Supporting Strategic Planning for NZCCSS
One of the most rewarding parts of facilitation and strategic planning work is seeing a strategy move from conversation to commitment.
Recently we had the privilege of supporting the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services with the development of their new strategic direction. After a collaborative process, their final strategy was approved and signed off by the board.
Moments like this make the work worthwhile. Strategy is not simply a document. It represents shared purpose, collective thinking, and a commitment to future action.
A Collective Focused on Social Justice
The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) is a collective of faith-based social service organisations working to support wellbeing and social justice across Aotearoa.
Their member organisations serve communities throughout the country, supporting whānau through a range of social services. With this wide reach comes the need for a strong, clear strategic direction that reflects their shared values and purpose.
Over two years, AraHina had the opportunity to walk alongside NZCCSS as they explored and shaped that direction.
Strategic Planning Grounded in Wānanga
The first stage of the process involved bringing the NZCCSS Secretariat and Council together for a two-day strategic planning wānanga at Pipitea Marae in Wellington.
The space allowed participants to step away from day-to-day responsibilities and focus on deeper reflection and future thinking.
Grounded in te ao Māori and informed by Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the wānanga created room for:
connection and relationship building
reflection on values and purpose
shared discussion about the future direction of the organisation
identifying the principles that would guide their long-term strategy
Rather than approaching strategy as a purely technical exercise, the process centred on collective thinking and dialogue.
From Vision to Action
The following year, the NZCCSS Council gathered again for their annual hui at Ruapōtaka Marae in Glen Innes.
During this second two-day session, the focus shifted from vision to action. Together we worked through how the strategic direction could be translated into practical steps and priorities.
This stage of the process resulted in several key outcomes:
a collaboratively designed 10-year Strategic Plan
a refreshed organisational vision
four guiding pou to frame their direction
four core organisational values
an Annual Plan designed to bring the strategy into practice
Together, these elements create a strong foundation to guide NZCCSS as they continue their work towards a just and compassionate Aotearoa.
Strategy Built Through Collective Thinking
Strategic planning processes are most powerful when they are shaped by the people who will bring the strategy to life.
Through wānanga, dialogue, and shared reflection, organisations can move beyond simply writing a strategy document. Instead, they create a strategy that is understood, supported, and owned by those involved.
This is the approach AraHina brings to strategic planning workshops and facilitation.
When strategy is developed collectively and grounded in kaupapa, it becomes more than a plan. It becomes a shared direction.
