Strategy
Reflecting on Five Years of Strategic Progress
A reflection on Visionwest’s 2021–2026 Strategic Plan
As we conclude our 2021–2026 strategic period, we can look back on five years of significant growth, innovation, and impact.
Guided by our vision of Transformed Lives, Healthy Communities and our mission of Building Hope Together, we have strengthened our organisation, deepened our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, expanded our regional reach and services, integrated new capability, and increased our capacity to walk alongside whānau facing some of life’s greatest challenges.
FIVE YEARS IN VIEW — STRENGTHENED MĀORI LEADERSHIP • MORE CONNECTED SERVICES • IOSIS INTEGRATION • EXPANDED HOUSING AND REGIONAL REACH • GROWING INFLUENCE • BETTER ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITY
Prioritising Kaupapa Māori
One of the most significant developments of this strategic period has been the strengthening of our commitment to Te Tiriti-centred practice and kaupapa Māori development.
Key achievements
- Implemented Tauihu Shared Leadership in August 2024, embedding partnership between Māori and Tangata Tiriti leadership at the most senior level.
- Expanded Māori leadership and capability through dedicated roles across Housing and Whānau Services in Auckland and Ōtautahi.
- Strengthened relationships with iwi, hapū, Te Puni Kōkiri, Māori collectives and Māori partners.
- Continued to develop the Whānau Centre, Ōhinga Tū and Mātanga Oranga as culturally grounded responses for whānau.
- Advanced He Pou Whakakitenga as a kaupapa Māori framework to guide wellbeing, service delivery and organisational practice.
- Introduced further te reo Māori learning and ongoing cultural development, mentoring and advisory support for kaimahi and leaders.
- Progressed Visionwest’s Whānau Ora journey, with shared leadership, whānau-centred decision-making and integrated support at its heart.
MILESTONES — TAUIHU SHARED LEADERSHIP • MĀORI CAPABILITY ROLES • HE POU WHAKAKITENGA • WHĀNAU ORA JOURNEY
Addressing Homelessness
Visionwest continued to play a leading role in responding to homelessness and housing insecurity, while building the platform for a more ambitious and enduring housing response.
Key achievements
- Strengthened and expanded Housing First and transitional housing services, alongside continued engagement in housing policy, peak bodies and sector forums.
- Progressed major housing developments, adding an additional 77 homes to Visionwest’s owned stock, laying the foundations for the longer-term ambition represented by our
Project 500 Homes initiative. - Brought 24 new community housing apartments at Glendale Road close to opening, including one and two-bedroom, accessible homes and shared community space.
- Advanced the Village of Hope concept, Kāinga o te Tūmanako, as a place combining housing, wraparound support, community connection, faith and belonging.
- Expanded and adapted youth housing responses, including Whare Hiwa Supported Accommodation for Rangatahi Māori and Le Aute transitional housing for young Pasefika women, continuing development of youth-focused models.
- Progressed work on housing for older people through the Intergenerational Learning Centre feasibility study and eight accessible housing units in the 24 Glendale apartments.
MILESTONES — 24 GLENDALE APARTMENTS • VILLAGE OF HOPE • COMMUNITY HUB GROUNDWORK • PROJECT 500 HOMES FOUNDATION
Increasing Community Wellbeing
As community needs changed, Visionwest expanded and adapted its responses across health, social services, kai, employment, mental health and addiction support.
Key achievements
- Brought multiple community support services together as Whānau Services and progressed a wider Community of Care approach, creating stronger integration across housing, health, wellbeing, chaplaincy and whānau support and stronger foundations for seamless wraparound care.
- Integrated Iosis into Visionwest, extending our reach and bringing additional family, whānau and community capability into the organisation.
- Strengthened Visionwest’s faith-led identity through Community Chaplaincy, including the role of Te Kapu (Wednesday community meal) as a place of connection and sharing with whanau, church partnerships and greater recognition of spiritual wellbeing as part of holistic support.
- Continued to invest in Mātanga Oranga and advanced a Social Investment Agency opportunity to scale its wairua-driven trauma response.
- Grew food security responses through Pātaka Kai, the launch of our Manaaki kai Social Supermarket and the initiation of our Friday Fruit and Veggie initiative.
- Secured the ACC Maximise Independence contract for Home Healthcare as well as the ACC Nursing Services contract and completed a major Home Healthcare systems upgrade in July 2024.
- Expanded regional delivery capability across Rotorua, Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) and Ōtautahi (Christchurch), building a stronger platform for locally connected services beyond West Auckland.
- Strengthened tendering, proposal and contract-delivery capability, supporting Visionwest to pursue and deliver a broader range of government-funded services.
- Continued flexible service delivery through the Covid recovery period and subsequent changes in community need.
MILESTONES — COMMUNITY OF CARE • IOSIS INTEGRATION • FAITH-LED WELLBEING • SOCIAL SUPERMARKET • ACC CONTRACTS
Collaborating for Change
The past five years reinforced that lasting impact is achieved through partnership, shared investment, and a stronger collective voice.
Key achievements
- Strengthened relationships across government, philanthropy, iwi, churches, businesses and community organisations.
- Maintained active leadership in housing, food security, health, kaupapa Māori, and social policy forums and collectives.
- Established dedicated social policy and research capability, supporting issues papers, advocacy, proposals and tendering and strengthening Visionwest’s voice with government, media and sector partners.
- Grew Visionwest’s public profile, advocacy reach and brand awareness through media, thought leadership, publications, community engagement and a stronger collective voice on the issues affecting whānau.
- Expanded corporate partnerships and grew annual gifts in kind to around $2 million.
- Strengthened fundraising capacity through investment in grants, Gifts in Wills, digital and community fundraising roles.
- Developed partnerships and co-location offices with Oxford Terrace Baptist Church and Rotorua Baptist Church.
- Developed a staged campus plan and draft case for support for the Community Hub through consultation with iwi, whānau, kaimahi, community groups, Glen Eden Baptist Church and trustees.
MILESTONES — SOCIAL POLICY AND ADVOCACY CAPABILITY • STRONGER PUBLIC VOICE • CORPORATE AND CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS • STRENGTHENED FUNDRAISING TEAM • COMMUNITY HUB CASE FOR SUPPORT
Resourcing for Tomorrow
Significant investment was made in the systems, people, technology, facilities and governance needed to serve future generations.
Key achievements
- Built and resourced Insights and Analytics capability, establishing organisational datasets, KPIs and a hybrid reporting approach.
- Implemented major technology upgrades, including the InvoCare to GoldCare migration in May 2024 and increased payroll automation through Mobility.
- Established a fully operational Security Operations Centre and strengthened cybersecurity capability.
- Improved governance and organisational forums across data, policy, health and safety, risk and project oversight.
- Strengthened workforce capability and culture through organisational development, learning and development, leadership support, wellbeing capability, flexible working and an annual engagement survey.
- Opened or improved offices at NorthWest, Kirikiriroa, Rotorua, Koru Paihere (Glen Eden) and Ōtautahi, supporting regional growth and locally connected delivery; introduced flexible working; and added a food warehouse facility to relieve campus storage and distribution pressures.
- Strengthened budgeting, forecasting, procurement policy and capital access, including refinancing with a new lender, improving the organisation’s financial resilience and capacity to invest in future growth.
- Developed the next stage of the Glendale campus vision, including substantial design, consultation, feasibility and investment-case work for a purpose-built Community Hub.
MILESTONES — INSIGHTS AND ANALYTICS RESOURCED • SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTRE • WORKFORCE CAPABILITY • FINANCIAL RESILIENCE • REGIONAL GROWTH
Looking Forward
While not every initiative was completed exactly as first envisaged, the strategic plan achieved what mattered most: it strengthened Visionwest’s ability to deliver on its mission. The organisation enters its next strategic horizon with vital Māori leadership, a more integrated Community of Care, broader regional and service capability, a stronger faith-led identity and public voice, improved systems and significant housing and campus developments underway.
- Continue embedding kaupapa Māori practice and Tauihu Shared Leadership across the organisation.
- Continuing our growth journey as a faith-led justice organisation
- Turn integration into a mature Community of Care that is easier for whānau to navigate.
- Complete and tenant the new apartments, then progress the Community Hub and wider Village of Hope vision.
- Strengthen evidence, impact measurement and social investment capability without losing relationships, culture or lived experience.
- Keep investing in our people, fundraising, procurement, technology and contract delivery capability so mission growth is sustainable.
- Carry forward the unfinished work on environmental stewardship and diversified income with greater focus and resourcing.
Visionwest steps into the future stronger, more connected and more future-focused, continuing to build hope together with whānau and communities.