In this article we seek to describe the key periods and influences of community development practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our historical journey gives particular consideration to the specific impacts the government’s neoliberal policies have had on community development in this country.

This work highlights the hostile policy environment that has left community development isolated and unsupported. We also draw on the experience of community development workers from our recent research and reflect on the current position of community development practice in this country and the challenges for its future.

Whanake: the Pacific Journal of Community Development, 2(2), 3-12. Auckland, New Zealand : Unitec Institute of Technology. Unitec ePress. ISSN 2423-009X. http://www.unitec.ac.nz/epress