Our Renewed Strategy - Phase One
Late last year we asked a simple but important question: he aha te mea nui - what matters most? Thank you to everyone who took part in that community engagement - so many of you took the time to share your whakaaro and your voices, and that input has directly shaped the first phase of our renewed strategy.
Your input has directly informed our renewed vision - Empowered People/He iwi whai mana, Thriving Communities/He Hapori Ora, Sustainable Environments/He Ao Mauroa - along with a refreshed mission, values, and funding pillars that will guide the Trust's work going forward.
You can download the full Phase One Strategy document below:
What's Next? The Funding Framework
We expect to share an update on the Funding Framework by the end of 2026. In the meantime, funding continues as usual across the same wide range of sectors we currently support under our four existing pillars:
- Empowered Communities
- Improved Health & Wellbeing
- Increased Access to Opportunities
- Thriving Children & Young People
Community Engagement Data
Our previous strategy was released in 2022 and that planning process took place in 2021, when COVID-19 made it hard to engage with communities in person – and there has been a lot of change since. We felt it was important to check in with out communities to ensure we were heading in the right direction.
In October and November 2025, we asked communities across Otago what matters most for long-term wellbeing, and this strategy reflects what we heard. It sets out our vision, mission, values, and three funding pillars - Empowered People, Thriving Communities, and Sustainable Environments.
No. Funding continues as normal, across the same wide range of sectors we currently support, for the time being. This strategy sets our overall direction - what we're here to do and why.
The practical detail about what that means for funding categories, criteria, how applications are assessed and the systems that underpin this is still being worked through, and will come with the Funding Framework later this year. Until then, nothing changes for current or upcoming funding rounds.
Think of the strategy as the ‘why’ - our vision, values and the three pillars we'll fund under.
The Funding Framework is the ‘how’: the specific rules, criteria, processes and logistical systems used to make funding decisions under that strategy. It's a separate piece of work, and is what we're developing now.
We expect to share an update by the end of the 2026 calendar year. We're working through this carefully rather than rushing it, given how important it is to get it right.
The three pillars aren't strict categories - many organisations and projects will contribute to more than one and it’s up to you to decide which pillar your kaupapa best aligns too. More detail on how this works in practice will come with the Funding Framework.
Consultation feedback directly shaped the strategy's vision, values, and pillars. For example, communities told us about growing pressure on wellbeing systems and the importance of investing in youth wellbeing, leadership, and organisational capability - which is reflected in the Empowered People pillar.
They also spoke about the value of connection, participation, and local leadership (Thriving Communities), and strong concern for environmental stewardship (Sustainable Environments).
Data from our community consultation process is available here.
Email: info@oct.org.nz
Communities are strong, vibrant and resilient. They collaborate and share ideas and resources. They support volunteers and volunteering initiatives.
We will support community projects that:
Encourage collaboration, support volunteers, celebrate community connection and social responsibility.
Our funding will support organisations that:
- Bring communities together to develop greater social connection and celebrate identities;
- Provide access to participate in community activities;
- Encourage community pride and resilience; seek to protect our cultural heritage, and / or natural environment;
- Support capability building.
People have access to health and welfare services and are able to participate in recreation and leisure activities.
We will support community projects that:
- Positively impact on the health and wellbeing of Otago’s residents, particularly the most vulnerable.
Our funding will support organisations that:
- Provide equity of access to services and opportunities for people to participate in cultural, recreational & leisure activities which improve physical and mental health & wellbeing;
- Empower communities to lead their own solutions and improve systems.
All are valued for the contribution that they make. The region has a thriving economy that directly contributes to inclusive growth.
We will support community projects that:
- Provide economic benefits and/or employment opportunities particularly to rural or isolated communities
Our funding will support organisations that:
- Provide economic benefits and/or employment opportunities;
- Work towards equal opportunities and access to equitable outcomes.
All children and young people in Otago are valued, accepted and empowered to lead fulfilled lives. They are healthy, happy and their wellbeing is nurtured.
We will support community projects that:
- Raise resilience and capacity of Children and Young people, particularly those adversely affected by discrimination, disadvantage or exclusion.
Our funding will support organisations that:
Work with children and young people to:
- Increase social equity and reduce disadvantage, discrimination &/or exclusion;
- Enhance opportunities for participation.
- Support capability programmes for groups working with children and young people.
- Develop youth-led initiatives
