The MacroAuckland Approach
Informing and Inspiring Generosity
MacroAuckland is a unique research and engagement project to inform and inspire generous New Zealanders to successfully build on Auckland's strengths and meet Auckland's challenges.
MacroAuckland aims to inform and inspire generosity in order to help keep Auckland great and develop it further as a vibrant and livable city. MacroAuckland will enable positive change in Auckland by identifying Auckland's strengths and challenges, and creatively exploring how generous New Zealanders can have real, sustainable, targeted impacts, through projects in our community.
This is being achieved through a three phase process:
Phase One: Understanding Auckland
Understanding Auckland involved scoping available research on Auckland and considering the strengths, the challenges and the opportunities for Auckland. Through compiling and analysing the research in these areas and combining this with analysis from various surveys, MacroAuckland generated a snapshot discussion document.
Phase Two: MacroAuckland Forum – 25 August 2010
The MacroAuckland Forum brought together people from different sectors including; researchers, demographers, community sector organisations, central and local government policy and programme managers, philanthropists and other grant-making bodies. During the day, they were able to generate innovative and creative ways to build on Auckland's strengths and meet Auckland's challenges. This ideas formed the starting point for the MacroAuckland Initiatives.
Phase Three: Reporting and Action
Further research was compiled from over 200 diverse sources in order to create a more complete picture of Auckland. The findings from the research conducted in Phase One have been compiled into the MacroAuckland Summary Report released on 22nd March 2011 and the Full Report on this site, to be used as a resource and tool to inform and inspire generosity.
The ideas generated at the Forum have been further researched and used as the basis for informing the MacroAuckland Initiatives. These Initiatives give Aucklanders opportunities to support projects that address some of the priority issue areas identified in the MacroAuckland Report.
Informed by International Best Practice
We have looked for guidance to international models of where this has been done well, in particular:
MacroMelbourne - by Melbourne Community Foundation - http://www.communityfoundation.org.au/macromelbourne
Vital Signs Study – by Vancouver Foundation - http://www.vancouverfoundationvitalsigns.ca/
Creating A Truly Healthy City - by United Way in Sydney - http://www.commoncause.com.au
We are are grateful for the ongoing guidance and support from Marion Webster and Trudy Wyse of Melbourne Community Foundation.
MacroAuckland Team
The MacroAuckland Team is headed by Deb Schwarz (née Levy), our Project Manager/Analyst. Research support and mentoring is provided by Professor Charles Crothers, the Head of the Economics and Social Statistics Unit at Auckland University of Technology. Lisa Noonan and Kat Stanier are coordinating the MacroAuckland Projects. The MacroAuckland Team's work is supported by the MacroAuckland Advisory Group.
MacroAuckland Advisory Group
The structure of MacroAuckland includes a strong Advisory Group. The Advisory Group acts as a sounding board and has provided advice and guidance at each stage of the initiative. We are fortunate to have a wealth of knowledge and experience within our team.
The Advisory Group members and the organisations they work/volunteer for;
Mark Bentley (Chief Executive of ACF), Alison Sutton (Critical Insight, Comet, MIT), Kirk Sargent (formerly MIT, now Auckland Museum, ACF Trustee), Phil Harington (University of Auckland, NZ Lottery Grants Board), Megan Courtney (Inspiring Communities, ACDA), Nicola Keen-Biggelaar (SkyCity Auckland Community Trust), John Bassett (Ministry of Social Development), Eva McLaren (Auckland Council), Ian Leader (Centre for Community Investment and Development, formerly AUT, Westpac).
Understanding the Impact of Inequality - The Spirit Level
Auckland is a great place to live, but it is not great for everyone all of the time. Professors Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett - authors of The Spirit Level - explore inequality in New Zealand and the impact living in an unequal society can have on all of us. To see the of their presentation, prepared for the MacroAuckland Forum and Launch, click HERE.