Thrive Whanganui – Economic Diversity Enablers

Thrive Whanganui provides start-up and kaupapa-driven enterprise capability building services to help great ideas take off, grow, and scale. It offers wraparound services to help those who want to start their own business, support their whānau and community, and achieve good in the world.

A comprehensive range of services are offered, including wānanga, workshops, advocacy, networking, mentoring, research, coaching, and practical business support. Covering the Whanganui, Rangitīkei and Ruapehu areas, Thrive Whanganui enables new and profit-for-purpose enterprises to flourish in its region. We asked Elise Goodge, former Partnerships & Programme Lead, what the biggest wins have been so far.

Elise Goodge

“We have a myriad of beautiful stories of individual journeys to success and growth, each one is something to be proud of. However, I think the thing I am most proud of is truly embodying what we say. We are an unashamedly mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge systems) led organisation that is committed to living the bi-cultural aspirations of Te Tiriti. We believe that what is good for Māori, is good for all.

Every single person who walks across our threshold is resilient, capable, and worthy of support. Some of them have never been told that. Others have never had role models that have helped them to step into their own mana (authority). Whatever their gender or ethnicity, if we embody our organisational belief systems of whakamana (uplifting), aroha (love), whakaterea (navigation), whakapuāwai (thriving), and tautoko (support), we can help. Even if only in a small way, it all matters.”

Elise also acknowledges that among the positive outcomes, there are challenges that must be faced and overcome.

“The biggest hurdle we have faced is a lack of understanding about what we do and why it is impactful. Why we are a charity doing what, from the outside, appears to be economic development work. What most funders do not always understand is that we are not working with established businesses, we are working with people just starting out, often in rural communities where there are few job prospects. We are also working with all the groups who are under-represented in business leadership in our country: Māori, Pasifika, Women, and Youth.

Families end up in intergenerational poverty traps that are near impossible to break free from. We must think and do differently, and entrepreneurship is a fast track to breaking these cycles if done right. My greatest wish is that the work we do becomes better understood and valued. Just because it does not look like traditional charitable work does not mean it is not having significant impacts where and to whom it matters most,” says Elise.

James Paul has recently stepped into the Partnerships & Programme Lead role. We asked him what plans Thrive Whanganui has for the future.

James Paul

“With the support of the JR McKenzie Trust, we have been afforded the opportunity to increase the presence of our kaupapa and support so many more people in our community. We want to continue to expand on the mahi we have been passionately dedicated to over recent years, continuing to support entrepreneurs and small pakihi Māori,” says James.

“Our kaupapa is making a difference, and it is undoubtedly strengthening the economic resilience of our marginalised communities. We believe we are making change for good and the wonderful feedback we are receiving is encouraging us to spread our kaupapa as far and as wide as we can.”

Some of the things planned by Thrive Whanganui in 2024 include free school holiday programmes educating rangatahi aged 14-18 years about social enterprise and small business in Aotearoa New Zealand; and free one-day wānanga focusing on the development of digital/technological proficiency in business.

“We are continuing to grow our support to majority tangata whenua-owned pakihi, and our goals for 2024 and beyond are deeply rooted in the growth and support of this. We’re aiming to continue to deliver widespread, effective support to our communities and assist in positive change and growth in our diverse economy,” says James.

Check out Thrive Whanganui’s website here: thrivenow.org.nz