Dream South D
Locals Leading Change: Creating a Shared Vision for South Dunedin
Dream South D is a five-year, community-led initiative focused on making South Dunedin an even better place to live, work, learn and play. Funded by the Department of Internal Affairs through its Community-Led Development Programme, the initiative contracted Whirika to aid in the creation of a plan that reflects the aspirations of the people of South D.
From the outset, the aim was clear: build a plan grounded in community perspectives and shaped by the unique strengths of South Dunedin. This required meaningful engagement with a large, diverse population - and careful analysis of the feedback. That’s where we came in.
Our Role:
We supported the design of a simple, accessible set of survey questions - delivered via postcard and online - that invited locals to share their views. We also supported community workshops and analysed the responses to identify common themes. These themes became the foundation of the community plan.
To understand what matters most to the people of South D, three core questions were asked:
What do you love about South D?
How could it be better for you, your whānau, and your friends?
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Input was gathered through conversations at local events, workshops, interviews, and surveys - ensuring a wide cross-section of the community had their say.
The Result:
Strong and meaningful engagement was achieved - over 360 unique survey responses, multiple in-person events and workshops and many hours of listening by the Dream South D team. Our analysis of this rich information was presented in a community feedback report.
The outcome? A robust engagement report and a community plan shaped by real voices, grounded in local strengths, and guided by shared aspirations. The plan reflects both the tangible and intangible assets of South D and sets a clear path forward - led by the people who know the place best.
Read the full plan here: Community Plan — Dream South D
Some of the projects outlined in the community plan have already been completed, and many are underway. Check out some of Dream South D’s projects to date: https://www.dreamsouthd.org.nz/projects