Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga
Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga is a broad-based alliance of community groups, faith groups and
trades unions from every part of civil society. The Community of Saint Luke is one of over
thirty different organisations who have joined this powerful new network. Te Ohu was
launched in 2022 after three years of development, so it is just getting started.
The aim is to make lasting change in the civil systems that keep people in poverty, by
empowering people to take part in the public decisions that affect their lives. The first task is
to build and sustain relationships of trust among disparate organisations and to listen to our
communities to find out their most pressing concerns.
Wide consultation in the community resulted in housing being adopted as our first
campaign, and this was launched at a Mayoral Forum before the last local body elections
under the slogan ‘Housing is a Human Right’.
Other campaigns and actions will take place in 2024. A number of St Luke’s members have
taken part in Te Ohu events and we are financially and practically committed to working
alongside Te Ohu’s many diverse organisations for social justice and the common good.