About
Creating Inclusive Communities /
Hangaia hapori whakawhāiti
Tēnā koe. RICI is a registered Charity committed to promoting inclusion in the Rodney District, with a focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities and their families.
Ko RICI tētahi ropu atawhai mo te whakatairanga i roto i Mahurangi ki Kaipara, ā ka aroanga mātou i te āheitanga o te hunga hauā me ō rātou whānau.
In 2025 we changed our legal entity from an incorporated society to a Trust. The current RICI Board consists of 5 dedicated trustees, all of whom live in Rodney.
RICI Trustees 2025/26
CHAIRPERSON
Gareth Pring
TRUSTEE
Mireille Vreeburg
SECRETARY
Ursula Christel
TRUSTEE
Bev Tennant
TREASURER
Charlotte
Owens-Pring
Our Mission
Rodney Inclusive Communities Initiative (RICI) is a registered charity (CC59224) based in Warkworth, New Zealand / Ko RICI he umanga aroha rehiatia kei Warkworth, kei Aotearoa:
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We are committed to generating an awareness of accessibility and inclusion, with a focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities; and their families where applicable / E pono ana mātou ki te whakaputa i te māramatanga ki te āheitanga me te kotahitanga, ā ka aroanga mātou ki te āheitanga i te hunga hauā; me ō rātou whānau i te wā e tika ana
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Inclusion is a learning process for everyone, including for the organization itself / Ko te nuinga o te kotahinga he kaupapa mō nga tāngata katoa, inarā te kaiwhakahaere hoki
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We want to partner with groups across all sectors to maximize learning and impact / Mā te hononga i ngā ropu o ngā rohe katoa, o ngā kaupapa katoa, ka whakanui te akonga me te whakaaweawe o te kaupapa nei
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We welcome other local and national community-building groups around NZ to partner with us as we focus on proactively initiating inclusion and access for all / Nau mai nga ropu e hangaia i roto i nga hapori whānui o Aotearoa, me mahitahi tātou i nga kaupapa o te kotahitanga me te āheitanga
Our History
The Rodney District covers the large northern region of the Auckland Super-city (DARK GREY zone in map).
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There is no central hub to source local information, support or services for disabled persons and/or their families.
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Rodney is under-resourced in support services and lacks inclusive opportunities that are available in other Auckland regions.
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The lack of inclusive and accessible options means that many residents and visitors to Rodney are being restricted from participating in everyday activities.
With the huge population growth predicted in Rodney over the next 10 years, and the fact that about 1 in 4 New Zealanders identify as having a disability, we felt an urgent need to step into that gap and become proactive. Because everyone benefits in an inclusive society.
"With just under 5,600 residents at the 2018 New Zealand census, Warkworth’s population is expected to explode to 25,000 by 2030 as it is targeted as a major growth hub by Auckland Council."
Allies & Sponsors
