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Enablers - Social Cohesion consultation

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How to enable different groups to contribute to social cohesion (how everyone can play a part)

Cabinet has asked how communities, the business sector, the cultural sector, as well as central and local government can be supported to take more action to improve social cohesion in their communities. This includes specific ways different people, groups, and sectors can contribute. 

While the strategic framework focuses on ‘what’ the vision is, this section focuses on ‘who’ can be involved and ‘how’ they can be supported to contribute.

This section is designed to help you understand who this framework may apply to, or how it may be useful to you or support your or your organisation’s activities or goals.

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Who can contribute?

Everyone has a part to play in strengthening social cohesion. Social cohesion happens in neighbourhoods, workplaces, playgrounds, homes, and virtual spaces.

To help structure this work, the Social Cohesion team will be using the following categories:

  • Communities – A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic, attitude, or interest in common. They can be physical or virtual. There are often support people or representatives that help to organise and advocate on a communities’ behalf. This includes many different structures ranging from informal clubs and committees, to charities and non-profit organisations. Whānau, hapu, iwi, and other forms of structures are included in this category. It also includes ethnic organisations, faith and inter-faith organisations, sports clubs, special interest advocacy groups, social service providers and rural communities.
  • Business sector – These are for-profit organisations. They can be small, medium, or large businesses including multi-national corporations operating in Aotearoa New Zealand. They will operate in different areas of life including hospitality, tourism, retail, agriculture, services, real estate, insurance, IT/technology, utilities, finance, etc.
  • Cultural sector – This includes the media system, and the arts, culture and heritage sector. For example, the screen industry, performance arts and museums.

The Social Cohesion team has divided government into two tiers: Central government and Local government.

  • Central government - makes decisions affecting Aotearoa New Zealand as a whole. Runs housing, welfare, education, health, justice, immigration, the police, energy, the national road and rail systems, defence, foreign policy and public finances. It regulates employment, import and export, and workplace safety. It also levies personal income tax, business taxes, and GST (the goods and services tax that is added to almost all goods and services in Aotearoa New Zealand).
  • Local government – Local government is the closest level of government to communities. The statutory purpose of local government is to promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities in the present and for the future. Councils play a critical role in placemaking and have responsibilities involving roading, housing, facilities and amenities, attractions, infrastructure, planning, emergency management, and local democracy services.
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How can everyone contribute?

This section provides a summary of the potential contributions each group could make. The tables below organises contributions by group/sector and by ways (the six ways of fostering social cohesion as set out in the framework), which are:

  • tackling all forms of discrimination at all levels
  • fostering inclusive behaviours (social norms) that unite us and value diverse contributions
  • encouraging and facilitating positive interactions between diverse groups
  • supporting people to participate at all levels and influence change
  • improving equitable access to the determinants of wellbeing for all
  • protecting our society and environment for future generations

Please note that there is a column for ‘Everyone’ meaning that there are some actions that may be common across all groups and sectors.

Different groups will make specific contributions.

Everyone

Ways of strengthening social cohesion What everyone can do
Tackling all forms of discrimination at all levels
  • Identify and address discriminatory behaviour, policies and practices.
  • Foster individual and organisational competency.
Fostering inclusive social norms that unite us and value diverse contributions
  • Provide leadership / promote inclusive social norms.
  • Co-develop these social norms.
Encouraging and facilitating positive interactions between diverse groups
  • Promote understanding of other cultures and identities.
Supporting people to participate at all levels and influence change
  • Participate in diverse community activities, creating strong, high-trust ongoing relationships.
  • Become knowledgeable about NZ history and the Treaty of Waitangi.
Improve equitable access to the determinants of wellbeing for all
  • Identify address inequities and gaps in accessibility.
  • Remove barriers to access (i.e. physical premises, languages / interpreting, communication channels etc).
Protect our society and environment for future generations
  • Protect our society and environment for future generations

Central Government

Ways of strengthening social cohesion What Central Government can do
Tackling all forms of discrimination at all levels
  • Consider where legislative / regulatory / policy changes are needed to support anti-discrimination.
  • Fund services and programmes addressing discrimination.
Fostering inclusive social norms that unite us and value diverse contributions
  • Leadership and coordination.
  • Continue to create opportunities for dialogue with diverse communities.
  • Co-design policy with diverse community input.
Encouraging and facilitating positive interactions between diverse groups
  • Funding for positive inter-group interactions.
  • Promote inter-group interaction at national level. 
Supporting people to participate at all levels and influence change
  • Making consultation processes simpler / more effective / more coordinated.
  • Support community capability.
  • Work with community groups to develop policy.
  • Value community time.
  • Ensure information and opportunities to engage are accessible to all
Improve equitable access to the determinants of wellbeing for all
  • Assess impact on health and wellbeing in all decision and policy making.
  • Identify gaps in service delivery.
  • Provide funding for accessibility services (i.e. interpreters).
Protect our society and environment for future generations
  • Make funding available for environment and conservation activities.
  • Ensure legislation, regulations and policies are fit for purpose.
  • Assess the impacts of policy on future generations.

Local Government

Ways of strengthening social cohesion What Local Government can do
Tackling all forms of discrimination at all levels
  • Consider policy, procedures, and structural changes to governance that may be needed
Fostering inclusive social norms that unite us and value diverse contributions
  • Stronger relationships with central government, Iwi and local communities and business.
Encouraging and facilitating positive interactions between diverse groups
  • Promote inter-group interaction at local level.
  • Funding for inter-group interactions / events
Supporting people to participate at all levels and influence change
  • Simpler / more effective consultation at places and times that work for people.
  • Outreach to ‘hard to reach’ communities /work with trusted community groups.
  • Continuing to strengthen Māori representation in decision making.
  • Reimagining youth involvement in Council decision-making.
  • Support community capability.
Improve equitable access to the determinants of wellbeing for all
  • Assess impact on health and wellbeing in all decision and policy-making.
  • Identify gaps in service delivery.
  • Provide funding for services that make services more accessible (i.e. interpreters).
Protect our society and environment for future generations
  • Environmental and cultural / historic protection embedded into plans.
  • Encourage and support community-driven conservation activities.
  • Engage in Iwi-Council partnerships that prioritise the environment

Business

Ways of strengthening social cohesion What Business can do
Tackling all forms of discrimination at all levels
  • Consider how to make jobs more accessible to diverse groups.
  • Consider accessibility of services / goods provided.
Fostering inclusive social norms that unite us and value diverse contributions
  • Value workforce diversity and create initiatives to support diversity.
  • Support workers to get to know each other (whakawhānaungatanga).
Encouraging and facilitating positive interactions between diverse groups
  • Seek out and promote dialogue and understanding with communities that may share different views 
Supporting people to participate at all levels and influence change
  • Further engagement with employee networks and unions.
  • Ensure all workers know their rights
  • Support workers to engage in cultural/community/civic and family events.
Improve equitable access to the determinants of wellbeing for all
  • Support wellbeing through equitable work conditions, such as the Living Wage, flexible working, allowing time to attend medical appointments.
  • Promote good pay and work conditions (such as flexible hours).
Protect our society and environment for future generations
  • Ensure policies and practices are sustainable and protect the environment.
  • Support local community efforts to reduce waste and promote sustainability.

Communities

Ways of strengthening social cohesion What Communities can do
Tackling all forms of discrimination at all levels
  • Advocate for communities
  • Support people experiencing discrimination.
Fostering inclusive social norms that unite us and value diverse contributions
  • Create places/activities that foster belonging and reduce loneliness.
Encouraging and facilitating positive interactions between diverse groups
  • Run and promote inter-group events at community level.
Supporting people to participate at all levels and influence change
  • Organise cultural, religious, leisure activities
  • Organise input into consultation / advocacy.
  • More intentional collaboration (across NGO, government, philanthropic sectors) to maximise community voice.
Improve equitable access to the determinants of wellbeing for all
  • Connect people to services and advocate on their behalf.
  • Continue to provide spaces and services that empower and support community.
Protect our society and environment for future generations
  • Organise community conservation activities.
  • Promotion and education activities that reduce the climate change for example waste minimisation, sustainable living and gardening.

Cultural sector

Ways of strengthening social cohesion What the Cultural sector can do
Tackling all forms of discrimination at all levels
  • Enhance digital inclusion – include education on risks and staying safe.
  • Challenge stereotypes / responsible reporting.
Fostering inclusive social norms that unite us and value diverse contributions
  • Ensure positive reporting of diverse life experiences / population groups across all art and media.
Encouraging and facilitating positive interactions between diverse groups
  • Run and promote diverse events in the art / media space.
Supporting people to participate at all levels and influence change
  • Tackle barriers to participation in the sector.
  • Provide more information about interacting positively with Deaf/hard of hearing people
Improve equitable access to the determinants of wellbeing for all
  • Improve and promote accessibility (child friendly, language, disability)
  • Have more accessible formats, including subtitles and NZSL interpretations.
Protect our society and environment for future generations
  • Highlight environmental issues
  • Support traditional knowledge preservation and promotion
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How can everyone be supported to contribute?

In this section the Social Cohesion team identifies:

  • barriers: what may prevent people or organisations from achieving their contribution to social cohesion. If these were addressed, then people or organisations would be able to contribute or could do more.
  • enablers / supports: This is what would help to break down the barriers and help different groups contribute to social cohesion.

The table below includes a summary of the key barriers and enablers/supports that have been identified. These are common barriers that apply to everyone. However, some may be more urgent for some groups or sectors. For example, for communities and small businesses, cost may be a bigger barrier than for central government.

Barriers and Enablers

Barriers

Type

Enablers / Supports
  • Lack of leadership articulating a shared vision or goal.
  • This may impact some people’s willingness to change (see below) if incentives are not in the right place.

Leadership / Shared purpose
  • Clear, regular, direct messaging promoting a shared purpose and call to action.
  • This may help to empower people to work differently or commit resources.
  • There may be psychological, social, or other factors limiting individuals’ willingness to contribute.
  • Incentives / self-interest may be in maintaining the status quo.
  • Fear of change, failure or criticism may be a limiting factor.

Willingness
  • Other enablers in this table may help address this barrier (for example, leadership, training, resources).
  • Legislation and enforcement may be enabler in certain contexts.
  • For communities and/or small businesses, accessing funding can be complex, competitive, time-consuming.
  • Local and central government are constrained by competing priorities and revenue raising channels.

Resourcing
  • Simpler, quicker, higher-trust funding processes would enable communities to deliver services and run social cohesion-related activities.
  • Access to funding, or reduced costs, may help businesses, in particular small businesses, invest more or do things differently.
  • Non-governmental stakeholders may struggle to influence change due to lack of relationships or power to influence through existing consultation or decision-making processes.

Relationships / Collaboration
  • Deeper and better coordinated engagement and participatory processes in government. Involve communities in design and local decision-making processes.
  • Devolve decision-making where possible.
  • Build ongoing relationships to foster trust and collaboration.
  • Often organisations may just not know how to do things different or more effectively.
  • Access to skills and expertise can be a barrier. Communities often rely on volunteers.
  • Language can be a barrier.

Knowledge / Capability
  • Local and central government capacity to engage and partner local communities.
  • Capacity and capability building for communities and businesses to contribute. This can include cultural, technological, financial, professional capabilities
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The Social Cohesion team wants to hear from you

These summaries are ‘starters’ setting out what communities have told us. They are not government policy nor the final material that the team will deliver to Cabinet. The team wants to hear from you: what would you add or change?

The questions below may help guide your input. These are also in the feedback form at the end of this document. The Social Cohesion team especially want to hear from members of the groups and sectors in the tables.

Questions:

  • Do you agree with the way the Social Cohesion team have talked about the key groups and sectors?
  • Do you agree with what we have said about the contributions that different groups or sectors could make Are there any missing?
  • Do you think the Social Cohesion team has identified the most critical barriers that stop different groups and sectors contributing to social cohesion? Why or why not? Are there any missing?
  • Has the Social Cohesion team identified the most effective supports or enablers? Why or why not? Is there anything missing?

You can provide your feedback by emailing, it is up to you if you would like to use the feedback form. Please send your feedback to social_cohesion@msd.govt.nz. The closing date for feedback is Friday 25 March 2022.

Read more about giving feedback
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