about vivian
 
vivian Hutchinson QSM is a community activist and social entrepreneur based in Taranaki, New Zealand.  He supports projects and activities that have the potential to make a fundamental difference to New Zealand’s social, economic and environmental challenges.
 
 
employment activist
 
vivian has been one of the pioneers in community-based action for jobs in New Zealand, especially in establishing programmes for the support and education of unemployed people.

For the last thirty years, vivian has been involved in establishing an variety of practical training programmes for the out-of-work, leading community workshops and gatherings on the future of work, and promoting positive community action on employment issues.

vivian worked for seven years for the Salvation Army, managing their community employment programmes in the Taranaki region. He went on to become a founding trustee of the Taranaki Work Trust, and part of the team that created the innovative Starting Point Employment Resource Centre, the Skills of Enterprise Business Courses, the Enterprise Centre and New Venture Workshops.

During this time, vivian was also involved in securing national and local government support for employment initiatives. He helped establish community employment-related sections within the Department of Labour, and he has worked with several local authorities in the establishment of their economic development programmes.

vivian has also worked with many New Zealand national networks in his efforts to promote greater co-operation, collaboration and co-ordination between the different agencies and community groups working in the employment field.

In 1994, vivian joined with Jo Howard, Ian Ritchie and Dave Owens to establish the Jobs Research Trust. He created The Jobs Letter, a community-based media project which published essential information to help communities create more jobs and reduce unemployment and poverty. The Jobs Letter was produced every 2-3 weeks from 1994 to 2006. vivian also designed and managed The Jobs Letter Website at www.jobsletter.org.nz, which in 1999 won the Premier Award in the internet category of the NZ Media Peace Awards.

In 1999, vivian was instrumental in calling together the NZ Mayors Taskforce for Jobs, which was working to ensure that no young person under 25 years will be out of work or training in our communities. This network gained over 95% of the country’s Mayors as members. The Mayors Taskforce secured a partnership with the New Zealand Government to work towards a national goal that all young people under 20 years in New Zealand will be “engaged in appropriate education, training, work, or other options which will lead to long term economic independence and well-being.”

In 2001, vivian established The Employment Catalyst, a philanthropic fund for employment initiatives, which had the backing of The Tindall Foundation. This fund provided matching funding for employment initiatives throughout New Zealand that have been inspired by the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs.

As a Community Adviser to the Taskforce, vivian worked with community groups, Mayors and local authorities in establishing youth employment and apprenticeship programmes. This work has led to a fresh approach to youth transitions from school-to-work, community case management, and youth mentoring ... all designed to “stay in connection” with young people until they are on a positive pathway of employment or further training.
 
cultural and social entrepreneur
 
In addition to his work in community employment initiatives, vivian has also been a cultural entrepreneur creating network gatherings and learning communities for New Zealanders "working for the common good”.
 
He started running gatherings in 1978 in collaboration with Aunt Margorei Rau of Parihaka Marae in Taranaki. These gatherings were a way of introducing Pakeha (European) people to the world of local Maori, and to the history of land rights struggles and race relations issues.
 
In 1985, he launched the Festivals of Co-operation which brought together community-based activists from a wide variety of service sectors from employment, environment, health, justice, race relations and peace issues.
 
In 1989, these Festivals grew to become the Heart Politics gatherings which continue to be run twice a year at the Tauhara Conference Centre, in Taupo. These five-day events are run using the "open-space" style of workshop sessions, small home groups, and full group circle-sharings (whaikorero) in the evenings.
 
In 2002, vivian began an eight-day annual retreat based on Dialogue circles, in the tradition of physicist David Bohm. These gatherings are a way that large groups of people can explore the deeper arts of thinking together. They have led to the establishment of the Stewardship Learning Community which is a way of fostering the literacy and practice of "stewardship" amongst active citizens, public servants, and community organisations.

vivian has also toured and has spoken on employment, economic and social justice issues in Australia, the United States, and Britain. In 2005, he was the first New Zealander to be invited as a speaker at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas, where he gave a presentation on Healing Unemployment, and participated in panels on community activism.

In 2006, vivian become the Executive Officer of the Social Innovation Investment Group, a coalition of private philanthropists and community leaders who wish to foster social entrepreneurship in New Zealand. This group launched the New Zealand Social Entrepreneur Fellowship, and vivian convened its series of learning retreats and workshops on the subjects of social innovation and entrepreneurship.
 
Also in 2006, vivian joined with Jo Howard, Dave Owens and Rodger Smith to launch ChangeMakers 5-10-5-10, a community development strategy for fostering more active citizenship and generosity in New Zealand.
 
ChangeMakers is a personal engagement process that helps individuals focus on how to create the change they want to see in the world. It is also a new form of community group, where participants are encouraged to come together in home-based learning groups to practice inquiry and dialogue skills, and to support one another in making a practical difference.
 
awards for service

In 2001, vivian was presented with a Kea Award from the Minister of Social Development and Employment, in recognition of his work for New Zealand as a social entrepreneur.

In 2004, he was given a Citizens Award by the New Plymouth District Council.

In 2006, vivian was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for Community Services (QSM) in the New Zealand New Years Honours, in recognition of his work in race relations, social justice, job creation, and philanthropy.