WE WORK TOGETHER WITHÂ COMMUNITIES TO FIND, SHAPE AND SHARE THEIR STORIES THROUGH CREATIVE MEDIA, BUILDING RESILIENCE, STRENGTHENING IDENTITY AND CREATING LASTING SOCIAL CHANGE
From flood-prone villages in Asia to classrooms in Christchurch, Transformational – Media for Change draws on more than two decades of experience helping vulnerable communities use media to strengthen resilience and share life-saving messages.
Founders Rob and Sandra Greaney have created and delivered media-based public-awareness programmes across Asia, the Pacific, and Africa — partnering with organisations such as the IFRC, IOM, UNDP, and the World Bank to communicate risk, promote health, and inspire hope through creative storytelling.
Now based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Transformational applies that global insight locally — empowering communities, rangatahi, and tamariki to express their own stories through music, video, and animation. Each project builds confidence, strengthens identity, and helps reduce risk by turning complex challenges into messages that inform, connect, and inspire change.
OUR MISSION
Transformational exists to empower communities and especially Tamariki and Rangatahi through creative media, helping them find their voice, tell their stories, and shape the messages that matter most to them.
We facilitate collaborative storytelling workshops, music and video production programmes and media projects that build confidence, strengthen identity, and foster connection. Through this creative process, we help to build resilience and support risk prevention, promoting health, safety, and lasting community well-being.
Music is more than sound and words
Every lyric, bass line, and vocal pattern carries the DNA of culture, identity, and experience.
When we work with rangatahi and tamariki in Aotearoa, we help them shape songs that reflect their stories, perspectives, and hopes. As they create, their confidence grows, and the uniqueness of their voices comes to the forefront — and that enriches everyone who hears them.
OUR TAONGA BY THE SEA
A song, a video, a community united by pride, creativity, and a sense of place and belonging
Over three unforgettable months, the Transformational team worked alongside the tamariki of Hampden School to create an original song and music video that celebrates the beauty, strength, and identity of their coastal home. Set in the North Otago township of Hampden, a place of wild beaches, forested hills, and the legendary Moeraki Boulders (Kaihinaki), this project became much more than a creative exercise. It was a full community celebration, giving voice to the this and future generations and capturing the taonga of a proud, close-knit region.
Rob was a dream to work with. He has provided our tamariki with multiple experiences they otherwise would not be exposed to due to socio-economic status. His intention was clear – he wanted to support our students to create something unique and special that they could feel proud of and an immense sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. I am pleased to say that was most certainly the result.
OUR TAONGA BY THE SEA VIDEO
ONYA BIKE
Promoting safer cycling for children and their families in Aotearoa
Onya Bike is a community-led, multi-faceted project aimed at promoting cycle safety and saving lives on New Zealand roads. Initiated by passionate local cycling advocates, the project responded to a growing concern: too many cyclists were being injured, or worse, due to the lack of clear guidelines around how vehicles should safely pass bikes.
Working with young vocalists from a local music school, songwriter and producer Rob Greaney crafted a vibrant, memorable song that delivered key safety messages, including the importance of keeping a 1.5-metre distance when passing cyclists, wearing helmets, and using high-visibility clothing.
Supported by the Waitaki District Council and other local funders, the project extended beyond music. Children received interactive sticker posters featuring illustrations of families and caricatures of local police promoting cycle safety. Each visit to a cycle shop earned them a new sticker, gradually filling in a greyscale scene to create a colourful safety reminder for their home.
The project’s blend of music, illustration, community involvement, and education proved highly effective and the Onya Bike message lives on through bumper stickers and posters still spotted around Waitaki today.
ONYA BIKE VIDEO
Learning is not a passive exercise
It happens when learners engage, when they explore, respond, and participate. The more we can facilitate that engagement, the deeper and more lasting the learning becomes.
The Transformational team fosters this engagement through a wide range of creative initiatives including board and card games, activity books, competitions, informal curriculum, comic books, collectables, gamified mobile applications, and many other interactive learning tools. Check out some of our projects
OUR TRUSTEES
SANDRA KRENISKI GREANEY
Sandra brings creative leadership, cross-cultural insight, and over two decades of experience in art, design, and education. She ensures projects are visually compelling, culturally grounded, and educationally effective, strengthening the board’s capacity for innovation and social impact.
DANA HEMINGWAY
Dana brings three decades of filmmaking experience, technical excellence, and creative vision. His work in challenging environments adds depth to the board’s understanding of storytelling, risk management, and ethical media, strengthening its ability to communicate with authenticity and impact.
ROB GREANEY
Rob brings extensive experience in creative production, project management, and international development. His ability to align artistic vision with strategic goals strengthens the board’s capacity for innovation, partnership building, and impactful community engagement through music and media.
   GREG HAY – HP HANNA
TRUSTEES
Greg brings financial expertise, governance insight, and a strong commitment to accountability. As a director at HP Hanna, he provides the board with sound advice on financial management, compliance, and risk oversight, ensuring Transformational’s operations remain transparent and sustainable.
STEPHEN PRICE
TRUSTEE
Stephen brings technical expertise, digital strategy insight, and a passion for innovation. As the founder of WebMad in Christchurch, he provides the board with guidance on web development, online communications, and digital security, helping Transformational strengthen its online presence and extend its reach through creative and reliable digital solutions.
Help Keep the Work Going
If you believe in what we do, we’d love your support. Every donation helps us keep creating positive, community-focused media that inspires, teaches, and makes communities safer and stronger.
Phone: 021 027 56380
Email: info@transformational.org.nz
Address: 35A Carnarvon Street, Linwood, Christchurch
New Zealand Charities number CC63272