Tapawera Connect and the
Community-Led Development Programme
We’re currently building this page to better share the story of Tapawera Connect, the Community-Led Development Programme, and the people behind the work happening in our community.
Who and What is Tapawera Connect?
Tapawera Connect supports community-led development in our area, helping bring local ideas, projects, and people together.
Working as part of the Community-Led Development Programme (CLDP), we focus on strengthening connections, building resilience, and supporting initiatives that matter to our community.
Behind this work is a team of local people, both paid and volunteer, who are committed to seeing Tapawera thrive.
Meet the Trust
More Info Coming Soon
Meet the Team
Mission Statement
Our purpose is to be a catalyst for positive change in Tapawera and the surrounding valleys, inspiring action from within the community and across groups to achieve our shared community vision.
Our work is guided by these four pillars
These pillars have guided our work as our shared community vision since the beginning of the community plan, built from community voices, surveys, and priorities shared. We recognise this is a living vision that will continue to grow and evolve over time.
Caring for One Another
Supporting connection, wellbeing, and a community where people feel seen, supported, and included.
Building a Sustainable Future
Strengthening resilience by supporting local solutions that care for our people, environment, and economy.
Growing in a way that
Values our Heritage
Shaping the future of Tapawera while respecting our history, identity, and what makes this place unique.
Guardians of our Rivers
and Mountains
Caring for our natural environment and protecting the landscapes that define and sustain our community.
Tapawera Connect was established in 2020 in response to a growing need for stronger connection, coordination, and support across our community. As part of becoming a partner in the Community-Led Development Programme (CLDP), Tapawera Connect facilitated the development of the Tapawera Community Plan, bringing together local voices, ideas, and priorities for the future.
As a rural service town for the surrounding valleys, Tapawera has always been a place where people look out for one another. Tapawera Connect was created to build on that strength, helping turn community ideas into action and supporting the initiatives that matter most.
What is Community-Led Development?
Community-led development is the belief that the best ideas for our community come from the people who live here.
It’s not about one organisation delivering services or solving problems on behalf of the community. It's about bringing people together, building strong relationships, and creating opportunities for local people to shape the future of Tapawera and the surrounding districts.
Our role is to listen, connect, encourage and support. Sometimes that means helping turn a great idea into reality. Sometimes it means bringing the right people around the table, finding funding, sharing skills, or stepping back so others can take the lead.
We know lasting change doesn't happen overnight. It grows through trust, collaboration and people working together towards a shared vision. That's why we invest just as much in relationships as we do in projects.
Whether it's supporting volunteers, strengthening community groups, connecting organisations, or helping neighbours work together, our goal is always the same: to build a thriving, resilient community where people feel connected, supported and empowered to make a difference.
Because when communities lead, amazing things happen.
