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How did we get here?

Since around 2011, there have been conversations brewing about the need for a national network – to help us stay connected and supported in this work of placemaking. There have been hui, talks, and collaborations between people doing placemaking mahi in different parts of Aotearoa. And there’s been organic connection happening in pockets too, which led to Placemaking Week in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Across the board there was a consistent desire for connection, advice and advocacy.

 
 
 

With the creation of PlacemakingX, and increasingly strange and changeable times, this work gathered momentum, and a small group of people who have been active in championing and driving placemaking in Aotearoa zoomed every fortnight during 2020. That led us to this “place”: A platform for all to give and take in ways that uplift placemaking across the country.

We’re a collective who volunteer their time to develop and share better placemaking tools and support placemakers across Aotearoa and the leaders you work with to:

  • Share knowledge and resources to elevate our own advocacy for community-led public space development.

  • Share candid failures/lessons so that others don’t have to learn the hard way.

  • Back each other up when advocating for kaupapa-led system change.

We want to continue to grow together to improve practice, share resources, and create a social capital that is celebrated often, generously, and for the good of all. We are here to mobilise purposeful placemaking action in a way that it is easy to share.  We hope you can fill your kete and feed into others whether they hail from as far as Rakiura, or are simply your street party planning mate from across the street.

From us the founding members: Lucy, Keegan, Boopsie, Ryan, Denise, Frith, Ben, and Mike and Cyndi: Nau mai, haere mai to a place and movement in which everyone is welcome.

Founding members

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We have been influenced, supported and nurtured by many people and organisations including local authorities, Project for Public Spaces and PlacemakingX in numerous ways over the years, including through Placemaking Week.

We are hugely grateful for this as well as to locals who have enthusiastically embraced placemaking in their mahi, lives and places.

Feel free to contact us all at once!