Join us for Belonging Conversations in 2025
We are on the road again, and want to hear about your experiences of belonging in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
2025 marks our third round of Belonging Conversations – an annual series of round-table conversations led by Tāhono to explore shifts in people’s sense of belonging and inclusion across Aotearoa, New Zealand. These conversations provide a platform for communities to share their lived experiences and aspirations through discussing three simple questions:
- When do you feel like you belong in Aotearoa, New Zealand?
- What stops you from feeling like you belong?
- What needs to change for you to feel like you belong?
What is it for?
By lending an ear and providing a safe, facilitated environment for participants, these conversations are a space for people to share their own experiences and learn more about their neighbours’ experiences.
We engage with people far and wide, in the CBDs and out to the regions, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard and counted in our mission of making Aotearoa, New Zealand a more inclusive country. These stories are treated as taonga, with identifying aspects all kept entirely anonymous. This ensures that participants can share their stories knowing their mana is upheld and respected. At the end of our 2025 series of conversations, we will develop a report reflecting shared or unique challenges and opportunities for belonging in our society. This report will consider data from our 2019 and 2022 Belonging Conversations, and will be accessible and available to community groups and institutions.
Alongside the research component of this project, we find that Belonging Conversations is a profound yet simple way to get to know your neighbours, challenge biases, and better understand the experiences of those around us.
Where abouts?
Click the tiles below to see which areas we are hoping to reach in 2025. Don’t see your rohe? Let us know you are interested!
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Trip #1 - Ōtautahi (Christchurch) and surrounding regions - 16th March onwards
For this first trip we are primarily looking at the East Coast of the South Island.
Considering the timing of Unity Week in Ōtautahi, Christchurch, we will be focusing on speaking with communities in this rohe.
If you would like to engage with us, please reach out!
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Trip #2 - Southland - 6th April onwards
On the 6th of April, we will be doing an extensive trip through Southland to speak a wide range of communties.
If you would like to set-up a belonging conversation in this rohe, please reach out to us! We would love to hear from you. -
Trip #3 - Wellington to Waitangi (West Coast) - May
In late May we will be heading from Wellington to Waitangi on the East Coast, holding kōrero along the way! For this trip, we are looking at:
- Wellington
- Porirua
- Kapiti
- Levin and Foxton
- Whanganui
- Hāwera – South Taranaki
- New Plymouth
- Auckland
- Walkworth/Wellsford
- Whangarei
- Kawakawa/Kerikeri
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Trip #4 - North Island East and Central
Areas TBC
