth.

TWI - FOCUS AREAS

Future Pipelines

Ensuring skills, training, and employment pipelines are responsive to the changing nature of work.

Resilient Employment

Driving higher value through resilient employment and enterprise opportunities.

Eco City Strengths

Building on West Auckland’s strengths as an Eco City and its strong NGO sector.

Wealth Creation

Finding ways to increase the wealth of those who are most disadvantaged in the economy.

WHAT DO WE KNOW

Auckland is a culturally rich city, with a history of Māori and Pasifika peoples settling here for economic opportunities. Almost a quarter of all Māori and 64% of Pasifika peoples in Aotearoa live in Auckland, primarily in South (Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Manurewa and Papakura) and West Auckland (Whau, Henderson-Massey and Waitākere Ranges). These communities are central to Auckland’s identity, yet they also face significant challenges, particularly around inequality. Addressing these disparities is crucial for building a sustainable future workforce for the city and the nation. TSI works to improve the quality of life for these communities through various programmes and initiatives.

KEY STATISTICS

  • Almost a quarter of all Māori and 64% of Pasifika peoples in Aotearoa live in Auckland, primarily in South and West Auckland.

  • The Pasifika community settled in Auckland for industrial work, and now makes up 15% of the total population

  • 40% of the region’s children and young people under the age of 25 years.

  • Almost one in every five babies across the country in 2020 and 2021 were born in South and West Auckland.