Urban-Rural Partnerships for Equal Change

What are we doing?E aha ana mātou?

Some farmers say they are tired of people with “no skin in the game” telling them to make difficult changes and sacrifices. This project will test the idea that greater change will happen, both on farm and off, when urban and rural businesses collaborate and support each other on the environmental journey. This project will test the idea that if farmers see urban groups making equal change to improve the environment, they would be more motivated to make change themselves.

Two partnership groups (one made up of farming and urban businesses, the other made up of a catchment group and urban businesses) will be formed to co-design outcomes and agree on actions. The research team will support the groups to deliver their change commitments, evaluate impact and share progress.

The research’s output will be a replicable process for implementing a shared-responsibility approach to environmental projects, uniting urban and rural dwellers.