The southern initiative: How indigenous values inspire social innovation and impact
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Date
2025-09-08
Open Access Location
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cambridge University Press in association with Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management
Rights
(c) 2025 The Author/s
CC BY 4.0
CC BY 4.0
Abstract
Indigenous values are increasingly recognised in helping organisations contribute to wellbeing within and beyond the workplace. Adopting the theoretical lens of Māori economies of wellbeing, this case study examines how The Southern Initiative (TSI), a unit within Auckland Council, incorporates Māori values to co-create place-based solutions and foster whānau (family) wellbeing. Through kōrero (conversations) with three people, a wānanga (collaborative discussion) with TSI members, and analysis of organisational literature, we identified how TSI's organising approach synthesises social innovation and bureaucracy. We found that indigeneity-embedded intrapreneurship, distributed leadership, and whānau-centred design support TSI's innovations. Mana (prestige) emerged as a primary organising principle, sustaining TSI's approach to achieving systemic change. By bridging Indigenous paradigms and conventional managerial practice, this case study demonstrates how Māori values can transform public sector management, elevate social justice, and encourage community resilience. These findings highlight culturally grounded frameworks for delivering social impact and shaping equitable outcomes.
Description
Keywords
social innovation, intrapreneurship, bureaucracy, indigenous values, economy of mana
Citation
Niu X, Mika J, Spiller C, Haar J, Rout M, Reid J, Karamaina T. (2025). The southern initiative: How indigenous values inspire social innovation and impact. Journal of Management and Organization. FIrstView.