welcome to the community builders nz charitable trust

We are a place-based, community-led organisation that exists to uplift rangatahi and strengthen connected communities by growing leadership, belonging, and opportunity where it is needed most. Grounded in manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, and rather than doing everything, we focus on doing what matters most—supporting rangatahi to thrive and helping communities work better together for lasting impact.  

​We deliver our purpose through two interconnected pou that guide our focus, structure our work, and help us concentrate on depth and impact rather than doing everything.  They are Pou Kākano (Youth Leadership & Development) Growing the seeds of future leaders & Pou Hononga (Connected Communities) Strengthening relationships, connection, and collective action.

vision | mission | VALUES | GOALS

VISION:
Thriving Connected Communities where rangatahi and whananu are supported to lead, belong and realise their dreams and aspirations

MISSION:
To create a connected and thriving community that is excited by possibilities and opportunities.

VALUES & PRINCIPLES:
These values guide how we work, what we prioritise, and how we make decisions.
  • Respect with Compassion - We honour people’s dignity, lived experience, and mana — especially in times of challenge. 
  • Thriving (Not Just Surviving) - We work towards long-term wellbeing, not short-term fixes. 
  • Aroha - We lead with love in action — showing care through what we do, not just what we say. 
  • Empowerment - We enable people and communities to lead their own change. 
  • Te Tiriti o Waitangi - We uphold Te Tiriti through partnership, participation, and protection.  
  • Community-Led - We centre whānau, rangatahi, and place in everything we do. 
  • Focus & Impact - We do fewer things well, prioritising depth, quality, and outcomes over scale. 
  • Partnership-Driven - We work alongside others to extend reach, share responsibility, and reduce duplication. 
  • Manaakitanga & Whanaungatanga - We build trust, care, and strong relationships within our team and communities.  
  • Kaitiakitanga (Sustainability) - We act responsibly with people, resources, and funding to ensure long-term impact.  

GOALS:
  1. Rangatahi are supported into positive pathways
    We will enable rangatahi to build confidence, leadership, and future opportunities.
  2. Communities are connected, active, and hopeful
    We will strengthen community connection, place-making, and collective pride.
  3. Whānau can access the right support at the right time
    We will help communities navigate systems and connect to quality services.
  4. Communities are empowered to lead their own solutions
    We will build capability so communities are not dependent on us.
  5. Strong partnerships drive collective impact
    We will work in genuine partnership to extend reach and reduce duplication.
  6. Our organisation is sustainable, capable, and well-led
    We will build a strong internal foundation that supports long-term impact.
  7. Te Tiriti o Waitangi is lived, not symbolic
    We will embed Te Tiriti principles across governance, practice, and partnerships.

OUR SUPPORTERS

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our incredible funders, sponsors, and supporters whose unwavering commitment makes our work possible.  Your generous contributions and belief in our mission empower us to continue building strong, vibrant communities.  Together, we are creating lasting impact and driving positive change.

review WHAT WE DO here