This evaluation focussed on Health NZ’s Early Years Programme – particularly on the Community Innovation Fund (the Fund). The purpose of this evaluation was to provide Health NZ with insights and learnings to support the ongoing development of the program, based on what has been important and made a difference for those involved.

The report includes key insights from interviews with Health NZ's leaders and kaimahi and looks at what the Fund has enabled for community partners and the whānau they support. The evaluation was conducted in three phases. Phase one was internally focused, framing the evaluation and strategic context with Health NZ leaders and kaimahi. Phase two engaged with community partners and the co-funder to understand their experience and outcomes. Phase three involved analysis, sense-making and reporting.

In terms of what contributed to success of the program, the key themes were: 

• enabling community leaders through partnership, autonomy, rangatiratanga, 
• enabling innovation and innovators with adaptability, flexibility, empowerment, 
• demonstrated access, choice, equity in practice with priority groups, 
• weaving together whānau and issuespecific health promotion, with trusted faces, spaces, and pace.