CNA March Journal - Ros & Patrick

Ros Rice • March 8, 2023

Thanks for reading our latest newsletter! Here are our pieces in full.

Kia ora everyone, 


What a terrible month February was!  I have been talking to a friend in Wairoa, plus all the staff here have been talking to our memberships, when we have been able to get through to them. 


I am very proud of the C.N.A Executive Committee who released funds to our Auckland memberships if they were in need.  Money is what people need the most. We didn’t tie these funds to anything, but trusted our struggling memberships would use it, if not for themselves, then for their memberships who existed around them. 


Following the Auckland flooding then arrived the cyclone which destroyed so many homes and took lives as well, down the east side of the North Island.  My friend in Wairoa was out of touch with us for quite a long time, and I was very worried about her and her partner. 


We wondered, what can we do?  In the end C.N.A along with Presbyterian Support NZ and CAB NZ held a joint Summit Zoom to hear from people and to discuss how NGO National organisations can collaborate together when disasters strike, to best help people.  We have quite a few ‘next steps’ which I will keep you updated with over the next few months. 


Finally if you haven’t already signed the petition to save the 33 CAB branches in Auckland here is a link.  Mayor Wayne Brown apparently does not understand how important CABs are to communities.  So lets show him what they mean to us. 

https://www.cab.org.nz/what-we-do/save-auckland-cabs/ 


In the meantime, please stay safe, stay healthy, and be kind. 


Ros
eo@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz 


Paddy's Hot Take 🔥- March 2023


Census time folks! Why is it important – another form to fill out! 


Sometimes I agree, why do we need more paperwork?! But without the census the Government and its agencies don’t have an accurate picture of the make up of all of our communities whom we serve. Yes, it’s never really accurate, but imagine how much worse it would be if funding, amenities, and the lot were a ‘best guess’. We already have marginalised and vulnerable people who are side-lined because their voice is unheard or lost in the clamour out there. 


So, last night everyone in Aotearoa/New Zealand is legally required to take part. There are some who won't because they don’t believe in it – I’m all for choice, and also for consequences. There are some who won’t be able to due to Digital Inequality or lack of access to guidance and assistance – another reason why Citizen Advice Bureaus around the motu are incredibly important (Mayor Brown, I’m scowling at you). 


Without the 2018 Census (yes, I know it was rather flawed), we wouldn’t be able to say to  that NGO For Purpose Organisations contributed over $18 billion to the economy; that that is 4.2% towards GDP (Gross Domestic Product). 


We wouldn’t have new information on gender, sex (yes, they are vastly different), variations of sex characteristics and sexual identity. Is this going too far? No, its recognising that a number of New Zealanders go underrepresented. Our whole Sector is about support, care, and representation for those who need it, who may be in adversity, and for those who the Govt. seems to have a blind spot towards.


It's only by shining this light on the population that we acknowledge how wonderfully diverse our people are. Otherwise we might fall back into allowing only men to fill it in – seems a stupid thing to say, but some countries… And if the Government has a better idea of who we are, perhaps they will open their eyes to seeing better, more wide ranging and diverse funding pools. 


Nuff said? 


Patrick
info@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz


Share

By Community Networks May 6, 2026
Kia ora koutou, Gather your team, pour a drink, and get ready for something a little different. This isn’t your average political panel. It’s a chance for Aotearoa’s community sector to tune in together, listen to the proposed direction, share ideas, and maybe even get a bit fired up about the future. Hosted by Community Networks Aotearoa, ‘1 Sector, 6 Parties Respond’ this live-streamed event brings politicians from across the spectrum into one (virtual) room to talk candidly about the realities facing charities, iwi organisations, and Not-for-Profits. With the next election on the horizon, what they say, and how they say it, matters. And the best part? You don’t have to watch it alone. Turn it into a mini event of your own. Set up a screen in the office, book out the community hall, or invite a few colleagues over. With drinks, nibbles, and ‘hellos’ kicking off from 4:30pm and the panel starting at 5:00pm, it’s perfectly timed to roll straight from work into something social and energising. Guided by political reporter Jehan Casinader, expect a lively, honest kōrero that goes beyond the usual talking points. He’s got the gumption, you bring the cynicism. As a CNA member it’s a great way to bring your organisation together to reconnect, network, and kōhumuhumu. It’s also a great way to remind your people why you’re our member and what they get from your membership with us. We’re always looking for great ways to help you provide excellent and meaningful support. Watching together adds a whole new layer. You’ll catch things you might miss on your own, spark conversations in the moment, and build a shared understanding of what’s ahead. It’s part watch party, part strategy session, with a side of healthy debate. Want to make it count? Try this: Make it a watch party: Bring shared kai (remember those dietary peeps too!), and a relaxed but curious vibe—think less lecture, more shared experience. Get ready to kōrero: Bring a pen and paper and make moments to react, question, or celebrate what you’re hearing. Capture the “aha” moments: Jot down ideas or quotes that hit home for your team; and what you might be able to put in your newsletter. Turn talk into action: After the stream, ask “So what do we do with this?” and pick one or two next steps. This is your chance to connect, reflect, and maybe even challenge what you think you know. So don’t just tune in, show up, together, and be part of the conversation shaping the road ahead. The election is closer than you think! Ngā mihi, Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer
By Community Networks March 31, 2026
Burning for a Cause: A Totally Scientific Analysis of the NZ Not-for-Profit Sector’s Relationship with Increasingly Stupid Levels of Spice
By Community Networks February 18, 2026
Early last week Paddy and I stumbled down to popular venue for Non-Profits, the Loaves and Fishes Hall next to St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral for the 7am release of the Salvation Army’s annual report on the State of the Nation 2026.
More Articles