Impact mahi: What mahi aroha means to Māori

Volunteering New Zealand wanted to bring a bicultural lens to their storytelling during National Volunteer Week in June 2020, as part of their strategic work towards partnering more closely with iwi and mana whenua across Aotearoa.

Chief Executive Michelle Kitney reached out to Ngātahi Communications because of our connections to Whānau Ora kaupapa in Waitaha Canterbury. We partnered with Emma Smart Creative to tell the stories of three Whānau Ora organisations who are supported by Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu in the South Island.

Video stories were created from the perspective of kaupapa leaders, volunteers and the communities each organisation supports. The focus was on what mahi aroha meant for each kaupapa and person, and the impact of ‘work done for love’ (volunteering) on the people each Whānau Ora organisation serves.

Written stories and photographs were also produced to extend the reach of the kōrero. An action plan for distributing the stories was supplied to Volunteering New Zealand in alignment with their National Volunteer Week Communications and Engagement Strategy. The stories were shared widely across websites, social media channels, in press releases and organisation e-newsletters.

Volunteering New Zealand Chief Executive Michelle Kitney says:

“The impact of working with Hannah and the Ngātahi Communications team is beneficial on so many levels. Working collaboratively has enabled us to collectively capture, share and amplify stories of mahi aroha from around Aotearoa. On a personal level I have found working with Hannah immensely enriching; our positive and supportive relationship is front and centre of how we work together".