communitynetworksaotearoa

Burning for a Cause

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:42:59 GMT

Kia ora koutou,

Burning for a Cause: A Totally Scientific Analysis of the NZ Not-for-Profit Sector’s Relationship with Increasingly Stupid Levels of Spice

There are many ways to describe the current state of funding in New Zealand’s not-for-profit sector. “Challenging.” “Competitive.” “A bit tight at the moment.” These are the polite phrases used in grant applications, annual reports, and strained conversations over lukewarm instant coffee in community halls that smell faintly of damp carpet and sausage sizzles past.

But none of these descriptions truly capture the lived experience.

No, the most accurate comparison—the one backed by absolutely no data but a strong gut feeling and one bloke named Gary who once ate a chilli at a pub in Palmerston North—is this:

Trying to secure funding for a not-for-profit in New Zealand is exactly like eating progressively hotter chillies until you spiritually leave your body.

Let us explore this scientifically.

Stage 1: The Capsicum Phase (a.k.a. “We’ve Got This”)

At the beginning of any funding cycle, spirits are high. You’ve got your mission statement polished. Your strategic plan is looking suspiciously like it was copied from another organisation but with a few nouns swapped out. Your board is optimistic. Someone has brought baking.

This is the capsicum phase.

You take a bite. It’s crunchy. It’s fresh. It’s harmless. You think: Is this what everyone was worried about? Funding seems fine.

You apply for your first grant.

You even say things like:

“We’re really aligned with their priorities.”
“Our outcomes are measurable.”
“We’ve got a strong narrative.”

You are, in chilli terms, an absolute muppet.

Stage 2: The Jalapeño Phase (a.k.a. “Mild Concern”)

A few weeks later, the emails start coming in.

“Thank you for your application. Unfortunately…”

Ah. A small kick. Not unbearable. Not devastating. Just enough to make you blink and say, “Oh. Right. Okay.” You apply for another fund. Then another.

You start tailoring applications. You insert phrases like “community-led outcomes” and “holistic impact framework” with increasing confidence, despite not being entirely sure what they mean anymore.

The heat builds slightly. You’re still smiling, but you’ve stopped making jokes. You are now aware that funding might not just… happen.

Stage 3: The Bird’s Eye Chilli Phase (a.k.a. “Things Are Getting Weird”)

At this point, something changes.

You’ve applied for six different grants. Two have said no. Three have not replied. One has asked for “further clarification,” which turns out to mean rewriting the entire application in a slightly different font.

You bite into the Bird’s Eye chilli.

Immediately:

Your ears ring.
Your eyes water.
You question your life choices.

Similarly, in the funding world:

You attend a workshop on “innovative funding streams.”
You seriously consider starting a social enterprise selling ethically sourced reusable tea towels.
Someone suggests a crowdfunding campaign, and nobody laughs.

You begin to realise that funding is not just about doing good work. It is about narrative alignment, timing, strategic positioning, and possibly astrology.

Stage 4: The Habanero Phase (a.k.a. “The Spreadsheet of Despair”)

Now we’re in it. The Habanero does not ask for your consent. It simply arrives, kicks down the door, and sets fire to your internal organs.

Likewise, your organisation now has:

A funding pipeline spreadsheet with 47 columns.
Colour-coded risk levels.
A tab titled “Contingency (Bleak).”

You have meetings about funding. Meetings about the meetings about funding. Someone says, “diversification of revenue streams” and everyone nods as if this is helpful.

You apply for a grant that requires:

A logic model
A theory of change
Three letters of support
A video submission
A blood sample (optional, but strongly implied)

You submit it at 11:59pm and immediately realise you uploaded the wrong document.

The Habanero burns. You begin to sweat through your shoes. Perhaps today is a good day to die!

Happy April 1! ��

State of the Nation 2026 Report Launch

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 01:58:36 GMT

"I believe we are known by how we treat those most in need. "

Author: Ros Rice, Executive Officer.

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.

We have always tried to attend the release of these reports which annually come forth from their Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit. To hold them in the venue named Loaves and Fishes, was this year particularly apt. This year sadly things are particularly gloomy for people living in poverty.

The report is broken into statistics on six areas of Kiwi life.

Children and Youth; Work and Incomes; Housing; Crime and Punishment; Social Hazards and Màori Wellbeing.

Breaking it down, child poverty; children at risk; teenage pregnancy and children and violence all had gotten worse since 2025, while only youth offending had improved statistics.

Unemployment, income support and welfare and hardship and food security had all got worse, but the unequal burden of rising unemployment continued to be carried by Pacific and Màori workers. Also notable was that disabled workers were facing rates of unemployment more than twice of non-disabled.

Homelessness has increased and housing affordability showed little or no improvement. For those on lower incomes the housing crisis continues.

At least overall crime including violent crime has decreased, but on the negative side family violence; and recidivism has increased. More people have been sentenced and imprisoned which brings up the concern of how many people are imprisoned on remand before even being judged guilty. In 2025 over ¼ of the prison population were remand accused and awaiting trial.

Alcohol and illicit drug use consumption has increased and results for the quarter ending June 2025 indicated high consumption of methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine. Gambling thankfully showed no change, but we all need to be aware what a major problem gambling is in our Society. The number of pokie machines are decreasing, but the remaining machines continue to generate substantial gambling losses. New Zealanders lost $2.79 Billion in the year to June 2024, so although there is no change, the amount being spent is incredibly high.

Hauora is essential to wellbeing for tangata whenua. This report shows clearly how much Màori are affected when identity, belonging and dignity are disrupted. Disconnection from whānau, culture and te reo compounds these pressures. Persistent pressures include on-going poverty, material hardship, economic strain and housing instability. Over-representation in the criminal justice system and concentrated social hazard harm reflect the cumulative impacts of systems that have not consistently upheld hauora and wellbeing.

The report ends by saying that these insights remind us that whānau and vulnerable communities already carry strength, capability and hope; the challenge is to re-shape systems so that they create better conditions for vulnerable communities to thrive and flourish.

Thanks to the Salvation Army and the authors of this report, for a vital and on-going measure of what is happening in our Nation. I believe for a country of 5 ½ million people there is no excuse for such levels of deprivation and harm. We can and should as a country care for our most vulnerable. I believe we are known by how we treat those most in need.

References:

State of the Nation 2026: Foundations of Wellbeing; Poipoia te Kàkano; Summary Version

Paul Barber, Ana Ika and Charm Skinner; Social Policy Analysts February 2026

Social Policy & Parliamentary Unit : The Salvation Army

A Governance Milestone

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 23:39:49 GMT

Hot Take: Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer

Kia ora koutou,

Running a not-for-profit in Aotearoa New Zealand isn’t for the faint-hearted. Funding pressures, rising compliance demands, volunteer burnout and changing community needs can make it feel like you’re spinning a dozen plates at once. But here’s the good news: you’re not alone.

One of the clearest signs of that strength is CNA’s Tick for Governance course, which has now reached a major milestone — over 1,000 users have either completed the course or are actively working through it. That’s 1,000 trustees, board members and leaders investing in good governance and better outcomes for their communities. ��

Tick for Governance is special because it’s the only truly Kiwi governance course of its kind. It’s written by Kiwis, for Kiwis, grounded in the realities of how not-for-profits operate in Aotearoa. It’s also proudly supported by Charity Services and the Institute of Directors, giving organisations confidence that the learning is practical, credible and relevant.

But CNA doesn’t stop at courses. We’re here to help build capacity and ease workloads through a growing suite of courses, apps and practical resources designed for the real world not-for-profits operate in.

A standout example is our collaboration with WiseComply, a smart compliance app that takes a huge weight off governance and management teams. Just like Tick for Governance, WiseComply updates your legislative and compliance requirements as they happen, so you don’t have to constantly chase changes or worry about missing something critical. Less stress, more confidence, better governance, more casual cups of tea.

We’re also expanding our highly successful Sharp Strategies series. These aren’t your average sit-and-listen presentations. Sharp Strategies go deeper, offering real-time answers from experts on the issues that actually keep you awake at night, especially with the impending re-registration of Incorporated Societies, the General Election and more. Practical, interactive and immediately useful.

Together, these initiatives reflect what CNA is all about: creating meaningful building blocks that strengthen individual organisations, lift the sector as a whole, and ultimately contribute to a stronger, more resilient Aotearoa New Zealand society.

Five ways your organisation can get involved:

Enrol your board in Tick for Governance to build confident, capable governance.
Use WiseComply to simplify and stay on top of compliance obligations.
Attend Sharp Strategies sessions to get direct, expert guidance on tough issues.
Share CNA resources with staff and volunteers to build capability across your organisation.
Make CNA learning part of your ongoing planning, not just a one-off fix.

As we head into 2026, now is the perfect time to invest in your people, your governance and your future. Engage with CNA, use the tools on offer, and let’s keep building a stronger not-for-profit sector — together.

In the words of a wise, wise man – “To Infinity, And Beyond!”

Thanks, and Use Us More!

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:58:19 GMT

Kia ora koutou,

As we step toward 2026, it’s worth taking a breath and looking at what CNA has achieved over the past year — because 2025 wasn’t just busy, it was energising. It reminded us why our sector matters, why our work matters, and why the people who show up every day for their communities matter most of all.

This year, we celebrated a remarkable milestone: CNA’s 50th year serving Aotearoa’s community and voluntary sector. Marking half a century wasn’t just about lighting a few candles; it was a moment to recognise the legacy we’ve inherited and the purpose we continue to live out. And of course, our 2025 Members’ Hui was a standout moment. The Hui was warm, energising and full of that unmistakable sector spirit — equal parts laughter, honesty, and determination. It brought long-time members, new members, supporters and friends together in celebration of the work we’ve done and the collective strength that drives us forward. If ever there was a moment that showed the heart of CNA, that was it.

Membership continued to grow this year as well — not just in number, but in diversity and depth. The more voices at the table, the clearer the picture of what communities truly need, and the more powerful our collective becomes.

We also want to offer a heartfelt thank-you to all member organisations who engaged with us through our Sharp Strategies and Neighbourly Natters initiatives. Your willingness to share insights, show up to conversations, and help shape the direction of our collective advocacy meant these projects had real impact.

And yes — there’s more to come. 2026 will bring new opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and strengthening the sector’s influence.

While long-term projects like banking advocacy and governance capacity continue ticking along behind the scenes, 2025’s greatest achievement was simply this: connection. Stronger ties between members. Stronger visibility for our sector. Stronger awareness of the challenges our communities face — and the solutions we know work.

And now, we look ahead.

2026 brings a general election, and with it a powerful opportunity to speak up for our sector, for vulnerable people, and for the organisations who hold communities together when systems fail. Our fight — your fight — is worthwhile. It is important. It is inspiring. And it’s far from over. Huzzah!

So, as we head into 2026, hold your head high. Stay loud. Stay hopeful. Stay connected. And knowing you more will really shape that support and representation

Three simple actions you can take right now to help CNA advocate for you:

Share your local stories and challenges with us — your real experiences shape our national advocacy and give weight to our conversations with government.
Invite CNA into your networks, hui, or meetings — a quick kōrero helps us understand your realities and strengthens our collective voice.
Use your platforms to amplify CNA’s messages — share our updates, campaigns or insights with your communities to help grow sector visibility and influence.

On a personal note, I am thrilled with the energy our Members give to our organisation. As there’s only a few of us here at the CNA office and our Membership is growing, sometimes our engagement is our Network News and Community Alerts. So please, absolutely feel free to ask for a zoom, a call, or a visit – even if it’s to shoot the breeze and break up your day – we’d love to hear from you.

Kia kaha, e te whānau.

Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer.

Every Chapter Adds to Your Story

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 02:51:15 GMT

Kia ora koutou,

This month we’re looking at sharing the heartbeat of Aotearoa’s communities

Across New Zealand, thousands of volunteers and community organisations work tirelessly to support others — often unseen and unsung. CNA is helping to change that by giving these groups a collective voice and a platform to tell their stories.

CNA believes that stories are powerful. Facts and figures can show the scale of need, but personal stories reveal the human heart behind the statistics — the neighbour who checks in on a lonely elder, the youth mentor who helps someone find purpose, the budgeting advisor who restores dignity through support. These narratives remind Aotearoa why community work matters.

Through projects like the Better Banking Report, CNA has shown how storytelling can drive systems change. The report didn’t just present data about how bank closures and digital shifts affect vulnerable people — it shared real experiences from communities across the motu. Those stories gave weight to advocacy, ensuring that policymakers and financial leaders could see, hear, and feel the human impact of their decisions.

CNA also supports members to tell their own stories in meaningful ways. One innovative partner in this space is Interactionz, a social enterprise that helps organisations capture, visualise, and communicate their stories through data-driven storytelling and social impact mapping. Interactionz offers practical tools to turn everyday experiences into clear, compelling evidence of value — helping small community groups show funders and the public what they achieve.

Telling your story isn’t just about publicity; it’s about connection, accountability, and pride. When communities share their own voices — in newsletters, on social media, through videos, art, or reports — they strengthen trust and understanding. CNA’s role is to weave those individual threads into a national tapestry that celebrates the resilience, compassion, and creativity of Aotearoa’s people.

Through advocacy, storytelling, and collaboration, Community Networks Aotearoa continues to amplify the voices of the sector — proving that when we share our stories, we share our strength.

CNA is proud to tell your story, to add your chapter to our book.

Patrick Davies

Membership Engagement

Hot Take on Local Action for a Sustainable Future

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 23:33:17 GMT

Kia ora koutou,

In today’s world, communities and volunteer organisations play a vital role in addressing the challenges of environmental sustainability. As climate change, waste management, and resource depletion continue to shape global conversations, it’s increasingly clear that collective local action is key. CNA, as a national network of community organisations in New Zealand, has been actively working to support grassroots efforts in creating a more sustainable world.

CNA recognises the need, even in these busy times, of integrating sustainability into every level of community action, ensuring that organisations are not only responding to immediate needs but also fostering long-term, sustainable change. By seeking resources, tools, and knowledge, local groups can be aware of pressing environmental issues, from reducing carbon footprints to protecting native biodiversity.

Here’s how community and volunteer organizations can help make a new world by taking positive action on environmental and sustainability issues:

1. Promote Localized, Low-Carbon Solutions

This means encouraging renewable energy adoption, supporting the use of public transportation or cycling, and fostering local food systems. Community groups can facilitate educational programs on how reducing carbon emissions helps mitigate climate change, creating initiatives like community gardens or solar energy co-operatives. Time to get that pedometer going and get those steps in.

Action Step: Even just have kōrero around possible sustainable practices, and low-emission transportation methods, can empower members to make carbon-conscious decisions.

2. Implement Circular Economy Practices

Circular economies are essential for minimizing waste and maximizing resource use. Community organisations can create initiatives to encourage recycling, upcycling, and composting while reducing waste going to landfills. CNA supports community-driven solutions like repair cafes or zero-waste workshops that help individuals extend the life of products and reduce consumption of new resources.

Action Step: Find out where your local zero-waste place is. They can provide you with the ability to get rid of electronic waste effectively and also they have items at low, low prices..

3. Foster Sustainable Consumption and Eco-friendly Products

Another key area is empowering individuals and businesses to make better consumption choices. Community organizations can provide information about eco-friendly alternatives, whether it’s sustainable fashion, eco-friendly cleaning products, or the ethical sourcing of food and goods. By educating the community and hosting sustainability fairs, they can create demand for greener products while reducing reliance on harmful and wasteful practices.

Action Step: Does your organisation know where it gets its products from? Are there any better suppliers with a lesser carbon footprint. It’s easy to continue down that same old trodden path – what’s out there now?

As community and volunteer organisations, we have an immense responsibility and an opportunity to shape a sustainable future. By fostering local action that aligns with environmental sustainability, groups can not only improve their immediate surroundings but also contribute to the broader global effort to combat climate change and protect natural resources.

Ngā mihi nui,
Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer.

Collaboration vs Partnership: Getting it Right

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 03:44:21 GMT

Kia ora,

Ahh, such positive and reaffirming words. collaboration and partnership, and how much we all wish these things would work well. I do however think of these two words as two different things.

Collaboration is where one entity works closely with another entity to achieve a goal, whereas partnership seems more like when two entities join together to achieve a goal.

What is necessary for either to work? Well firstly, both entities want to work together. This will never work if one or other of those groups does not want to be there. Therein is a problem when an external funder or force demands that they work together to (for example) access funding for the project or prove that they are able to collaborate.

Before 2 of us need to collaborate, there are some very important essentials we need to check off.

Firstly, we need a foundation of trust and respect between us. Even if distrust is unspoken, you can be sure that a some point there will be problems between us. Because of this we also need;
The ability to adapt. We need to value diverse ideas, and check that we can all collectively solve disagreements.
We also need to have strong skills in communication so we can navigate conflicts successfully.
Finally, it is really important that both groups operate by similar values.

Why is collaboration important? That’s because collaboration can lead to improved communication and increased productivity. Without showing off too much, that’s how I and my team of Paddy and Dan get so much done together. As a collaborating team we really rock. This is precious and special, because normally it is rare and when it works, it really works.

Partnership is another story. Some things must be truly mutually shared. Everyone needs to establish clear roles and responsibilities. However, we also need

Financial transparency
Flexibility and
A shared commitment to the partnership’s success.

Make sure you do your research well before you enter a partnership. A partnership usually is more formal, long-term, and legal. The partners share the risks, responsibilities, and rewards therefore it is a deeper relationship. Partnerships often involve cash decisions, so be very very careful about who you partner with, and make sure you have a lot of legal advice.

A more harmonious way to go forward is usually a collaboration, but whichever way you go, in fact the better way to go if you run an NGO, is with great care, and a lot of conversation with your ‘other’ organisation to cover problems. Good luck. I’m extremely lucky that my collaboration with the two amazing guys who work with me, is a great success. Hold on a minute! Is that Patrick yelling swear words and heading down the corridor? Come back, come back Patrick, we can work it out!!

Ngā mihi nui,

Ros Rice, Executive Officer.

Connecting Our Neighbours

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 03:02:39 GMT

Kia ora koutou,

As Community Networks Aotearoa (CNA) continues to grow, so does the incredible breadth and depth of our Member organisations. From the Far North to the Deep South, CNA members are doing important mahi in their communities every day. But in the busyness of our work, we sometimes don’t get the chance to connect with others doing similar things just down the road—or even across town. And you may not know who’s joined CNA!

That’s where Neighbourly Natters comes in.

You may or may not be aware of our Neighbourly Natters that's just kicked off. Basically, as our membership is increasing, we want to better connect fellow CNA members in regions. It’s a brief meet and greet—name, organisation, elevator pitch, and maybe the main issue you’re dealing with. It’s a way to better know who your CNA neighbours actually are.

It’s a small idea with a big impact. These short, informal virtual catchups are a chance to meet other local Members, put faces to names, and start conversations that might just lead to collaboration. No pressure, no presentations—just a space to be seen, heard, and supported.

In the spirit of CNA’s values, Neighbourly Natters recognises that relationships are the foundation of strong communities. And when groups doing similar work start talking, the potential for shared learning, resource-swapping, and partnership grows quickly.

Even if your organisation has little to no funding, you can still build strong connections locally. Here are five zero-cost ways to foster collaboration with like-minded organisations in your community:

1. Host a “Community Cuppa”

Organise a monthly informal chat with local organisations—online or in a shared space like a library or marae. Bring your own drink, and just kōrero.

2. Create a Skills/Needs Swap List

Set up a shared doc where organisations can list what they can offer (e.g. a spare meeting room, tech skills) and what they need (e.g. volunteers, help with a flyer).

3. Run a Story-Sharing Circle

Invite community groups to a quick round of storytelling—one success, one challenge. These sessions build empathy and highlight shared goals.

4. Share a Community Calendar

Avoid overlap and support each other’s events by building a joint calendar for hui, workshops, or local campaigns.

5. Launch a “Collaboration Challenge”

Encourage two organisations to team up for just one thing: a post, event, or project. Keep it small, fun, and doable.

CNA’s Neighbourly Natters is about starting small—but thinking big. The more we connect, the more resilient and effective we become as a sector. Whether you’re a well-established organisation or a volunteer-led group, these conversations help weave the fabric of a stronger, more connected Aotearoa. We’ll look to have more of these and add some of your own network organisations too!

You never know where one good conversation might lead. Let’s keep connecting—one natter at a time.

Interested in joining a Neighbourly Natters session? Email me at info@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz

Your Members Your Bricks, Be the Mortar

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 02:12:49 GMT

Kia ora koutou,

One of the greatest strengths of our sector is our willingness to come together, share knowledge, and lift each other up. Here at good ol’ CNA, we know from experience that strong relationships with our members help us grow and strengthen our own work. And we see our members doing the same with the networks and communities they support.

We’re a network that builds capacity by engaging deeply with you—our members. Whether through our 50th Anniversary Hui, regular updates, or one-on-one kōrero, your insights help shape our direction, inform our advocacy, and refine the resources we provide. It’s through this two-way relationship that we grow stronger as an organisation—and the same holds true for you and your own networks.

It’s why we bring everyone together every two years—to connect face to face, share lessons, and learn from one another. When you hear how another group has tackled leadership development or improved their financial systems, you gain ideas and inspiration to take home. And when you share your own success, you spark growth in others.

From supporting better governance through our Tick for Governance Course (over 900 satisfied customers!) and strategic planning, to helping organisations improve fundraising, engaging with Banks, Select Committees, and collaboration—we all grow by reaching out and working together. CNA does this with our members, and our members do it with theirs. The ripple effect is powerful.

Your network is so much more than an email list—it’s a community of experience, support, and strength. Let’s keep learning, building, and growing together.

Here are 4 action points for to better engage with their members:

Yell it to the Rooftops: Through newsletters and social media make sure to highlight member successes, share relevant news, and provide opportunities for feedback. Add this positivity to inspire others

Throw a Party: Even if it’s a cuppa and a bikkie, these allow members to keep relationships, share knowledge, and collaborate in real-time in an easy atmosphere – we don’t’ have to be on the treadmill all the time. We are allowed to enjoy ourselves.

Pick up the phone: Sometimes it’s great to get a call that’s not about an issue. Just to say ‘hello’, ‘I’m thinking of you’, ‘what’s on your mind?’. These strengthen our relationships and keep us in mind of each other, which may mean reminding each other of what we can support each other in.

Share the aroha: Create spaces (online or in-person) where members can exchange ideas and experiences. When someone learns a new strategy or approach, share it widely to inspire innovation and growth across your network. Why reinvent the wheel? Take that idea and adapt it to your own organisation.

These are just a few ways to increase your capacity, to deepen relationships, and to help each other upwards.

Forward, Stronger!

Patrick Davies

Membership Engagement Officer

Why Non-Profits Deserve Better Banking — and Who’s Listening

comms@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz (Community Networks) — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:54:11 GMT

It was truly and amazing day after a year’s planning and work, for Community Networks Aotearoa to launch our research on Better Banking for All . Our researcher Jane Horan and our EO Ros Rice personally had visited or talked to senior managers at six of our major banks to tell them about the huge problems Non-Profits had when trying to bank with them. All the banks knew before we launched what they would find in our report.

What followed was in our mind not the end of our research, but the start of collaborative working with these massive financial institutions towards solving some of the issues. We were aware that many problems were caused by banks reaction to the anti-money laundering legislation, but other issues were simply due to staff training problems, lack of understanding of the non-profit sector and we did hear directly from some staff members of these banks, that they thought we were too problematic and we as a sector did not make the banks any money.

This brings up many questions including the right to have a bank account, and the right to access banking. These sorts of problems have been picked up by some concerned banks, and by the Reserve Bank, and the legislation on anti-money laundering has been reviewed. But at the same time some Banks have decided not to bank For Purpose organisations anymore. (If you want to read my submission on this legislation you can find it on our website. https://www.communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz/cna-submissions

Through the deluge of work that has continued up to today, a shining communication came our way. It was from the First Credit Union, based in Hamilton. This is not a bank but a financial institution. They had read the report and they recognised our sector needs. They wanted to talk!

Holly’s Experience with First Credit Union’s Support for Non-Profit Banking

As part of our work supporting the not-for-profit sector, I met with First Credit Union (FCU) to discuss the many challenges that non-profits face when managing their banking. These challenges include difficulties in changing signatories, as the process can be complicated and time-consuming. Verifying ID and proof of address often requires trustees to be physically present at a branch, which is particularly difficult for organisations in communities without local banks or for those facing restricted banking hours. Many organisations also struggle with inconsistent service, as they rarely deal with the same bank staff and often have to re-explain their needs each time they interact with the bank. On top of this, administrative hurdles such as receiving the wrong forms or experiencing delays in processing can create unnecessary frustration and inefficiencies.

FCU took these concerns seriously and proposed a trial to improve banking accessibility for non-profits. As part of this initiative, they introduced a dedicated point of contact for all non-profit clients, ensuring continuity and reducing the need to repeatedly explain processes. They also made it possible for organisations to complete sign-ups, signatory changes, proof of address, and ID verification entirely online. The only aspect of banking that still required an in-person visit was the deposit of cash.

To test this system, Community Networks Aotearoa (CNA) set up an account with FCU and worked closely with them to refine and improve the process where necessary. The trial proved to be highly successful. Banking was straightforward, administrative changes were easy to implement, and FCU was responsive and proactive in addressing any minor issues that arose.

After a year of using this system, we are very happy with how smoothly everything has gone. The improvements have made banking significantly easier for us, and we have decided to retain our account with FCU. Their commitment to making banking more accessible for non-profits has been evident throughout the process, and we look forward to seeing how this approach could benefit the wider sector.

Want to learn more about First Credit Union’s services for Non-Profits?

Explore how they're making banking easier and more accessible for the sector:

�� Learn more about FCU’s not-for-profit accounts

Get Tech Smart - May Hot Take by Patrick

comms@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz (Community Networks) — Fri, 09 May 2025 01:02:07 GMT

Work Smarter, Not Harder: How AI Can Help You Power Up

Running a community or voluntary organisation is incredibly rewarding — but let’s not pretend it’s not a lot. There’s the outreach, the organising, the events, the reporting, the fundraising, the thank-yous, the newsletters… and that’s all before you’ve had your second cup of tea!

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to do it all the hard way. AI (artificial intelligence) might sound like something from a sci-fi movie, but it’s actually a super useful tool that can help you save time, cut down on admin, and get your message out faster — all without losing your unique voice.

Admin and Comms, Supercharged

It’s not just newsletters — AI can also help speed up your everyday admin and communications. Here are just a few ideas:

Write thank-you emails to donors and volunteers
Summarise meeting notes or event feedback
Draft press releases or funding applications
Create social media posts tailored to different platforms
Translate key info into other languages
Generate reports or updates for stakeholders

You’re still in control, but AI takes care of the first draft — which means you can focus on adding the human touch instead of starting from scratch every time. We cannot emphasise that you need to edit/adapt/correct your first AI draft of anything you create to ensure you are creating your own authentic voice to any piece of work.

Find Collaborators and Funders

I recently attended the Hapori Communities Conference in Tauranga and wrote the following for a session on creating a ‘Braindump ideas’ document when trying to find collaborators – this can also be adapted to see where you intersect with funders too!

Ideas on how to use ChatGPT to get stuff done faster in engaging other organisations:

Open your browser at https://chatgpt.com/
Type this in “ Create a letter with 10 bullet points why [X organisation] and our organisation is an amazing fit to collaborate – use this from [X organisation’s website - here you copy/paste their page on their visions/goals ] and this from ours [ Copy/paste same thing from yours ], from the point of view of a For Purpose / Not For Profit organisation talking to the CEO of business ” or similar wording
The points are

What you want – i.e. 10 bullet point letter; introductory letter; ‘seeking a meeting’ letter; ‘proposing an interest in collaborating’ etc.
Using info from both websites to look for alignments
Who’s talking – i.e. you, a For Purpose; Trust; Community Garden; etc.
To whom – i.e. CEO, financial officer, grants admin; etc. this directs to what kind of vocabulary will be used.
Direction/Tone – i.e. an amazing fit, how being disparate companies benefit each other; conversational tone; in the language of banks; to a crown minister; etc.
You can also dictate how many words if you want

4. This creates, in mere seconds, a document you can use with your team or whomever to use as a springboard to kōrero around.

5. It’s a time-economic way to choose 10 companies who are not seemingly aligned and seeing if there’s an amazing opportunity.

6. ALWAYS re-edit to make sure its what YOU want.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

AI isn’t here to replace you — it’s here to support you. Think of it like a digital co-worker who’s really good at writing and organising (but doesn’t need lunch breaks). With just a bit of experimenting, you’ll find it’s an absolute time-saver. So if your to-do list is growing longer than the biscuit queue at your AGM, it might be time to give AI a try. You’ll be amazed how much time you can save — and how much more energy you’ll have for the parts of your work that really matter.

Work smarter, not harder. Your community deserves the best of you — not the burnt-out version. Let AI help you shine!

Ngā mihi nui,
Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer.
Community Networks Aotearoa.

Roundups with Ros - Thinking about AI

comms@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz (Community Networks) — Fri, 09 May 2025 00:06:34 GMT

Ros Rice, Executive Officer Journal Entry May 2025

Everyone is talking about AI and here at CNA I confess we have used it several times to clarify issues, or to understand complex legislation. It seems like time to consider other perspectives than the prevalent one of AI being the answer for everything.

Recently Patrick who works with me attended a meeting that looked at other perspectives and I would like to discuss some of them.

I am now quoting from the booklet handed out at this meeting. “The use of AI should be aimed at enhancing public and community services and improving the quality of jobs, not aimed at job displacement.”

This perhaps is the most common worry today. We have realised over the last few months, that the creators of AI might not be thinking about the human effect of AI. For many of them it seems like the financial reward will be stronger than the collective good and wellbeing. So how do we manage the ongoing path ensuring there is only safe and responsible use of AI. I believe in the end, it is entirely up to us.

Firstly, why do we always need the latest device or new technology? Some of these big changes don’t work well for us. They often use a lot of power and are data hungry. Some are more complex than we actually need. Maybe we need to scale down. Some large technology also has “environmental, social and governance costs”.

It would be good to have “Bespoke, risk-based AI regulation that focuses on protecting those most vulnerable to harm, including specific groups of people. Our ecosystem should be appropriately robust to ensure that AI in its present and future forms remains a net benefit to the lives of New Zealanders.”

One of the strong recommendation is that AI is never used without human oversight. AI is known to have what are called hallucinations. AI operates mainly on prompts from a human. It then draws only on what has been previously been fed into AI. Should the prompts be unclear, or the information fed to the AI is supposition or untrue, the eventual response of the AI cannot be correct. There are many examples of AI answers that are plainly incorrect or ridiculous. This is where the person sitting at the computer must with knowledge and competence always review the AI response.

Likewise, what if the AI is fed deliberately false information and asked deliberately skewed questions. Where are the checks and balances to ensure that the response is not something that deliberately does not benefit employees or people affected by that response? Another case of legislative control of use of AI responses.

There are issues of privacy if AI is able to access data and release results that share private information. AI can have access to much information that is not normally publicly available. What happens if this creates AI public responses that share this information. Surely now is a time that the privacy concerns of using AI are covered in the privacy Act.

One of the issues in the PSA booklet is Facial Recognition Technology is Not Good for Māori. The question needs to be asked “who benefits, and who bears the risk?” When we discuss discriminatory profiling and surveillance it well can be “indigenous communities who suffer the most when biased technologies intersect with systemic racism”.

This is very possible in broader social and political contexts, just look at what is happening in the USA today. “The harms of Facial Recognition Technology are not abstract theories.”

I cannot recommend the booklet A.I for Good strongly enough. You can access this via the PSA– Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, view the digital copy here .

There are many more issues we as a society need to discuss on this issue. These are a few, but most importantly, we as humans in this space need to oversee what is happening, what AI is producing in our own work, and what unintended consequences we need to be aware of. We need to step up to this sooner rather than later, AI is already here and ubiquitous.

Solving Board Problems with Bullet(s) Points...

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 23:13:37 GMT

Hot Take - Patrick Davies - Engagement Officer

Being part of a community organisation is exciting, rewarding, and sometimes a little chaotic. From passionate debates to trying to make decisions that serve everyone’s needs, it’s no surprise that things can get a bit tangled at times.

One of the most effective ways to solve these issues? Training in governance procedures. Now, you might be thinking, “Patrick that sounds boring!” But trust us, it’s anything but – we made sure of that! Imagine a team where everyone is on the same page, meetings run smoothly, decisions are clear, and reports actually make sense. Governance training can help you achieve that – and it can solve many of the challenges that might be making your meetings feel like a circus.

Here’s why it’s worth investing in governance training:

1. Stop Butting Heads – ‘Learn How to Work Together’

Disagreements are natural in any group, but when they go on and on without resolution, it can create tension and prevent progress. Training in governance procedures helps team members understand how to navigate conflicts effectively. It teaches skills like active listening, respectful debate, and making decisions that are best for the group. With everyone understanding their roles and responsibilities, it becomes easier to find common ground, even when opinions differ.

2. Say Goodbye to Bad Meetings – ‘Coulda Been An Email’

How many times have you left a meeting feeling like it was a waste of time? It’s a common issue, especially in groups that don’t have a clear structure or process for decision-making. Governance training equips your team with the tools to plan and run meetings that are focused, efficient, and productive. No more endless tangents or getting stuck in circles. With clear agendas, roles, and processes, meetings become a place where progress is made, not lost.

3. Ensure Competent Reporting – ‘I Nodded Off’

One of the most frustrating things can be receiving reports that are vague, hard to follow, or missing key information. Governance training helps your group create reports that everyone can understand. With solid reporting procedures, you’ll know exactly where you stand and be able to make informed decisions.

4. Avoid Misunderstandings and Legal Risks – ‘Get Out Of Jail Free Card’

When everyone on the team isn’t on the same page about governance procedures, it can lead to misunderstandings and even legal issues down the road. Training ensures everyone knows the rules, responsibilities, and expectations, helping your organisation avoid costly mistakes. It gives you confidence that your decisions are legally sound and in the best interest of your community.

5. Boost Confidence in Your Organisation – “The Funders Are Going To Love It!’

Finally, governance training boosts your group’s overall confidence. When you know you’re following best practices, making decisions effectively, and keeping everything running smoothly, you feel more secure in your actions. Plus, when your funders see that you’re upskilling on governance and keeping up with legislation, it builds trust and credibility.

The Bottom Line: ‘We All Want More Smooth, Less Rough’. Good governance isn’t just about rules and regulations – it’s about making your team stronger, your meetings better, and your decisions smarter.

Community Networks Aotearoa Tick for Governance course is a practical, hands-on course designed to help your organisation understand and implement solid governance procedures. Ready to make your group a well-oiled machine? Take the first step with the Tick for Governance course and see just how much smoother things can go.

Hapori Aotearoa Conference Wrap-Up

comms@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz (Community Networks) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 02:27:13 GMT

Last week Patrick represented CNA at the Hapori Aotearoa – Growing Communities Together in sunny Tauranga presented by Inspiring Communities and the Tauranga City Council. A two-day conference focused on providing practical resources amplifying community development.

With each day having multiple concurrent workshops there were difficult (and exciting) choices to be made. The hottest topics were Social Return On Investments / Social Investment, Te Tiriti, and (no surprise) funding within the Sector. There were great speakers and a lot of table korero, spilling of tea, and sharing ideas and resources.

Did you know there is a Regional Data Explorer on the Social Investment Agency website ? How might organisations use this to target their mahi and applications?

“The Social Investment Agency’s Regional Data Explorer supports access to data for regional and sub-regional decision-making. It brings together 70 datasets or 'indicators' which can be filtered to meet a particular need."

Another great workshop (Belinda Gorman ) looked into connecting with businesses to explore various ways of funding. Looking at alignment, how to approach and creating that relationship.

One contribution we were able to make was a handy dandy doc on how to use the free version of ChatGPT to create a start – how to create a document that begins your journey on support, sponsorship and funding. Here it is – Using ChatGPT to Get $.

And it was a great chance to catch up with Members – SociaLink (also a supporter of the conference); Volunteer Kapiti and Community Networking Trust. It was a time to catch up with friends from other organisations and to make new connections, both strengthening our reach around the Motu.

Whilst conferences are expensive, attending can hit many birds with one stone and its important to get out of your own area, headspace to remind yourself that you are not alone in what’s going on; that there are people with ideas around you; and that (while it can be a draining experience) it is a fantastic way to recharge your spirit.

We look forward to hosting our Members at our Members’ Only Hui on Friday, 7th November in Te Whanganui-a-Tara /Wgtn for exactly those reasons.

Oh, did I mention it’s also our 50th Anniversary celebrations?

Patrick Davies,
Engagement Officer

End-of-Year Finance Checklist for Community Organisations in Aotearoa

comms@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz (Community Networks) — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 03:44:53 GMT

As we approach the end of the financial year, it’s a great time for community organisations and NFPs to check in on their finances. A bit of planning now can help ensure compliance, financial stability, and a strong start to the new year.

Here’s a quick and practical checklist to guide you through the essentials:

1. Review Your Financial Records

Make sure all income, expenses, and bank reconciliations are accurate. If anything looks off, now’s the time to tidy it up.

2. Get Your Annual Reporting Ready

If your organisation is a registered charity, ensure you’re meeting the correct Tier 1-4 reporting requirements. If you're unsure, check with Charities Services NZ.

⏳ Annual Return Deadline: Charities must file their Annual Return and financial statements within six months of their balance date.

If your balance date is 31 March, your return is due by 30 September.
If your balance date is 30 June, your return is due by 31 December.

Late filing can lead to de-registration, so don’t leave it to the last minute!

3. Reconcile Grants & Funding

Check that all funding has been correctly allocated and reported. Some funders may require a financial update or details on any unspent funds.

4. Confirm Tax & Compliance Obligations

File your Annual Return with Charities Services (if required).
Ensure all GST, PAYE, and tax obligations are up to date to avoid any penalties.

5. Preparing for an Audit

Confirm whether your organisational documents or your Charities Services Tier level require an audit
If so, get in touch with your auditor early to confirm timing and documents required
Gather important documents early such as contracts, grant agreements and data for your Statement of Service Performance

6. Check Reserves & Plan for Next Year

Look at your reserves—do you have enough to sustain your work? Compare actual vs. budgeted spending and update your forecasts.

7. Prepare for Your AGM

Ensure financial statements are board-ready.
A clear Treasurer’s Report can help communicate key financial insights to members.

8. Review Governance & Risk Management

Update financial policies and internal controls.
Identify any financial risks and put strategies in place to manage them.

Looking Ahead

A strong financial foundation helps your organisation continue supporting your community effectively. Taking time now to review and plan can make a big difference in the year ahead.

�� Need more guidance? Check out Charities Services NZ or reach out to CNA for support.

Need Help Making 1+1 = 6?

comms@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz (Community Networks) — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 03:33:39 GMT

Hot Takes with Patrick!

This month, we’re focusing on financial health—cash flow, grants, audits, and long-term stability. But this isn’t just a checklist—it’s an opportunity to tap into the collective wisdom of our community!

Networking within this sector is powerful. When organisations connect, everyone benefits. Whether you’re a part of a large organisation with complex finances or a smaller group just finding your feet, every Member brings valuable insight. You might pick up a clever budgeting tip that’s been a game-changer for someone else or discover a fresh approach to securing grants.

At CNA we’re working to strengthen these connections even more throughout 2025. Collaboration creates space to openly share experiences. Our first webinar (keep an eye on your inboxes) will bring these ideas into the kōrero—because sometimes the best solution is just a conversation away.

By connecting and sharing we reinforce that sense of community and support. The path to financial stability can feel overwhelming but knowing others have faced similar hurdles—and overcome them—can be a huge confidence boost. Feedback from our last Hui said it best:

"Sometimes, it’s just good to know I’m not the only one in this situation."

Collaboration isn’t just about learning—it’s about thriving. When we share knowledge and support each other, we create an environment where everyone can succeed. So, don’t be shy! Start a conversation with a fellow Member—our Neighbourly Natters (more on this soon!) will help you connect with others in your area. Together, we can all become more resilient, financially stable, and prepared for the future.

We'd Love to Hear from You!

�� What strategies have you found most effective for managing cash flow or securing grants in these challenging times? Share your tips with the community and let's learn from each other.

�� Have you faced any specific financial challenges recently that you’d like to discuss? Your experiences could spark helpful conversations with others in similar situations.

�� How can CNA support you further in strengthening your financial health? Let us know what resources or tools would be most beneficial to your organisation.

�� What’s your go-to method for collaborating with others in your community? Let’s talk about how we can increase our collective efforts and support one another.

�� Have you attended any training or networking events recently that made a difference? Share what you learned with the community—it could be the key to someone else’s success!

Ngā mihi,

Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer

Roundups with Ros - Financial Health for NFPs

comms@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz (Community Networks) — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 03:25:34 GMT

Kia ora,

This month, we're focusing on financial health for non-profits. CNA has been able to do our mahi for 50 years by ensuring we have the funding to sustain our work and preparing for the unexpected.

Right now, our Board is reviewing our income in these uncertain times. While we're not in crisis, we're always considering how we would manage if funding were to change. Every NGO—whether funded by philanthropy, government (central or local), or fundraising—faces the same challenge, especially in a climate where funding is tightening, and demands on our sector keep growing. At some point, doing more with less just isn’t viable.

Another key conversation resurfacing is Social Investment. The concept—investing early to save money and improve long-term outcomes—sounds logical. But previous government trials showed issues, such as reinforcing stereotypes and focusing on individual failings rather than systemic challenges. We're watching closely to see if Social Investment 2.0 emerges. We would love to hear your thoughts on where things are heading.

On funding and grants: I highly recommend signing up for ANCAD’s and Community Waikato’s newsletters. ANCAD has just released its 2025 Funding Guide—while Auckland-focused, it contains useful insights for groups across Aotearoa. Community Waikato offers fantastic online training forums—great for learning, networking, and picking up invaluable tips.

Finally, CNA is diving into financial health this month—keep an eye on our socials and community alerts for articles and details of our upcoming webinar featuring incredible speakers. Even I’ll be tuning in—there’s always more to learn! Let’s keep our sector strong and sustainable for years to come.

We would love to hear your thoughts! Here are some questions to consider:

�� Funding Stability: How is your organisation preparing for financial uncertainty? Have you had to make any tough decisions due to funding changes?

�� Sector Challenges : Are you seeing increased demand for services with fewer resources? What strategies are working (or not working) for you?

�� Social Investment: What are your thoughts on the Government’s approach to Social Investment? Do you see potential benefits, or are there concerns for your organisation and community?

�� Funding & Training Resources: Have you found any particularly helpful funding guides or training opportunities lately? What resources would you recommend to others?

Join the kōrero! Leave a comment, send us an email, or connect with us on social media—we would love to hear your insights.

Ngā mihi,

Ros Rice, Executive Officer

Roundups with Ros - A Message from Me!

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 01:36:55 GMT

Reflections on My Recovery and Looking Ahead to 2025

Now to work! CNA is looking ahead to 2025. And we must emphasise the importance of our strategic planning as CNA continues to grow and evolve. We want to strengthen what we have already been doing, and grow the people and organisations we are representing. Now it is more important than ever that we try to get the voice of Non-Profit groups heard by politicians. A new Government often has a huge learning cure to climb, and we want to be there to help.

As well as that we are looking at the map of New Zealand and saying, “where are the gaps?” Where are places where groups do not have access to their peers (very important) or to be heard in the corridors of power. Where are staff and volunteers isolated from everyone else, where we can hold out the hand of friendship and help?

We did some huge projects in 2024. From a review of how the Banking system works for NGOs to the State of the Sector survey to training in Governance, our focus on research, training and support will not change. We will be reviewing what we can do for you this year. We hope you will all focus on steps for growth and resilience. It’s a tough world with the rising cost of living, and many people needing our help. If you need to talk to us, call. Let’s share our efforts and our successes and remember we as your trusted partner can offer tools, guidance and solidarity towards building resilient communities and organisations. Just ask.

Finally can we encourage all of you to become involved with us. Reach out to us with ideas, feedback, or simply to chat while we have a cuppa. For example, this year’s conference was fantastic. We know many of you couldn’t make it to Wellington, but 2025 we will hold the one-day biennial Membership Hui. It will also be the celebration of 50 years existence of CNA / NZCOSS. Pop some $s in your budget this year so you can afford early cheap flights, and come up to meet with us. We would love to spend some time with you!

Ros Rice

Executive Officer, CNA

eo@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz

Let Play Connect For! - Patrick Davies Hot Take

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 01:27:22 GMT

Neighbourly Natters: Connecting, Sharing, and Strengthening Our Sector

I hope everyone has rested well and we’re back into the mahi with a vengeance.

We’re looking to strengthen our bonds with you and between all our members – finding ways to connect, share, collaborate whilst keeping within our tight operating parameters. Big words I know – but its 2025. We’ve been talking with members and looking for ways to connect you all without breaking the bank of time and resources. There’re so many good ideas out there, it’s important to CNA to connect you all so you can hear them directly. It’s by keeping our ear to the ground that we’ve managed some great progress with banking for For Purpose organisations and getting the excellent State of the Sector report done.

In the very near future, I’ll be in contact to introduce our ‘Neighbourly Natters’. Yes, everything needs a corny title. Basically, we’re aiming to have a quick zoom where you can meet all the CNA members in your area. You may know some of them, a lot of them, or none of them. Its just a very quick meet and greet to put a face to the name and a quick elevator pitch of what your organisation does. A couple of minutes tops.

We’ve come across members who find out about common ground issues and solutions but don’t realise this is happening in their back yard. And we feel that connecting in this simple way is a win/win. We’ll send out everyone’s emails from that meeting so that if you want to you can catch up to korero about any specific idea. We also feel it might provide more support – just knowing there’s another person doing the same kind of role nearby. You might end up going for a drink and a good natter.

In this Government’s environment of collaboration and social investment this will be a great opportunity to add to any report you write, as well as what it might possibly lead on to. I’ll be reaching out shortly to sort out the best date in your region; and prior I’ll provide a very quick cheat sheet on the attendees, so you’ve got something to go on. Any chance for a quick cupper with like-minded folks is always a good mental break.

And that’s what we’re for (see what I did there �� )

See you out there!

Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer

info@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz

More Than a Kit Kat: Why Taking a Break Matters

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 01:03:10 GMT

Embrace the Summer Reset

As the summer holidays approach in Aotearoa New Zealand, many of us are looking forward to taking a well-deserved break. We might be lucky enough to escape to the beach, enjoy a BBQ with friends, or simply relaxing at home, the summer period offers a unique opportunity to reset and recharge. In a world that often demands constant hustle and productivity, it’s more important than ever to allow ourselves time to step back, reflect, and re-energize.

Taking a break over the summer isn’t just about having fun, festivities, and fam - it’s about giving your mind, body, and soul the chance to reset. When we work hard all year, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the weight of stress and responsibilities. But as we pause for the summer, we gain the space to see things from a fresh perspective. Challenges that once seemed insurmountable can be reframed as opportunities for growth.

One of the most valuable aspects of taking a break is the ability to let go of past struggles. We often carry the weight of our worries, anxieties, and unresolved issues with us, creating mental and emotional clutter. The beauty of a summer holiday lies in its power to help us let go. By stepping away from daily routines, we free ourselves from the constant pressure and give our minds a chance to breathe. In this time of rest, we can start to see obstacles not as threats but as chances for development. Difficulties can be turned into stepping stones for improvement when we approach them with the right mindset.

This period of renewal doesn’t just affect our work life—it enriches our personal lives too. Time spent with loved ones, enjoying nature, or simply indulging in a hobby can help us reconnect with what truly matters. These experiences leave us feeling more grounded and resilient, ready to face the challenges of the new year with a renewed sense of purpose. Because it’s all about (say it with me) people, people, people!

As we head into the summer holidays, let’s make a conscious effort to embrace the chance to rest, rejuvenate, and let go of the struggles that hold us back. With a refreshed mindset, we’ll find ourselves better equipped to turn every threat into an opportunity for growth and renewal in the year ahead. Here's to a transformative, restful summer, and a bright start to 2025!.

Lessons from the Launch: Embracing the Unexpected

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 01:07:57 GMT

It Is Possible To Make No Mistakes And Still Lose. That Is Not Weakness, That Is Life.

Ah, Jean Luc, such a wise man. Recently you might have noticed we launched the State of the Sector Survey. And we did it online too… well, kinda. Ever get a case of the Gremlins? We did. You may not know, but I spent a couple of decades in theatre – several years as a tech and even a manager of a university theatre. So, I know my stuff, right? I wonder where this is going…

The day before the launch, we set up the hall, putting out the chairs, the lectern, the mic stand, etc., and testing the tech. We had a fantastic response to the online aspects of the launch and even more so for the recent Zui (currently sitting at time of writing at 187 registrations). As a not-for-profit, we scrimp and save like everyone else, which includes a free subscription to Zoom. But wait, that is capped at 100 attendees! And we have over 180!! Argh. But needs must when the devil makes some eggs; we splurged out for a month’s worth of WEBINAR STATUS (imagine strains of holy choirs).

Oh boy, we’re in the big time now. Um… how does this thing work? We did what everyone does – who do we know who can show me how to drive this thing? Up to the plate is a dear old tech friend, Hadley Thompson, who, on a warm Sunday night in the office, calmly gives me a tour of the wonderful world of webinaring.

Like most unknowns, it’s a little terrifying until you have a go, stuff it up, have another go, stuff it up less, and then finally breathe a sigh of relief when it works as you want it to.

So here we are, setting up the laptop, getting the camera angle right, and testing it. Did we need to test it more than once? Yes, I’ll come clean that there was no sound to start with, but boy, the presenters looked amazing. Did my blood pressure rise? Yes, it did. Did Dan solve it? Yes, yes, Dan did solve it.

Cut to the day of the launch – I still remember it like it was today (it was; I’m writing this in the past).

All ready to go! Awake at 5:45 am to get to the hall to set the tech all back up for doors opening at 7 am (we still have to make the coffee, set out the light snacks, and check the light level for the pictures).

And voilà! Nothing. Ummm… for some reason, the password that I have been using since July (always change those every 6 months) does. not. work.

Is it plugged in? Yes. Turn it off, turn it on. Nothing. Reset the password – it won’t let me. It actually locks me out. Can we use someone else’s account? No, the webinar status is on my email; that’s the link that’s been activated, and I can’t touch it to begin the webinar at all. Bugger.

Bugger. Bugger. Bugger. Bugger.

Take a deep breath; can we livestream on FB? Not really; how will people know? You know what, there’s another great saying about attempting all possible solutions and realising it's not going to happen. ‘When the horse is dead – get off!’

And so we did. Were we disappointed? Extremely. Was it beyond frustrating? Very. Had we done all we could to remedy the situation? Yes. Were we unhappy about losing the hundred-plus viewers online? Gutted, mate. That’s when the Captain of the Starship Enterprise (TNG)’s words came to me: “It Is Possible To Make No Mistakes And Still Lose. That Is Not Weakness, That Is Life.”

I still don’t know why Zoom locked me (I’ve since got back in – phew!), but more importantly, the report got launched – and that’s the real point of the story. Zoom or not – CNA launched the 2024 State of the Sector Report – and we’re bloody proud of that.

Making Financial Reporting Accessible

comms@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz (Community Networks) — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 00:50:40 GMT

Simplifying year-end financial reporting is essential for smaller organisations.

Many of our member organisations, as well as Community Networks Aotearoa, are completing year-end financial reporting and preparing for Annual General Meetings. Presenting the results can be a stressful time, especially for smaller organisations that don’t have dedicated accounting teams. I have served as Treasurer for both large and small organisations, and along the way, I’ve found a few helpful practices. It’s important that everyone has a clear understanding of how the organisation is performing and its overall financial position. An operating loss for a single year doesn’t have to be alarming if the organisation has set aside reserves for a rainy day.

If you are preparing to report, remember that not everyone loves accounting and that financial reports can be difficult for many people to understand. Accounting terms and jargon can be confusing. For example, what most people commonly refer to as a "Balance Sheet" is formally known as a "Statement of Financial Position." When reporting, we need to be technically accurate, but we also need to communicate effectively with our stakeholders. This means reducing jargon whenever possible and using plain language.

When explaining revenue and expenses (also known as the "Statement of Financial Performance"), a page of numbers is great for those who want a lot of detail but can be hard to interpret for others. I find that a few pie charts or bar graphs can make the information more accessible. On the revenue side, a chart showing what came from contracts, fundraising activities, and philanthropic grants can visually display the relative size of each source. On the expense side, there is typically a much longer list of items. Grouping these into a few expense categories, such as staff & volunteers, administrative, and programme/delivery expenses, can make them easier to understand.

Providing the formal accounting reports, whether audited or not, is a typical requirement for an Annual General Meeting. Supplementing these with a few charts or graphs is a way to make the reports more accessible. This is especially important in the current operating environment, where many organisations are facing increased operating expenses (e.g., electricity, insurance, and fuel) and shrinking revenues from traditional sources.

For those wanting to increase their overall understanding of financial requirements, our Tick for Governance course includes a plain language module covering all the essentials.

Celebrating Partnership: Katoa Connect Trust and Community Networks Aotearoa

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 23:17:15 GMT

Celebrating Partnership: Katoa Connect Trust and Community Networks Aotearoa Join Forces for Collective Currents Conference

Tēnā koutou katoa ngā mema o te hapori Community Networks Aotearoa (CNA)
Greetings to all members of the Community Networks Aotearoa (CNA) community!

As we step into September, I’m reflecting with pride on the meaningful partnership we’ve developed with Community Networks Aotearoa (CNA). At Katoa Connect Trust, our collaboration with CNA is more than a strategic alliance; it’s a shared commitment to strengthening our communities and advancing inclusivity across Aotearoa New Zealand.

A major highlight of our partnership is the upcoming "Collective Currents: From Many Streams Great Rivers Flow" conference, taking place on the 24th and 25th of October in Wellington. This conference truly embodies the spirit of our collaboration. The title symbolises how diverse efforts can come together to create a powerful collective impact. I’m thrilled to be co-organising this event with CNA, and I’m excited about the opportunities it will bring.

Collective Currents Conference Tickets.

The conference programme aims to provide opportunities to learn, share, and connect. From dynamic keynote speakers who will inspire us with their insights to interactive workshops that will generate thought-provoking discussions, practical tools and strategies. The conference is designed to address the pressing issues facing our communities. The panel discussions will offer a platform for exploring innovative solutions and forging new partnerships.

What makes this event even more special is the chance to engage with the many dedicated individuals and organisations that make up our network. It’s through these connections that we find new ways to collaborate and drive positive change.

In addition to our work at the conference, I’m proud of Katoa Connect Trust’s ongoing commitment to digital inclusion. We understand that access to technology and digital literacy is essential in today’s world, which is why our programmes focus on bridging the digital divide in communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.

We provide training needed to ensure everyone can confidently navigate the digital landscape. By empowering people with these skills, we’re helping to create more connected, informed, and resilient communities.Our portfolio of programmes assists learners from various backgrounds and across the country. From Kaitaia to Invercargill, we contribute to Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti communities made up of Māori, Pakeha/European, Pasifika, Migrants/Refugees, Seniors/Elderly and more. Our programmes are called Whānau Family Connect, Kaumātua Senior Connect, Hapori Connect, and Rerenga Refugee Connect.

We continually strive towards our vision:

Ka taea e tātou katoa o Aotearoa ngā kaha matihiko ki te whai wāhi i te Ao
Every person in Aotearoa has the digital capabilities to fully participate in the world

For more information: www.katoaconnect.org.nz

Dr Warren Williams
Chief Executive
Katoa Connect Trust

MUBAR! A Cautionary Tale

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 02:17:24 GMT

MUBAR – Mucked Up Beyond All Recognition!
Patrick Davies, Engagement Officers Hot Take.

What’s your plan with your organisation’s admin when the faecal matter hits the rotating blades? Well, we’ve had a couple of our Member organisations find out. In one organisation the admin person (it was a very small org.) has unfortunately passed away. The organisation, friends and whanau are in mourning and, as we know, the world does continue turning.

And, as usual, someone is there to step into the breech. But. One problem suddenly arises. Where are the passwords? Yup, the admin nightmare. As both organisations used Gmail, they found it impossible to gain access – you don’t know who the back up email is (you know, the one you can send the ‘reset password’ to). Regrettably these organisations no longer have access to all of their emails, online google documents and need to start again.

MUBAR – Mucked Up Beyond All Recognition!

What if your admin person was hit by a bus and you no longer had access to that person to ask them how to get into email, Mailchimp, SurveyMonkey, Facebook – all the 100s of applications that your organisation might be using?

Create a process of recovery, which can come in many forms –

A ‘Hit By A Bus Document’ outlines all the processes that the admin does. From how to get into the phone message to when to expect bills and from who. This is a general kind of soc that has non-secure information in it. Imagine it got left on a bus, would there be anything in there that you wouldn’t want public.
Password apps – here at CNA we use My LastPass for free. At the start of each day, I open my MyLastPass with my password and I get a window with all my applications that I can click on and open. So, my one password gets me into everything, and my boss has a sealed envelope with my password in it in case something should happen to me.
But Paddy, what if someone steals your laptop – won’t they have access.
No, they won’t. Because my big password is not saved on my laptop.
Remember you should be changing your passwords every year if not 6 months. That’s why using an application can help, as it randomises your passwords and also updates them at the same time.

So have a sit down with you folk and look at what you would lose if they fell off the planet. Then set about putting in place ways to recover form that.

It’s like insurance – hopefully you will never need to use it; but when you do you will!

Taking Over the Helm - Holly Snape, Acting Executive Director

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 02:03:50 GMT

Holly Snape, Acting Executive Officer, Community Networks Aotearoa/

Chief Executive, Community Waikato.

Tena koutou katoa,

I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself and to give a brief update on where we are at with Community Networks Aotearoa. I am Holly Snape, the Chief Executive at Community Waikato, and I have been the chair of Community Networks Aotearoa. As Ros is on extended medical leave for 6 months, I will be acting as Executive Officer (EO) for CNA for that period.

Community Networks Aotearoa has been very well led by Ros Rice. She has ensured that our organisation is a resilient and well networked organisation. This leaves us in a positive position to continue our projects and our provision of support to our members around the country. In terms of my own background, I have lived in Kirikiriroa Hamilton since my university days in the 90’s. I completed a master’s degree in Sociology before starting my first job managing a Community House. My career has been based in the For Purpose sector, in community development, management of community organisations and capacity strengthening for the sector. I also enjoy varied roles in governance on local and national non-profit boards and committees.

In my spare time I enjoy dog training, cooking and social events (particularly if they involve dogs and/or food). In my role as Chief Executive of Community Waikato, I lead a team of highly talented individuals who work hard to build the capacity and capability of non-profit organisations in the Waikato region to enhance community impact. Our team connects people, brokers relationships and encourages our sector to collaborate. We have a team who work directly with communities, marae, organisations and groups to support their visioning, planning, governance, operations, policy policies and processes.

Community Waikato also offers opportunities for learning through training and professional development. We are an advocate for the sector, and we are fund managers for the Tindall Foundation. We support networks and assist the sector and organisations to collaborate. Our work focuses on opportunities to create change, development for the sector and greater impact for our communities in the Waikato/Tainui region. I am looking forward to working more closely with our Community Networks Aotearoa team and am available should any of our members want to reach out.

Ngā mihi nui,

Holly

Tips for Reviewing Your Constitution Pt.3

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:56:50 GMT

A Number of Small Steps for Your Organisation –
One Giant For Leap For Constitutional Kind

And we’re back. What better way to assist you in your Constitution Cartography than to let you in on what we did, and how we worked to make the process as transparent and understandable as possible for our Membership.

Rather than recreate it here, Dan has created a cool constitution webpage on our site to show you the steps: the whys, the wheres, and the hair-pulling involved in our 8-month journey. Our Executive Committee created a Subcommittee to take care of the details.

Our Executive Committee is from across the Motu, and most are General Managers of their organizations, so keep in mind getting your governance peeps all together for a kōrero can take longer than you think. Especially when a really good discussion and revision is happening.

Hopefully, that makes things a little clearer. Remember that HERE are some great articles on the changes you’ll need to make sure are included from our good friends at Parry Field Lawyers – a very special thanks to them and to Steven Moe for permission to link up.

They have great recordings of aspects of the Incorporated Society Act requirements (and wonderful resources on the Charities Amendment Act too!).

July - Newsletter Entry, Ros Rice

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:36:56 GMT

One year on from the launch of banking research

It’s hard to believe that one year out from releasing our in-depth research report on the challenging world of banking for NPFs, “Better Banking: Creating Ease of Banking for the Not-for-Profit Sector”, we’re facing the withdrawal of services to non-profits from the SBS.

  https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/350292100/sbs-bank-accused-betraying-long-term-customers  

Grey Power Southland seniors advocate Stephnie de Ruyter is not happy with the SBS Bank’s treatment of not-for-profit organisation customers.
ROBYN EDIE / SOUTHLAND TIMES

This is not only in Southland, but we are fielding calls from other parts of New Zealand too about the SBS.

It’s interesting because in this year, I have had more than one Bank staff member tell me that “Banks don’t really like NGOs, as we create lots of work, and they don’t make any money out of us.”

I positively shudder with frustration when I hear this oft-repeated rubbish. These bank staff just refuse to look at the big picture. They refuse to understand how much money is in our sector; they refuse to see how much this sector contributes to GDP, (I don’t think they care about that); and they refuse to acknowledge that there is a thing called Social Licence.

If they are not interested in social licence at some point, won’t we all walk away from them? What is the point of trying to negotiate an important human function like having somewhere to bank our money, if the other party isn’t interested?

I wonder if banks realise the guy standing in front of them banking for a school rugby club could be a financial advisor in a major corporate. I wonder if they consider the effects of their decision to treat him poorly and how it will influence his decisions? (I really know someone in this position.)

So, the question is, what to do? I have forwarded information about this abhorrent behaviour of the SBS to the Reserve Bank and the Financial Markets Authority, but to really kick up a fuss, everyone who has received this letter, needs to talk to their local MP and tell him/her how you feel. I am serious here. If you don’t take this to your local MP your opportunity to get any traction is virtually nil. Make a fuss guys!

And if you need to move your account, contact First Credit Union, who can provide on-line bespoke banking for NGOs. They will happily sign you up. As this is on-line, you can’t bank cash, but that’s another story. You can do everything else, including proving identity on-line.

Contact Sarah Angell: 07 8344780 community@firstcu.co.na

The withdrawal of banking services to non-profits is not merely a financial inconvenience; it directly impacts the sector's ability to function effectively. We must unite, raise our voices, and advocate for the fair treatment and supportive banking environment we deserve.

June Newsletter Entry - Ros & Patrick Journals

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 02:11:42 GMT

Ros Rice, Executive Officer June Journal Entry

You might think we’re early with conference information, but trust me, we’re not! We want to give you ample time to book flights and accommodation, discuss with your governance group, and encourage some of them to attend too. We also want to ensure you have time to apply for the Early Bird special and review our incredible program.

We want to take the time to encourage you to join us. Face-to-face opportunities are rare these days, and we all need them. Things are changing so rapidly, and we need to hear what’s going on and discuss it with each other. I want to highlight two presentations and a workshop that are particularly exciting.

One of our presentations is from Julian Moore, who will be zooming in from Brisbane, Australia. If you’re a long-term member, you might remember Julian from our West Auckland conference back in 2008. He traveled from Australia to present on sponsorship, but his focus has since shifted. Julian, once an Australian Sponsorship guru, is now an Australian AI expert. He will discuss the hot topic of AI and non-profits, demonstrating practical ways to use AI to simplify your work. He will also take those tricky questions at the end.

We also have Gordon Noble-Campbell discussing why Return on Investment (ROI) matters for non-profits. Recently, there’s been discussion about Mike King’s Gumboot Charity, which received $24 million by claiming that every dollar invested provided the government with a social return of $5.70. This isn’t new; back in around 2004, the NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations conducted research via Price Waterhouse Cooper, showing that for every dollar the government paid non-profits, they received a return of $5 to $7. Gordon will speak about how ROI can demonstrate value to stakeholders. Gordon is the Chairperson of the NZ Amateur Sports Association and a senior staff member at Forsyth Barr. This will be a fascinating session.

Lastly, I want to talk about an important workshop by Robbie Taylor from the Reserve Bank. The issue for discussion is ‘The Future of Cash in New Zealand’. This topic is generating a lot of discussions. Can we still use cash at banks? What about shops that no longer accept cash? What is the future of cash in New Zealand and worldwide? This issue is very close to the people many of us work with in our communities. Will cash continue to be used, and if not, how will our people survive? Robbie will provide commentary and answers to many of these questions. This is a workshop not to be missed!

And that’s only three sessions. I suggest bringing at least two people to our conference so you can split up, as it will be hard to choose between workshops. Don’t forget the great dinner on Thursday night. Get your registrations in next week, because numbers are limited.

Usual Suspects
Patrick Davies, Engagement Officers Hot Take.

Ugh, conferences… am I right? People get up and chat about the usual things – funding, poverty, ‘thought leaders’... What’s the point?

Community: whether it be ‘misery loves company’ or ‘a trouble shared is a trouble halved’, can sometimes not be enough to motivate. And why should it? We spend a lot of time bashing our heads against a wall – (it’s usually called ‘resilience’) – and not enough time stopping.

A conference can be a much-needed break in the routine, as essential as a holiday. Think about it: there are many similarities. You have to organize transport and accommodation – what can I afford? How am I getting from the airport to the hotel (how do I find one that’s cheap but not horrible?). What am I going to do when I get there to get a break? Even holidays can be exhausting. But once you’re there, you realize that you wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

So, how do you get a break at a conference?

Let me tell you about lungs – very handy organs. They breathe in and breathe out. As a ‘sometime asthmatic’, I can tell you how panicky it can get when all you can do is not breathe out. Short, gaspy breaths clamoring for oxygen while trying to imagine your lungs are pretty balloons, capable of deflating... think it, think it, think it...

At work, your mahi is shared by you and your team (if you have one), and a lot of that requires constant output from you. Even headbanging is at your own energy expense; no one helps you by slamming your head into the wall. You’re still burning your own calories. A conference is a time for others to talk at you so that their ideas come to you, rather than you having to reach for them. Those that don’t apply can easily be batted away or inspected to see if there’s any ‘kinder surprise’ that might actually work for you.

People sit around you and korero; new perspectives as well as old ones might inspire something. This could happen while you wait for a session, over a morning cuppa, lunch, or dinner. “Change is as good as a holiday” – being in a different location may lead you to have space to think, rather than your usual office or rooms. It’s well known that rearranging a room in your house can lift you up; so why not rearrange your working days at a conference?

Sharing issues can lead to solutions; hearing issues may lead to you offering something. That’s why this conference is collective; that’s why it’s current – we’re having it when we all have something to say, to give, to receive, and, most importantly, to thrive together.

You are not alone. Let our conference remind you of the support, warmth, and hope.

Member Spotlight - KŌ Kollective

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 23:35:25 GMT

Welcome back to another edition of our Community Networks Aotearoa Member Spotlight. Today we’re taking a moment to introduce the KŌ Kollective, an incredible social enterprise dedicated to fostering the dreams, activation, and actualization of the Ōpōtiki community.

First things first, where is Ōpōtiki?

Nestled in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Ōpōtiki is one of Aotearoa’s hidden gems. This lively town of 9,000 people is surrounded by pristine beaches and untouched native forests. It holds historical significance too as one of the first places where Māori settled from Polynesia roughly 800 years ago.

A Legacy of Empowerment

KŌ Kollective's journey is deeply intertwined with the history and values of the Māori Women's Welfare League, an organization renowned for its commitment to nurturing and uplifting Māori women and their whānau. This legacy serves as the foundation upon which KŌ Kollective builds its initiatives, ensuring that the principles of support, empowerment, and community service remain at the forefront of their efforts.

Community-Centric Services

KŌ Kollective offers a diverse range of services designed to meet the unique needs and aspirations of the Ōpōtiki community. These services are rooted in the belief that every individual deserves the opportunity to realize their highest potential. Whether it's through educational programs, health and wellness initiatives, or social support services, KŌ Kollective is committed to creating pathways for personal and collective growth.

Some of their services include:

He Tirohanga Pae Ora – Community Kōrero: A regular kōrero for sharing ideas, and insights which the KŌ Kollective put into action.

He Pou Pae Ora - A Thriving Primary School: He Pou Pae Ora is about creating nurturing future leaders who can make positive changes within the school and the Ōpōtiki Community.

Rongao & Mirimiri – A Safe Space for Conversation: For those facing challenges in their lives, Rongoa is a safe space of conversation, reflection and guided self-change. Mirimiri is how the KŌ Kollective work with the community to help them find their way.

Kaumatua – Wellbeing: A place for community members to come together, enjoy each other’s company and improve oranga.

The Power of Whānau

By prioritising the well-being of whānau, KŌ Kollective creates a ripple effect that extends throughout the community. When families are supported and empowered, they, in turn, contribute positively to the broader social fabric, creating a stronger, more resilient community.

A big shoutout to the KŌ Kollective for all the incredible mahi they do.

Learn more about the KŌ Kollective on their website, be sure to follow them on Facebook & Instagram.

Tips for Reviewing Your Constitution Pt.2 – Restore or Rebuild Entirely?

Tue, 07 May 2024 00:04:45 GMT

Hey Kiwi non-profit superheroes, here’s another take on getting your governance document in ship shape condition.

I’m going to call this the ‘Slash and Burn’ or ‘Adapt’? approach. The updating of your constitution is the perfect time to look at it’s fitness, and that will give you a pretty good indication of what your next steps on the road to re-registration. We’d also suggest that you create a sub-committee to get through all of the work – it may slow down the process as you try to get people together outside of work hours, but as it’s a fundamental document – it’s best to get it as right as possible.

Approach One: Adapt!

Here at CNA we used the opportunity to update language, correct misspellings and formulate the formatting at the same time. We decided, since our constitution is pretty robust already and is still very much what we are about, to edit and update. This means making sure that we knew what we were required to add in or change. View our handy-dandy one-pager on what those legal eagle aspects are.

Then working out how to put that into our constitution, here’s an example. When looking at who can and can’t be an officer (i.e., on the committee) of CNA, there is a long list in the Act. By creating the following clause and referring to the Act we let the legislation do all the talking for us.

“Rule 7. (e) Those being selected must meet the qualifications set out in section 47 of the Act (or ensure this is complied with in another way), namely that the officer is a natural person who has consented in writing to be an officer, and also certifies they are not disqualified from being elected or appointed or otherwise holding office under section 47(3).”

We’re putting our Constitution on our Incorporated Societies Law Update Page and this versions has all of our changes highlighted. PLEASE NOTE: This is specific to our constitution and is NOT legal advice – just what we did, though we did have a lawyer look it over, it is specific to our changes.

Approcah Two: Slash & Burn!

One option is to start again. And this may even be easier than you think. The NZ Companies Office has a ‘ Constitution Builder ’ that is very helpful and easy to use. You don’t have to finish it in one session – all you need to do is save it. Once you get started it will let you pick and choose generic clauses as you build a new constitution.

There are:

Mandatory Clauses – These you MUST have.

Recommended Clauses – Not mandatory but you would be well advised to include them (if appropriate).

Optional Clauses – As the name suggests. You’d be advised to have a good think to see if any of these are useful and/or relevant to your organisation.

One VERY BIG THING to remember – look to your organisation’s future, a good constitution is general enough to allow your governance body leeway to manoeuvre AND tight enough to ensure transparent and good governance practices.

However you start your journey – please feel free to get in touch if you need some casual advice (remember we aren’t lawyers!); or you might want to check with your local Community Law Centre to see if they may offer advice.

Happy Building!

May Newsletter Entry - Ros & Patrick Journals

Mon, 06 May 2024 23:48:41 GMT

Ros Rice, Executive Officer May Journal Entry

Kia ora, so the staff here at CNA have been working very hard on planning for our October conference. I want to encourage you, your members, and your Boards to attend this event – it's going to be an incredible conference full of inspiring speakers, workshops, connection and actionable insights. Mark your calendars! We'd hate for you to miss out. Some of the highlights include a… well, you’ll just have to wait a little longer until we reveal all.

We can say that we will have some politicians – who you ask? I can’t say… just yet. But let’s just say we have some great questions to ask them.

We can say that we have some international guests – who? Again, we can’t say… just yet. But let’s just say in Seattle there’s someone who provides some serious blogging on NFP matters.

Let’s just add in Sydney there’s someone at the front of taming AI as a tool for our use. The whole conference is action -packed with great speakers and workshop leaders ready to amaze, inspire, and reinvigorate you.

The other big deal of course is the State of the Sector survey. This is a vitally important piece of research, and we really want to encourage you to take 20 minutes to fill it out. To sweeten the deal, you should know that we are giving our petrol vouchers to some lucky survey filler-outers. Everyone needs some help with their petrol these days.

Preparing myself for the busy next few months, I am going on leave for 2 weeks. I hope you are all healthy and looking after yourselves for those long winter months. Times are tough right now, and I think I can say that Wellington is in a very low state. Shops closing and a large increase to our unemployment rate. Thinking of everyone who has lost their jobs and all those in financial hardship. You are on our minds.

Take care,

Ngā mihi,

Ros

Surfing Tsunamis
Patrick Davies, Engagement Officers Hot Take.

As you can see we’re gearing up to release our Conference details and an stunningly amazing Early Bird Special. Part of CNA’s kaupapa is to keep things cheap so our smaller organisations aren’t left outside looking in. Larger organisations can (usually) budget for conferences which is why we aim to provide excellent quality at our conference but not at high cost to your organisation. I mean, let’s be real – it’s always going to be a lot of money – but we do our best to keep the price as low as possible, while still presenting awesomeness.

Our Tick For Governance course is priced at $100 per person which we’re really proud of. We make the most minimal ‘profit’ off that which goes straight back into keeping the course going. We’ll also be gearing up our Tick for Governance Boards soon – so watch out for that!

Access – that’s what it’s all about. We do our best to connect our Members and the Sector as well and as efficiently as we can. And that means absolutely everyone of our Collective.

Collective Currents is designed to help us come together and utilise our collective mahi to create stronger waves in our sector and with government. How do we collaborate more, support more, what are the issues, opportunities and solutions we can explore together?

Over the next 2 weeks we’ll be drip feeding you our conference content as we announce our speakers and workshops. Here’s some hints as to what to expect… we look forward to having you with us

So lets come together and create really big waves – tsunamis of purpose we can all ride together. It can be frightening, but the ride and the view is worth it.

Ngā mihi,

Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer.

Top Ten Tips for Reviewing Your Constitution Pt.1

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 03:22:13 GMT

Hey Kiwi Non-Profit superheroes! Ready to give your constitution a makeover that even the Black Ferns would envy?

This is a short series in the Network News that will look at what you need to keep in mind when updating your Constitution/Rules. It’s the perfect time to spruce up your organisations guiding document.

Later we’ll look more closely at what changes you need to be aware of and do, but for now here are ten top tips to keep in mind as you start to navigate the process:

Know the Law: First things first, familiarise yourself with the latest updates to the Incorporated Societies Act 2022. Understanding the legal requirements will ensure your constitution is compliant and up to date. You can download a one-page ‘This Is What You Need’ from our website.
Do What Your Rules Tell You To Do: Your current constitution will tell you how to change it. When do you need to send out the information to your members? What is the information you need to include? Start with a date for the SGM/AGM and work backwards. How do you write the remits?
Take Your Time: Once CNA started the process, it took us just over a year to do. This is because our Executive Committee are busy people and working through the constitution needs focus and discussion to ensure it is ‘fit for purpose’.
Simplify, Simplify, Simplify: Streamline your constitution by removing any outdated or redundant clauses. Keep it clear, concise, and easy to understand for everyone involved. It’s a great opportunity to make sure it’s in plain English. We used the opportunity to correct spelling, grammar, and formatting.
Let the Legislation Do the Walking: Several times in our constitutional changes CNA referred to the legislation. When we added our ‘Conflict of Interest’ clause we let the law do the talking for us – e.g., “9. (b) Officers of CNA must disclose, as per Section 63 of the Incorporated Societies 2022 Act, the details of…” Why do more work than you need and it also means that you can leave the definitions to the legal beagles.
Clarify Governance Structures: Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of your board members, officers, and committees. How does your board/committee vote? Who can vote? What about proxy votes?
Update Financial Procedures: Review and update your financial policies and procedures to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with the latest regulations.
Future-Proof Your Constitution: Anticipate future changes and challenges by building flexibility into your constitution. Include provisions for amendments and review processes to adapt to evolving needs. We added a glossary to define terms as well as adding that ‘written notices’ (i.e., motions, remits, etc.) may be in written or electronic form – to cover the changes in technology.
Seek Legal Advice: If you are unsure about aspects of the law we have some wonderful resources on our website , from Parry Field Lawyers. You can also check to see if your local Community Law Centre can check your changes out at one of their free law clinics.
Celebrate Your Success: Once your updated constitution is in place, celebrate your hard work and achievements as a team. Promote yourself on your social media and in your own newsletters – you’ve strengthened your organisation so why not bask in the glory!

So there you have it, ten top tips towards updating your constitution and keeping your non-profit shipshape. With a little teamwork and a lot of passion, you'll be ready to tackle any challenge that comes your way!

April Newsletter Entry - Ros & Patrick Journals

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 03:07:24 GMT

Ros Rice, Executive Officer February Journal Entry

Kia ora, Thanks for tuning in to our newsletter this month.

We are really in the swing of things with planning our biennial conference for October (24th - 25th of October 2024 at the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor in Wellington). I just want to start by saying please register early (get the early bird), and please book your flight early if you are coming here for this conference (it will save you lots of money!) We will be sending options for places to stay to you very soon.

It’s going to be an incredible conference. We have the amazing Vu Le beaming in from Seattle, and the charismatic Julian Moore connecting with us from Australia. We have already had some incredible speakers and workshop presenters confirm with us… but all that later.

In the meantime, how are you? There are so many things happening to our communities at the moment. In Wellington there are many anxious people waiting to hear about their projects and programmes, or even if they will continue to have a job. Last week I had a meeting with the Hon Louise Upston. She is an intelligent woman who really listens, and it was a constructive meeting. Yes, things are going to get tough, but we knew that. This meeting I was accompanied by Nikki Hurst, CEO of the NZ Council of Christian Social Services and Nicola Nation CEO of the Akina Foundation. I really like going to meetings with others working in and for the sector -- together I believe we can have broader conversations with Politicians that really make an impact.

It's a busy old time and we are all thinking about the upcoming Budget. Cross fingers that we can cope with the decisions that come out of that. We are here thinking of you all.

Wishing you all the best this month,

Ngā mihi,

Ros

Fantastic Feats & Where to Find Them
Patrick Davies, Engagement Officers Hot Take.

Ever wonder why filling out those little forms can make a big difference? Well, buckle up because we're about to dive into the wonderful world of surveys and why they're the unsung heroes of advocacy!

Picture this: you're sipping your morning coffee, scrolling through your inbox, and there it is—another survey invitation. Sure, it might seem like a small task, but trust me, it packs a punch! Your opinions, your experiences—they're like golden nuggets of insight that can shape the future of not-for-profits everywhere. Think about it. When we crunch those numbers and analyse your feedback, we're not just collecting data. We're uncovering stories, painting pictures, and building bridges between people and causes. With each survey filled, we're one step closer to understanding the needs of our communities and making a real, tangible difference.

And hey, let's not forget the power of numbers! When armed with facts and figures, we empower the sector to become unstoppable advocates. We can confidently walk into boardrooms, offices; shake up policies, and champion the causes that truly matter. So, the next time you're tempted to hit delete on that survey invite, remember: you're not just filling out a form, you're fuelling a movement!

"Many drops make a bucket, many buckets make a pond."

Your contribution, no matter how small, ripples out and creates waves of change. Which is one of the reasons we want our State of the Sector survey out there in wide Aotearoa-world as much as possible.

So, let's keep those surveys coming and keep making waves together. Your voice matters more than you know!

March Newsletter Entry - Ros & Patrick Journals

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 21:31:18 GMT

Ros Rice, Executive Officer February Journal Entry

The End of Cash?

Lately I’ve been involved with a very interesting group of people around an advisory table to the Reserve Bank. This is called the CBDC Forum. (The Central Bank Digital Currency Forum). We’ve had interesting discussions together, including one around the relevance of cash in Aotearoa.

My understanding is that just 18% of Kiwis still use cash, and that number is falling. We can spend time (and we have) talking about why this has happened. Increasing convenience of digital payments, the surge in contactless payment trends and the growth of e-commerce have all contributed to this downward trend.

However, many people keep cash in their homes in case of emergencies (technology is great but it’s known to crash!), so it’s still out there, even if it’s not in distribution. Plus, cash offers a tangible and accessible means of exchange, especially for those who may not have access to digital banking services.

The CBDC Forum is there to explore what might happen over the next 5-10 years as cash use gets less and less. There’s a lot of research out there, but my main takeaway is that although cash use is going down, the Government are not looking to replace it. Cash will still be out there and if it works for you, you can use it if you wish.

The Central Bank has been very clear that they are considering cash alternatives but they are not planning in any way to remove the option to use cash.

In answer to my initial question, the end of cash? The answer is no. At least not for the foreseeable future. My advice would be to hold onto some cash in a secret place at home too, you never know when you might need it.

Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer Hot Take

Keep on Swimming!

It’s March and we’re fully underway! CNA has a lot going on, well, don’t we all. We’re not the only ones trying to achieve miracles with the difficulties attempting to drown us. In amongst all this our members can expect a call from me. It’s one of the ways we keep up with what’s going on at the coal face (we need a new term for that). There’s the usual check that we have your up-to-date contact details, but its more about the chat. We’d like to know what your 2024 is going to look like.

This enables us to find out who has similar problems and maybe some similar solutions. Hopefully we can connect you with like-minded organisations. At the least we can see what common issues are rising for everyone in this sector. This is how we ended up creating the Tick for Governance course – which over 900 people have completed or are currently going through. It’s a fantastic way to get everyone on your governance body on the same page. The course also gives you a micro credential which shows funders that you’re strengthening the organisation’s skills.

It also led to the development of our Better Banking project and to the extremely successful research that produced the Better Banking Report. There has been an awesome response, not only from sector organisations, but also some varying groups and interested parties in the financial sector. Has anyone else noted that, since the beginning of the year, a number of banks are now providing better online information for Incorporated and Non-Incorporated societies and Trusts? Weird how that happened, eh!

With the survey on the State of the Sector opening soon you’ll have yet another way to effect change – we all know how the Beehive likes stats. Whether they listen or not is up to them, and it is always a positive experience being backed up by the numbers – those are hard to argue against. Not to mention there’s the chance to win a petrol voucher if you contribute.

So, we really hope you’re all on board to fill out the survey in amongst all the other mahi you’re achieving. The Tick for Governance course, The Better Banking Report, the State of the Sector Survey, and our members having a chat with us are all waka on the surface of the sector. They carry our mahi forward and onto better horizons.

Thanks for getting on board!

New Member: Welcome to The 20/20 Trust

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 21:16:49 GMT

Welcome back to another edition of our Community Networks Aotearoa Member Spotlight!

Today we’re taking a moment to welcome and spotlight our newest addition to the CNA whānua, 20/20 Trust.

20/20 Trust is an organisation that partners with digitally-excluded communities to deliver digital skills training. Their mahi aims to create a level playing field where everyone can benefit from the advantages of technology, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Why is digital inclusion important?

In an increasingly digital age, nearly everything from services to commerce and government interactions has migrated online. This shift encompasses crucial tasks like passport applications, tax filing, and accessing pension records. Consequently, individuals without online access find themselves at a growing disadvantage.

According to 20/20 Trust:

20% of adults in Aotearoa lack the essential digital skills needed to use the internet safely and effectively.
130,000 households don’t have access to the internet at home.
216,000 households can’t afford internet that meets their needs.
64% of households don’t have a fibre connection installed.
There is a current inequity in technology accessibility, knowledge and training across the country.

This is where 20/20 comes into play. They offer a range of programmes to support digital inclusion, including Whānau Family Connect , Kaumātua Senior Connect , Hapori Community Connect and Rerenga Refugee Connec t.

The four pillars of digital inclusion that sit at the core of all 20/20 Programmes;

Access: Access to affordable digital devices and access to affordable internet where people live, work and play.
Skills: Confidence and competence with knowing how to use digital devices and the internet.
Motivation: Understanding how the internet and digital technology can help us connect, learn or access opportunities.
Trust: Having the digital literacy skills to avoid scams, harmful communication and misleading information to stay safe online.

Trust Chief Executive, Dr Warren Williams, has expressed enthusiasm about joining as a CNA Member.

“Membership of CNA aligns seamlessly with the Trust's vision to promote digital inclusion in Aotearoa New Zealand by leveraging community-based partnerships for digital skills training and advocacy.

“This affiliation not only fosters meaningful connections now with many more regional community organisations but also enhances our ability to advocate our digital equity priorities at governmental and business levels.”

New Member: Welcome to the Salvation Army

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 02:37:11 GMT

Today, we are pleased to formally welcome the Salvation Army into the Community Networks Aotearoa family, having become a member late last year. The Salvation Army is an organization that has been steadfast in its commitment to caring for people, transforming lives, and reforming society for over a century. Let’s take a deeper look into who the Salvation Army are, and what they’re all about.

A Rich Legacy of Compassion

The Salvation Army's journey began with a mission to make a difference, and over the years, they have become synonymous with compassion and change. Helping more than 120,000 individuals annually, the Salvation Army's impact is felt across various sectors, from financial mentoring to providing essential resources like food, clothing, and household goods. Their reach extends to early childhood centres, counselling services, life skills programs, youth services, transitional and social housing, addiction support, and even prisoner reintegration services.

Community Collaboration Across Oceania

With a dedicated team of over 6000 officers, employees, and volunteers, the Salvation Army operates not only in New Zealand but also extends its services to Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. In times of emergency, they stand as one of the vital providers relied upon to deliver food, clothing, and psychosocial support. Their network of trained chaplains and community workers is always ready to step up when the community needs them the most.

Advocating for Social Change

Beyond immediate assistance, the Salvation Army is committed to long-term social change. Their Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit actively works towards eradicating poverty by influencing policies and practices that strengthen New Zealand's social fabric. Collaborating with other community organizations, they focus on anticipating and filling gaps in government delivery, embodying the spirit of disruptors of broken social systems.

Insights that Inspire Action

One of the hallmarks of the Salvation Army is its commitment to transparency and advocacy. Each year, they deliver the State of the Nation and State of our Communities reports, offering invaluable insights into key issues across different communities in New Zealand. With a global perspective, their international parent organization mandates a focus on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, and gender equity, underlining their dedication to social justice.

Connecting Hearts, Creating Change

As the Salvation Army joins CNA, we extend our heartfelt welcome. Their legacy of compassion and dedication to creating positive change align seamlessly with the values upheld by Community Networks Aotearoa. Together, we look forward to building a stronger, more resilient community.

Connect with the Salvation Army

Website: Salvation Army NZ
Facebook: Salvation Army NZFTS
Instagram: @salvationarmynzfts

Up Next: Member Spotlight - Tararua Rural Education Activities Program (Tararua REAP)

February Newsletter Entry - Ros Rice, Executive Officer

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 23:07:16 GMT

Ros Rice, Executive Officer February Journal Entry

Kia ora everyone, thank you for reading our latest newsletter.

Well, it’s a new year and a new government, and we all know that means things will change. I want to talk about change for a moment. Here is some advice on how to cope with change.

Learn to accept what has happened. Acceptance can really help.
Pace yourself, if you can.
Ask for help. Don’t forget CNA is here for you.
Look for new opportunities. You never know what may come up, and you think “YES! We can do this.”
Have a strategy for dealing with stress. If stress is coming, be prepared for it. Look after yourself.
Plan ahead. If you suspect something is going to happen, be prepared to go into the “this is our plan B mode”.
Try and keep some normalcy. If you can maintain regular routines both for you and your colleagues, that will help.

Stress can mount slowly, and you may not realise you are feeling it. Notice what your colleagues are saying around you. Also, eat well, exercise and get enough sleep. That will always help you through.

In other news, CNA is already working on projects for this year. I hope you saw the press release we sent out in cooperation with Amateur Sport New Zealand! I think it will be an uphill battle, but we really want to try and change the compliance hell we have all fallen into. I do hope you support us.

Don’t forget this is conference year. We are already in the process of organising this. Please make sure you have money set aside so at least one of you can come to Wellington for our conference. (It will be in mid to late October.)

I have so much else to tell you, but next month might be a further conversation about this year.

Ngā mihi,

Ros

Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer February Hot Take! - Would You Like to Change a Law?

First off happy new/lunar year! I’ve got a question: Would you like to change a law?

I do. Now, right at the top I do have to say that this is not part of what CNA is doing. I’m kind of going rogue on this one. But having spent 3+ years here, (where did that time go?) I’ve become more engaged and more knowledgeable about parliament and the goings-on there. There’s always been one issue that has bugged me from the moment I realised it. And I found out that there’s something I might be able to do about it. So, this is a little project just for me, and for the hundreds of thousands it affects out there.

I want to change the laws around Labour Day.

This is the one day a year that is specifically there to celebrate workers, and to give them a day off. But we all know what happens – multinational corporations which have extremely healthy bottom lines have sales. Huge Sales. Labour Day Sales. And who persons the stores? That’s right – the workers.

On a day meant to give them time off from work, a day that is not attached to any other meaning, a huge number of Kiwis are required to show up. AT WORK. There are a lot of things that make my blood boil these days as I work my way to old curmudgeon. And I have learnt to ‘Desideratafy’ most of them – you know, knowing which things I can change and letting go of the drama of the rest. But this sticks in my craw. It's also something that Aotearoa / NZ law lets me have a crack at changing.

I can petition parliament to change the laws to create similar working conditions on that day as on Christmas day, giving companies no choice but to close and give those workers back their entitlement to a day off work. Any Kiwi can petition parliament on anything – I know because I’ve watched some amazing petitions (and some, to put if frankly, daft as petitions) come before select committees and parliament.

I have gone onto the parliamentary website and filled in the beginnings of my petition. Just to reiterate, this is not part of my mahi with CNA, this is me, as a private citizen, spending time on this outside of my working hours. But to spread this message far and wide as well as give you an insight into how all this works, I’ll be blogging monthly and what I’m doing, why, and how it’s going.

I suspect I’m going to be talking to Unions, large corporations, and a whole bunch of people to hopefully enact change for 2026. Let’s see what happens!

Is Your Community Organisation Unknowingly Losing Mail List Subscribers?

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 22:04:17 GMT

Preventing Unintended Unsubscriptions for Community Organisations

Some Outlook users have reported an unusual challenge – automatic unsubscriptions from emails that find their way into the Junk folder. This means the subscription lists of many community organizations are being unintendedly shrunk. In this blog, we explore the issue and what you can do to ensure your newsletter and community emails are reaching the people you need them to be.

If you're fortunate to have access to tech support, why not invite them for a cup of tea while you navigate this issue? Alternatively, reach out to us directly for assistance!

1. Check Your Lists & Understand Your Filtering Systems:

Go into your email marketing software provider and see if unusual amounts of subscribers have unsubscribed (in your analytics section)– if they have, you might be experiencing a specific Outlook issue.
Check if you're using any third-party email filtering services or security software alongside Outlook. Sometimes, these services might be automatically unsubscribing you from emails they tag as spam. Adjust the settings accordingly.

2. Investigate Outlook Rules:

Navigate to your Outlook settings and inspect any rules you've set up. Rules can dictate actions like moving emails to the Junk folder or even unsubscribing from certain senders. Ensure your rules align with your preferences.

3. Embrace Outlook's Sweeping Features:

The 'Sweep' feature in Outlook allows you to automate actions on emails based on specific criteria. Review your sweeping rules to ensure they are not unintentionally causing Outlook to unsubscribe you from important communications.

4. Scrutinise Security Settings:

Outlook prioritises your security, and sometimes it might automatically take action against potentially harmful emails. Check your security settings and tweak them if necessary, ensuring they don't interfere with your desired subscriptions.

5. Mark Legitimate Emails:

If genuine emails end up in your Junk folder, mark them as "Not Junk" or move them to your inbox. This helps Outlook learn and adapt, reducing the chances of legitimate emails being treated as spam in the future.

6. Seek Professional Assistance:

If the issue persists, reaching out to Microsoft Support can provide tailored guidance for your specific account and configuration. They can offer insights and solutions to keep your Outlook experience seamless.

Our organisation has also been suffering from this challenge. If you received an email confirming that you have been unsubscribed from the Community Networks Aotearoa mailing list, please resubscribe here! https://www.communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz/ (go to the footer and enter details). If you don’t see an email but want to double check, you can resubscribe, and we’ll add you back if you’ve been removed.

Suffering from other issues? Reach out and let us know!

2023 Mahi Highlights - Community Networks Aotearoa.

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 22:57:18 GMT

Reflecting on a Remarkable Year: CNA's Journey in 2023!

We thought we’d take a moment to reflect on all the incredible mahi that our team has worked on throughout the year. From big research projects to Parliamentary submissions, to Huis and trainings — it’s been a huge year for us here at CNA.

We’d like to thank our members and the wider community for coming along with us on this journey in supporting one of the most crucial sectors in Aotearoa. As the year winds down, we encourage you to take a proper break from your mahi, spend time with friends and whānau and recharge your batteries so that you can start the new year feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

2023 Recap, a snapshot of what we got up to this year.

Better Banking Launch
2023 was the year we launched “Better Banking for All - Creating Ease of Banking for the Not-For-Profit Sector”. The first-of-its-kind research shed light on the significant challenges faced by small to mid-sized Not-for-Profit organisations when dealing with banks. It aimed to explore potential strategies for improving banking services and addressing the specific needs of community organisations, allowing them to focus more on their valuable work.

Hui23 'Food for Thought' - Members Hui
On Friday 18th August, nearly 40 members on CNA gathered in person at our biennial Membership Hui – the first in quite some time. It was a wonderful day of connection, conversation and networking. Just a friendly reminder, our Membership Hui occurs every two years, as the alternating years and reserved for our comprehensive conference. Looking forward to the upcoming year, I encourage you to allocate the necessary resources in your 2024 planning for our approaching conference. Stay tuned for more updates and keep an eye on your inboxes, It’s an event not to be missed!

Wellington Network Summit on Flooding Response Collaboration

On the 1st March 2023, Community Networks Aotearoa, Presbyterian Support Services and Citizens Advice Bureau hosted the Wellington Network Summit on Flooding Response Collaboration. This was an opportunity for National Community Organisations in Wellington to come together, and discuss the most meaningful and impactful ways to provide support to those worse affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Keep in the loop here

Welcome 2023 New Members!
A very warm welcome to our new CNA members who joined us in 2023. We have welcomed 26 new members during the year, both Associates and Full members.

Full members: Midlands Sexual Assault Support Services; Mums4Mums; NZ Association of Counsellors; Parent Help; Salvation Army; Salvation Army; WĀI Wanaka; Hamilton Hearing Association /Te Kahui Rongo o Aotearoa; The Loft Community Wellbeing Services Ki Te Tihi and Environmental Hubs Aotearoa.

Associate Members: Awhi Charitable Trust; Brain Injury Waikato; Good Neighbour Aotearoa Trust; Māngere Budgeting services Trust; Men and Trauma Trust; Pou Herena Tai Twin Cycle trail; SuperGrans Incorporated; Presbyterian Support South canterbury; Rural Youthland Adult Literacy Trust; Te Whare Putea Trust; Wish Trust; Marakite Online Trust of NZ; Ngawai Whanau Charitable Trust; Family & Financial Solutions Trust; KŌ Collective and Mentoring NZ.

2023 Member Spotlights ��

Meri Kirihimete!

Time to kick back, soak up some sun, and enjoy good times with friends and whānau. Wishing you a restful break, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. See you in 2024, there’s a lot in store that we look forward to sharing with you!

Ngā mihi, CNA.

Ros Rice - December Journal Entry

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 02:23:39 GMT

Thank you for reading our latest newsletter!

Kia ora Everyone,

Here we are at the end of 2023. I know by the time you read this, we have a coalition deal, and we know the form of the new Government. A new Government is going to mean a lot of new things to get used to. I remember last time National came into Government, a lot of our language had to change. Several of us from the 'Wellington world' travelled around the motu, to teach about the new terms and the new attitudes we needed to understand.

I remember how difficult it was for us to change calling our clients ‘ customers’. Yet we coped, we managed, we are adaptable and we can get with the programme when we need to.

CNA will try and keep you up to date if we hear of any new terms that we all need to be aware of during the next year. This brings me to something that has come up with our research into banks. We have heard of a lot of Incorporated Societies who are considering changing to Trusts. We just want to highlight two issues that you may not have thought of.

When you are a Trust with an appointed Board, you will not be as representative of your members as you used to be. That may change how your community thinks about you, so just be aware of that change of representation.
Due to the Anti-money laundering Act, any organisation (whether you have been part of your Bank for years or not), who calls itself a Trust, will come under what is called Enhanced Customer Due Diligence (or ECDD). The requirements of ECDD are that the Bank is required to:

Obtain identity proof of all those on your Governance Board, and also staff who handle the bank account.
To identify and verify the arrangements to know who are the beneficial owner(s) so that they can make decisions about the level of risk your Trust presents.
Banks will ask about your “source of wealth”. That is the origin of your entire body of assets. The origin of the funds used for transactions or activities. We know of a Community Library that was asked for proof of how they funded all the library books. (although this was a bit extreme. It can happen.)
Banks will also want to know about your “source of funds”. You will need to provide proof.

There are other measures too. But this is simply so you are prepared for a different trip to the Bank than you are used to if you change your legal entity to a Trust. Take a deep breath and understand that Banks are required by legislation to take these measures if you are a Trust. Just take things one step at a time.

On that note have a very happy Christmas. Here after such a busy year, we are all very tired, and I plan to sleep the holidays away. Do what you need to for yourself, and come back refreshed and relaxed for a new 2024.

Looking for an Affordable and High-Quality Auditor?

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:40:26 GMT

Here at Community Networks Aotearoa, we were sad when our current auditor retired. It’s hard work for auditors. The legal requirements they have to meet now, are complex and time consuming. For us non-profits it becomes a really big issue. The question of where do you find an auditor who will do the job required by Government legislation, that you can afford? One of our member groups was notified of a change from $11,000 to $33,000 in one year! This sort of thing is simply not sustainable.

Community Networks Aotearoa, had to find an affordable and quality auditor. So then our Board made a few decisions. Firstly our income means we can have an audit, or a financial review. Because we had audit in our constitution, we had just kept getting audits, but if our Service Performance review requires a financial review, why don’t we do that? We changed our constitution to “an audit OR a financial review”.

The next step was finding someone to do this work for us. We got quotes from many firms including those who are ‘non-profit friendly’. But the quotes were always extremely expensive. What to do?

Then we heard about Charity Integrity Audit Ltd, and yes this is an unashamed promotion of this firm because they were so good, and we want to share about them. Firstly this is a totally on-line audit firm. So you have to do your bit, and have all your information on-line and sorted out. They can’t review you on-line if you haven’t supplied them with your information in a timely manner. But to be honest, our financial review was better than our previous audits. They found things we needed to address that had never been picked up before, they did our review quickly and thoroughly and for a really good price. Check them out if you are on the search.

The below table is an indication of average prices. Audit fees quoted may vary after they do a diligence on prior year reporting, risks, management issues, and the level of accounting control.

SMALL                                  MEDIUM                             LARGE

TOTAL INCOME:                $200,000 TO $550,000                  $550K TO $1.1MIL           $1MIL TO $5MIL

Review Fee:                          $1,400 - $2,000                                $2,400 to $3,200             n/a mandatory audit

Audit Fee:                         $2,200 - $3,500                                $3,500 - $4,500                 $4,500 - $7,000

Contact Information:

Charity Integrity Audit
PO Box 217-125
Botany Hub 2013
East Tamaki Auckland.

Peter Conaglen
Director at Charity Integrity Audit Ltd
Mobile: (027) 568-2538
Email: peter@charityaudit.nz

November Newsletter Entry - Ros Rice, Executive Officer

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:24:36 GMT

Thank you for reading our latest newsletter.

We are heading into a new Government and for many of you, this might be a frightening prospect. However, I want to try to reassure you. More conservative politicians still are human beings, and during the last National led Government we often heard the term Compassionate Conservatives.

I would like to believe that the constant theme of ‘smaller Government’ means that they understand the importance of supporting our sector to do what we do best. Provide services for our communities and those in unfortunate situations. If we are resourced properly to do this, we can take that essential work off Government and in most cases, do it better than any agency in Wellington.

All we need is the resource support and respect from our new Government. I think this idea of supporting us to do the work, we are already doing, (but with sufficient resources) fits perfectly with the ideals of a centre-right government, and I look forward to having positive and welcome conversations with our MPs on this idea.

It was Paula Bennett, after all, who instituted the Community Response Fund after the World Financial Crisis hit us all, and she put a lot of effort into consulting with sector people (including myself) while she was the Minister of Social Development. Let’s hope we see another enlightened Minister in that role, and we are able to work together for everyone’s benefit.

Ngā mihi,

Ros Rice, Executive Officer

Member Spotlight - Tararua Rural Education Activities Program (Tararua REAP)

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 01:29:01 GMT

Welcome back to another edition of our Community Networks Aotearoa Member Spotlight!

In this blog, we’re highlighting Tararua Rural Education Activities Program (Tararua REAP), who make a real difference in the rural community by delivering and supporting all sectors of education including early childhood, schools, youth, tertiary and adult education. Let’s take a look at Tararua REAP’s history, people, mission and mahi.

Where It All Started

Tararua REAP was formed in 1982 (initially under the name of Southern Hawkes Bay REAP). Tararua REAP Incorporated is one of thirteen REAPs established in the late 1970s, and is a “First Stop Education Shop” which provides educational services. The purpose of REAPs is to advance community development through quality, lifelong education initiatives in rural Aotearoa.

REAPs in Aotearoa are part of a unique system – no other country in the world provides a system specifically to support rural and provincial communities to fill lifelong gaps in learning. Tararua REAP operates within the Tararua area from Woodville in the south to Norsewood in the north, and from the ranges in the west to the coast in the east.

A Brief Deep Dive into Tararua History

The Tararua area is renowned for its breathtaking mountain ranges, from where views extend both to the South Island and as far north as Taranaki.

Early Māori called the district of Tararua – Te Tapere nui o Whatonga (or the great foodbasket of Whatonga). The first written description of Tararua was by Joseph Banks in 1769, when he viewed it from off Cape Turnagain. He wrote “the country appeared pleasant, with low, smooth hills like downs”. However, scientists and naturalists later described inland Tararua as a North Island hotspot of biodiversity of both flora and fauna in a podocarp rainforest ecosystem found nowhere else in the world.

The dense bush had been home to several varieties of moa, abundant kiwi, kākāpō, Kererū, weka and many other “Children of Tāne”, including the huia, the most royal of all Tāne’s children.

Tararua Today

Today, the Tararua community views itself as a practical, down to earth rural-based community where small-town values are celebrated. The locals appreciate and enjoy the outdoors and are proud of the beautiful natural resources and outdoor recreational opportunities available in the area.

Sheep, cattle and dairy farming is the backbone of the local economy with several large industries providing employment. Geographically, the Tararua District is characterised by a relatively small population spread over many towns and settlements. In recent years, this spread and the resulting lack of economies of scale has created challenges to maintain and keep local services and infrastructure standards.

Tararua REAP’s Mahi

Tararua REAP offer a range of services for folks in the community, including;

Education

Preschool : Tararua REAP’s Early Childhood service encourages rural families to access early childhood education for their children. They work alongside Play Centres, Kindergartens, Playgroups, Kōhanga Reo, and Childcare centres.

Youth: Tararua REAP works in Primary and Secondary mainstream schools, as well as Kura Kaupapa Māori to collaborate with educators, students and whānau for the purpose of creating lifelong learning success.

Adult and Community Education: Tararua REAP facilitate lifelong learning through a wide variety of training, workshops and courses. They listen to the needs of the community and encourage and support learning processes to engage adult learners.

Whānau Support

If you're a parent yourself, you'll understand that parenthood, while undeniably one of the most rewarding journeys, isn't always a walk in the park. It comes with its unique set of challenges and uncertainties. At Tararua REAP, they recognize the diverse needs of whānau and the intricacies of parenting, which is why they have dedicated support services available to the community.

Employment Support

Tararua REAP provide training, job placement and ongoing support to create a streamlined approach for employers and job seekers in the community.

Budget Services

Tararua REAP have dedicated financial mentors that offer free, confidential, guidance and support for anyone wanting to improve their financial situation.

We extend our gratitude to Tararua REAP for their epic mahi, and for being a valued member of Community Networks Aotearoa. The work they do is a shining example of how a community-focused organization can make a significant and positive impact on the lives of those they serve.

Connect with Tararua REAP

Up Next: Member Spotlight: Welcome to The Te Puke Hub!

October Newsletter Entry - CNA Journal By Ros & Patrick

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 02:22:02 GMT

Community Networks Aotearoa - October Journal Entries:

By Ros Rice, Executive Officer.

Me and my amazing team of two others have been talking about funding issues lately. For years and years our sector has had trouble accessing funding. We have had multitudes of solutions put in front of us. Social enterprise; funding forums; organisations trying to act as backbones for others; fundraising activities; hiring fundraisers; asking people to contribute through their bank accounts with regular payments; asking people to leave money in their wills; contracting of services; but still our sector is left always struggling to survive financially.

We are wanting to start thinking outside the box about this issue. Are there things we simply haven’t considered? Can we learn something from profit making organisations that we could put into practice? Are there place, spaces and people we could work alongside with, that enable us to grow our funding? How do our largest NGOs manage to survive financially? Have we considered a sector bank?

Just throwing out some of the questions we have posed ourselves. Do you have any ideas or thoughts? Send me an email eo@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz

Patrick's Hot Take! ��

It’s that time kia ora, Talofa…

Yup, a whole bunch of legislation will land over the next little while. The Incorporated Societies Act has begun – you can look at our webpage on what you need to do over the next 2 or so years; the Charities Amendment Act and the Financial Reporting changes all fall into place over the next 6 months with a number of changes starting in the new year.

Now, we aint no lawyers but we do know a number of very smart people in the Sector and around the Motu. CNA does its best to stay on top of all the changes and it’s a great comfort to be able to have such a plethora of excellent members who are great at sharing. One of our best resources is ourselves. CNA looks to lawyers and accountants for the finer details, but it's you who we look to for examples of employing protocols and processes that put these legislative changes into the real world.

Did you know that our Tick for Governance course is chocca-blocked with templates, policies, and examples that mainly come from our membership? Why recreate the wheel when we can share content that is road-tested already?

It's one of the ways that our membership helps us support and resource our Sector and our other members. That’s why we love it when you ring in for help or advice – because if we can’t help you, we probably know who can. Our membership is one big resource, and we’re always thrilled when we can connect you to each other to assist. Together we are stronger, together we can help.

Rebuilding a Garden | Waimarie: Hamilton East Community House

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 03:13:06 GMT

Member Spotlight!

Words & Imagery - Rob Gray Community Manager Waimarie: Hamilton East Community House

On this beautiful sunny winter’s day here in the Waikato our Community Garden looks a picture of health and vitality. Newly created plots are already home to a range of leafy green vegetables that will support the health of our community. Appropriate pruning has seen more sunlight come into the space nurturing the life of fruit trees. Friday morning is a hive of activity as our volunteers come in, receiving the instructions from Michael, our garden coordinator. They love to work hard but at morning tea we’ll hear their laughter and their sheer enjoyment at being together. Friendships have been forged among people who were struggling with loneliness. It’s beautiful and a joy to be part of.

Not long ago there was a different picture when you looked out at the garden. Covid restrictions had stemmed the flow of volunteers and the garden was languishing. An oxalis weed had taken hold and choked the vegetables. There were too many weeds, not enough light, no plan and no people. It was lifeless and we weren’t sure when life was coming back.

It’s good to remember how difficult it was. Covid-19 was frightening and for a long time we wondered if there would be any kind of normal again. We were the languishing garden. Joy and hope were being choked but, just like our garden, our collective response is what sets us free. By choosing to follow the restrictions, get the vaccines, wear our masks and limit our travels we diluted the impact of Covid-19 to the point where it doesn’t dominate our new normal. We did that.

The garden is different to what it was before the pandemic. We’re taking it in a slightly different direction. We want to make it a food forest to help address issues like food insecurity. Education is still part of it, but the learning is more hands on. Different crops have been planted and the way we’ve done our beds is different. Our current volunteer team interact in a different way to the old team. It’s a new normal and it’s good. It’s a new normal that’s been created by a group of people getting out of their comfort zones, reaching out and finding a Community House with open doors. Life is different to 2019. The need for collective action is stronger than ever and that’s a good thing. We’re hard-wired for connection so let’s get connected and make the gardens of our lives thrive.

Ngā mihi nui

Rob Gray – Manager, Waimarie: Hamilton East Community House

September Newsletter Entry - CNA Journal By Ros & Patrick

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 02:00:43 GMT

September Community Networks Aotearoa - September Journal Entries:

By Ros Rice, Executive Officer.

Kia ora Team,

On 14th October we will have the national election. It is such an important event, and I want to encourage every single one of you to make sure you vote. Lots of people say, politics isn’t interesting and it doesn’t affect me! Well, yes it does!!

Check this out: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1012362019940718

What decisions politicians make affect all of us. Examples are the increasing amount of severe weather events we and the rest of the world have been experiencing. If years and years ago when the first warnings of climate change were articulated, politicians had seriously and with determination put policies in place, maybe people would still have homes, jobs and in some places their lives.

Yes - politics have a huge effect on our everyday lives.

The next question, is who should we vote for then? It’s all so confusing! Vote for the party that best reflects your values and beliefs. How do you find out? Take a couple of minutes and check out what can help you on-line. What is a couple of minutes compared to 3 years of frustration?

Here are a couple of suggestions:

Radio New Zealand: https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/news-extras/story/2018902030/election-2023-rnz-s-guide-to-party-policy

Here is a nice easy to read guide to voting: https://vote.nz/assets/Alternate-formats-2023-General-Election-/Easy-Read-guide-to-voting.pdf

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/18/at-the-2023-election-new-zealand-will-face-the-starkest-choice-between-left-and-right-in-decades

Whatever you choose, please can I entreat you, take a walk in your neighbourhood, go on down to your local polling place, and put a couple of ticks on who you prefer. Your vote could be the difference between who does and who does not end up ruling our country.

Patrick's Hot Take! ��

Please Don't Vote. By Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer.

Please don’t vote - it’s not worth it, it just stays the same for us. No point in encouraging them.

Getting out of bed can sometimes be a hassle let alone thinking about who to vote for. Yes, there’s the websites that can ask you questions and decide which party you align with. Yes, it’s too much to listen to Chippie, Luxie, Winnie rant on about the same sh*t again and again – anyone remember how many times Key started each sentence with ‘Akshully, at the end of the day, in my opinion, most new zeellanders…’ which translates as ‘Well, here’s some words that mean I summated what I think and listened to the party line and therefore it’s true’.

Let alone the possible things that might not be really true or are just an interpretation of stats – the Huey, Dewey, Louie of Mis, Dis, and In – formation – to contend with. It feels like it depends on what ChatGPT or AI you’re listening to at the time.

Might as well not bother voting.

I mean, for our sector what can change? Its not like every person who owns a small business sees their vote as an investment, right? …right?

I like to think of voting as part of my own strategic action plan. We do it for our organisations, so why not for us? We look at the risks and plan appropriately. So why not look at the possible outcomes with the same energy and strategy?

Like any funding application, we might not get the answer we desire but we can plan for what might be able to happen should our voting be granted. And if not then most people are probably prudent enough to have a Plan B (right through to Plan AA). Probably.

The truth is that we cannot know what’s going to happen if we could what fun would that be? If we took that same sense of possible despair to voting into our planning, we’d end up a mess.

Perhaps we enjoy the ride knowing that we’ve been through so much that we’ve been taught to be frugal but fair, economic but engaging, whatever happens. It's not like we’re going to get a lot from any Government. So, let's let them get on with that while we get on with us. But we’ll still vote and encourage others who feel like we do to do so too!

Hui23 Recap: What Went Down at This Year’s Hui?

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 02:22:33 GMT

Feature by CNA team,

On Friday 18th August, nearly 40 members of CNA gathered in person at our biennial Membership Hui – the first in quite some time. It was a wonderful day of connection, conversation and networking.

Our farmers market morning sessions hosted a feast of conversations. We explored Te Tiriti partnership, celebrated co-governance successes and delved into the impact of authentic storytelling. From digital strategies to funding, evolving boards, and changing communities, it’s safe to say we left well-nourished! A special thanks to the wonderful Karen Stockman for facilitating and fostering such dynamic and supportive kōrero.

The afternoon was dedicated to laughter and learning how to take care of ourselves, with special guests and speakers. The food was delightful and the company was excellent. Executive officer, Ros Rice's personal highlight was listening to the Kiwibank 2023 ‘Local Hero’ New Zealander of the Year, Dr. Allen Joan Nelson. Her stories and leadership expertise provided a fantastic way to conclude the day.

Just a friendly reminder, our Membership Hui occurs every two years, as the alternating years are reserved for our comprehensive conference. Looking forward to the upcoming year, I encourage you to allocate the necessary resources in your 2024 planning for our approaching conference. Stay tuned for more updates and keep an eye on your inboxes, It’s an event not to be missed!

A huge thank you to our wonderful guests, speakers, and event organizers for making this year’s Hui so fantastic.

Ngā mihi maioha,

Community Networks Aotearoa

August Newsletter Entry- CNA Journal By Ros & Patrick

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 22:36:01 GMT

Community Networks Aotearoa - August Newsletter Journal Entries

By Ros Rice, Executive Officer.
Kia ora everyone, I hope you’re doing well and staying cozy during these colder months.

Firstly, I wanted to sure you know about the research that CNA has recently completed about how Banks treat their Non-For-Profit customers. You may have heard about it on social media or the news, but if you’d like to get your own copy of the report to read yourself, you can download it for free from the link in this newsletter. It’s a long read, but a very important one for those interested in improving the banking systems of NFPs.

While releasing the research was a huge milestone for us, what happens next is just important...

CNA doesn’t want to launch this research and not follow-up and take action. We want to help and work with Banks to see some changes, some real progress. Here’s a small taster of what we’re currently working on:

We plan to review Bank's websites to see if they have got clear plain English instructions for NPOs on how to do the basic tasks like changing signatures or getting onto online banking.
We hope to offer help to Banks with identifying their Golden Unicorns. (Their staff are experts at NPO banking and have the empathy to work with us.)
We are talking about Bank Changes as The Golden Trail.
We will be looking for a Bank to trial new ways of working with the Sector. (Any Banks out there interested in being the Golden Trailblazers? )
We will be looking for glossaries, checklists and Golden Unicorns from the Banks.

We will give the Banks some time to bring their procedures into order, but then we will be checking. We will be able to let you all know in 2024 what sort of response we have received from NZ’s Banks. We are yet to decide, but there is a chance that this time we will be able to name and honour the Banks who have taken us seriously and who want to work with this sector. Let’s wait and see. Hopefully, we can just say “all the Banks” have put a bit of effort into providing us with better service.

You’ll also find lots of material in our August edition’s newsletter about ways we can all do our bit towards alleviating climate change. There are little things every organisation can do. Learning how we can reduce emissions; trying to measure our carbon footprint and making a step-by-step plan to minimize waste in both big and small ways. The Climate Action Toolbox from MBIE is a great resource to get you started. If you want to send us what your NFP is doing, please do, we would love to share it with our membership.

Thank you for tuning in. Remember we are here to support your organisation, so if there is anything we can do to help, whether you’re in need of sector advice, resources or just a friendly chat, we’re all ears.

Until next time,

Ngā mihi,

Ros

Patrick's Hot Take! �� By Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer.

Be a garden. Water yourself, grow, and sometimes sprinkle a little fertiliser here and there. As we look to support and grow the world around us and make it a better place, we need to also think about our own environment. Do we really know what well-being is?

Yes, we are all stretched, and our sector is stretched, just like our environment. We have just experienced the hottest month on record, and we will continue to break that record in successive weeks and months. And then that domino will be hit by that butterfly's wing, and our office will be hot.

Hot, in the sense that there are numerous issues that need direct and urgent attention. Hot, in the sense that everyone and their emotions will be bumping into each other, and frustration is a very real weather condition in some workplaces.

We are told to take 10 minutes here and there to just chill, but do we really?

We are told to get 8 hours of sleep a night, but can we really?

We are told to drink 8 litres of water a day, but who likes water?

Well, I do. Usually, hot with caffeine. Sometimes I feel like a kid being told to eat all my vegetables.

Now I feel like I can't clean up an oil mess in the Amazon, and that can lead to anxiety about what is happening with our environment and a sense of helplessness.

What I've found is that the phrase "think globally, act locally" works just as well in my mahi. What's on my desk? What do I need to get done? Yes, I can be mindful of the world of my organization and not feel responsible for everything. I might be responsible for everything if I'm the top cat. But thinking globally helps you locally.

You've got friends outside of work who make up a part of your habitat.

You most likely have family who are part of your dwelling.

You most likely have work colleagues who are part of your island.

Just take a moment and think of these people – right now. Take a couple of moments to sit and think of each of these. Then add that you and your organisation are part of a larger ecosystem that, yes, has its predators, but also has its growers, movers, shakers, and carers. There are so many in the sector who share your worries and also share your load. You all make up a forest that cycles through the seasons and provides oxygen, shelter, shade, and homes for all of those we help in the sector.

And you also have us here at CNA.

So, while you care for our planet and its environment, please remember that you are also that planet, that environment. And when you thrive, we all thrive. We are all growers, movers, shakers, and carers.

New Member Spotlight: Welcome to The Hub Te Puke!

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:35:48 GMT

Member Spotlight: Welcome to The Te Puke Hub!

Welcome back to another edition of our Community Networks Aotearoa Member Spotlight! This time, we're thrilled to shine the spotlight on a new member, the Hub Te Puke - a thriving community organisation dedicated to empowering and connecting the residents of Te Puke and its surrounding areas.

A Place of Community and Connection: The Hub Te Puke.

Located in the heart of Te Puke, the Te Puke Hub is much more than just a community centre; it's a vibrant hub of activity, growth, and support for people of all ages and backgrounds. Since its inception, the Te Puke Hub has been on a mission to foster a sense of belonging and facilitate opportunities for personal and community development.

Supporting Local Initiatives

The Te Puke Hub is passionate about supporting local initiatives that make a positive impact on the community. Whether it's collaborating with other community groups or working on projects to enhance the environment, the Hub plays an active role in fostering a strong, connected, and sustainable community.

Diverse Programs and Services

At the heart of the Te Puke Hub are the diverse programs and services it offers to meet the varying needs and interests of the community. From educational workshops and skill-building courses to food banks and support groups, the Hub strives to be a place where people can learn, grow, and connect with one another.

Among the many programs, the Te Puke Hub hosts:

Foodbank Services: Supermarket prices are skyrocketing, and so are the number of people who need support to afford food bills. The Hub’s foodbank services provide quality food parcels for families and individuals in need.

Social Services: The Hub have a specialist team of social workers who offer free support and advocacy. Both qualified and registered, their team are passionate about connecting with individuals or families alike. With a wealth of experience and knowledge of our social service systems within New Zealand, they also collaborate with other appropriate agencies to ensure the best outcome is provided.

Youth Development Initiatives: The Hub provides a safe space for young people to engage in activities that promote personal growth and skill development. From mentoring programs to creative workshops, the Hub aims to nurture the leaders of tomorrow.

How You Can Get Involved

The Te Puke Hub welcomes individuals and organisations to join their vibrant community. There are various ways to get involved, including:

Volunteering:
The Hub couldn’t exist without the tireless mahi of volunteers. There are many ways you can volunteer to lend a helping hand. For more info either visit, phone or email /

Participating in Programs:
Whether you want to learn something new or share your skills with others, the Te Puke Hub's programs are open to all.

Donations and Support:
If you believe in their mission, supporting the Hub through donations or sponsorship is a meaningful way to contribute. Learn more here .

A very warm welcome to the team at Te Puke Hub, we are thrilled to have you on board as a member of Community Networks Aotearoa

Contact Details:

Te Puke Hub

Address: 32 Jocelyn Street, Te Puke, 3119

Phone: 07 975 0157

Email: office@empowermentnz.org.nz

Website: https://www.thehubtepuke.org.nz/

July Entry: What, Free?! Too Good to Be True?

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 04:28:06 GMT

Whenever I get something for free, these days I wonder – what’s the catch?

Recently, thanks to the Ministry of Social Development, CNA was able to offer financial support to all of our members and their members in turn to set their governing bodies with free Tick For Governance courses. Some groups jumped at the chance and are well on their way to enticing funders by being able to demonstrate their upskilling and competency by being awarded a governance qualification.

It seemed a little weird to me that I had a lot of enquiries checking that this was legit and that it was for free. Until I realised that yes, if I got that in my inbox, I would’ve given it the side eye too!

With so much communication going on in the world, (I always think of alien races getting headaches from what we are continuously transmitting into space), it’s hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. Let alone wondering if people know what wheat and chaff is these days ��

So how do we get this message of free courses across? What is the future? Will ChatGPT let us be able to write better email campaigns? Newsletters? Write better grant applications?

I was very interested to read Afifa Saleem’s article on the latter. You can read that here.

Does this mean that we might be able to get our good ol’ ChatGPT to handle all that while we get on with the mahi. It’s an interesting idea, and certainly it might write a good start to an application but we all know you canna trust the tinman to do the final work!

Just as we trust the humanity on a committee, or board, or trust to do the mahi with all the heart and diverse viewpoints they have. So, what better gift than to help them be the best governing body they can be. If you did get that email, it is a bona fide offer, and if you want to know more we may be able to make that deadline a little elastic.

Give the gift of governance – it’s a present we can all enjoy.

Minister Surprises Not-For-Profit and Banking Sectors’ Audience

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 22:06:18 GMT

Minister Surprises Not-For-Profit and Banking Sectors’ Audience

Last night the Hon. David Parker surprised launch attendees by asking Minister of Consumer Affairs to also address the audience at Community Networks Aotearoa’s launch of the ‘Better Banking’ report. Minister Parker acknowledged the importance of the report, and that that was shown by the attendance of so many MPs at a pre-election event.

Minister Duncan Webb also spoke to the importance of this research and how it will help the Sector considering the upcoming Commerce Commission investigation of banks. Both Ministers praised the work of CNA, the quality of the research, and how it brings to light mahi that can be ‘nudged along’ by Government. Both spoke highly of how impactful the reports finding and recommendations on the Banking sector can be.

The research, a first of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand, shed light on the significant challenges faced by small to mid-sized Not-for-Profit organisations when dealing with banks. It aimed to explore potential strategies for improving banking services and addressing the specific needs of community organisations, allowing them to focus more on their valuable work.

The research was conducted through a sector-wide online survey and in-depth interviews with representatives from diverse community organisations across Aotearoa. It achieved its key objectives of identifying challenges, assessing their impact, and collaborating with stakeholders to find solutions.

Ros Rice, Executive Officer for Community Networks Aotearoa, emphasized the importance of this research, stating,

" This research is an extremely important milestone towards bringing about positive change in the banking experiences of Not-for-Profit organisations. By collaborating with the Government and the banking sector, we can identify solutions that will enable community organisations to focus on their core missions and maximize their impact on the communities they serve. "

Community Networks Aotearoa has engaged in discussions with various stakeholders, including the Banking Ombudsman, Aotearoa/New Zealand Banks, the National Association of Bankers, Consumer NZ, The Commerce Commission, CAB NZ, Digital Identity NZ, and the Reserve Bank, among others. Furthermore, CNA is collaborating with the Ministry of Justice to address these issues and drive meaningful change that will benefit all Not-For-Profit organisations across Aotearoa.

The research project was made possible by the generous support of the JR McKenzie Trust and the Todd Foundation. Economic Anthropologist, Dr. Jane Horan, led the research team, ensuring rigorous analysis and comprehensive insights.

For more information about the "Better Banking for All" research project, please visit our banking page .

CNA June Journal - Ros & Patrick

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 02:21:25 GMT

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

��️ Ros Rice, May Journal Entry:

The Unseen Mahi

When Paddy and I were talking about the two reports we have produced lately we realised that the amount of work that goes into these that you don’t see is massive.

Firstly, it is mainly work that 2 people do. We are an office of two full-time staff and our amazing part-time Comms team. I know this work overload isn’t unusual in our sector. I am betting all of you are putting in ridiculous hours just to keep providing the mahi for your community. But maybe it helps for you to know that here in a National Office, it is just as crazy.

Our ‘about to be launched’ research on Banking Issues for the Non-Profit Sector has had us running around like fleas in a fit. From finding funding for a project, to talking to MPs; Bankers; Government Officials; lots of non-profits; Identity experts; and anti-money laundering experts to innumerable meetings of staff and our brave researcher Jane, to multiple proofing of the reports, comms, preparing the launch, getting more funding, quotes for venues, arranging catering; invites to everyone we can think of and of course keeping our supporters, committees and Executive Committee up to date…I get tired just thinking about it.

So last night I went to bed at 8pm and I don’t remember my head hitting the pillow. What is the point of this interminable listing? Isn’t everyone in our Sector feeling this pain. Overwork leads to burnout. Now is the time everyone must take care of yourselves. I have no problems with taking the occasional day off just to sit in the garden or to go to a movie. Please take care to breathe and eat well. Please find someone who you can safely talk to and dump all your frustrations on. A problem shared is a problem halved. Let's all take breaks, be kind to ourselves and remember an early night will do wonders.

�� Patrick Davies, June Hot Take Entry: A Kingdom for A Computer!

Ever wondered what happens when your computer goes on the blink? Last week my lappie spat the technical dummy. Mid-mahi. It wasn’t pretty.

During the week, like a sniffle coming on, my snipping tool (for taking images off the screen) began to run slowly and then, after a day or three froze whenever I used it. I’m not a tech dummy and not a tech savant, I knew it probably did not herald good things but did not know how to correct this.

I was full of those anxiety-laden Qs - was this something to ask our remote IT company about? Should I google this symptom and see there’s a fix? Is it just the ‘net running slow in mid-Wgtn CBD? Did I bring my lunch or is it still on the bench at home?? Existential (and possibly stomach) crisis! These days we don’t want to waste money asking the IT guys, but how do you know this is the beginning of larger problems?

My uncertainty was certained when my computer threw up an error message I have not seen before, suggesting I should restart in ‘safe mode’. I was also a little stumped – should I shut it down, restart in safe mode?? Do I have time to Google how to do that before I shut down or will this delay end civilisation as I know it.

To be clear – I was the only one in the office, so it wasn’t a conversation to be had. So, with a sigh I restarted. Lappie did the usual things and then asked for a password. I do have the password written on one piece of paper for these situations, but I have been entering a 4-digit pin for over a year now and this seemed a bit ominous. I was right to think so. Two days later (and a bunch of invoiceable IT hours) my dear lappie was restarted as if new from the factory.

What followed was an eternity of re-singing into a dozen or so programs and apps. I’m still trying to change my default font on Word! – well, actually, that is a bit of a fib…

Here’s what really helped.

CNA stores all of its password on a free site – (we use LastPass this is not a paid ad for them btw)) – which means that I need only my master password to get in and I have access to all of our apps and programs;
Each time I’ve done something – like changed my default font in Word / added a word to the dictionary / etc. – I’ve written in down in a doc I keep on our cloud storage. Classic case of minutes writing how-to-do-it down saves hours later;
Using cloud storage for all of our docs and data means no one else is affected by my 2-day shut down; and I don’t lose any materials;
If my computer is running slowly, I ask the others if it’s happening for them – if it isn’t then that might be an early sign to run a virus protection scan at the least;
My master password is not near my desk, but it is written on a piece of paper and elsewhere in the office – just in case;
And having an organisation manual is also a great way to ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to processes – especially if, (dog forbid), something happens to you and your co-workers, boss, etc. need to access your machine.

To be fair the IT guys don’t have a clue what went down in my CPU, but I’m back and rearing to go due to these easy steps!

What’s your doomsday prep?

Community Tip - Strengthening Your Online Presence – Self Assessment Tool

Wed, 10 May 2023 00:58:06 GMT

In a new blog series we are calling Community Tips, CNA will be discussing tricks, tools and resources that can support and help out our member organisations and their kaimahi.

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is increasingly important for community organisations to be able to reach their audience, communicate their message and raise awareness and support. However, building an online presence can be challenging, especially for those who are new to the digital landscape. Just when you think you’ve got your head around things, a new gadget, software update or social media platform comes along to humble you.

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at a useful tool developed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment in collaboration with Digital Journey, that aims to help organisations strengthen their online presence. Whether you're looking to improve your website, social media presence, or digital marketing strategy, the resource shared below is a great place to start.

The toolkit includes three quick assessment tools to help you check how well you are using online platforms and what you can do to level up.

These three self-assessments are:

Your website
Your digital marketing/engagement
Digital tools and how people use them (working together, accounting and HR, backup and recovery)

Your Website:

As a community organisation, your website serves as the digital face of your organisation and is a vital tool for communicating your message, sharing your mission, and engaging with your target audience. A well-designed website can provide visitors with valuable information about your organization, its initiatives, and its impact. It can also serve as a central hub for sharing news and events, recruiting volunteers, and accepting donations. The website self-assessment tool takes 5-10 minutes and will give you a better idea of your website's strengths and weaknesses, as well as practical tips and links to expert advice to improve it.

Start the website assessment here.

Your Digital Marketing/Engagement

The second assessment looks at your digital marketing and engagement. This tool is designed to help you identify areas of strength and weakness in your current digital marketing strategy and provide recommendations for improvement. By answering a series of questions about your organization's website, social media presence, and overall digital marketing approach, you can gain valuable insights into how to better engage with your audience and achieve your goals.

Start the digital marketing assessment here.

Your Digital Tools:

The third and final assessment tool is designed to help you identify the digital channels and tools that your target audience is most likely to use and how to effectively engage with them. The assessment, like the other two above takes just 5-10 minutes and will assess how well you’re using online tools for accessing business info, working together, accounting and HR, and backup and recovery.

Take the three assessments here - https://www.business.govt.nz/getting-started/building-a-brand/strengthening-your-online-presence/

A Note on Digital Exclusion:

It's important to note that not everyone in your community has equal access to digital technologies, which can result in digital exclusion. This means that some members of your community may not be able to access your website, social media platforms, or other online resources, limiting their ability to engage with your organisation. To address digital exclusion, be sure that your organisation's services and resources are accessible to everyone, regardless of their digital literacy or access to technology. You can do this by providing alternative ways for individuals to engage, such as phone or mail-based communication, in-person events and workshops, and printed materials. By taking steps to address digital exclusion, you can ensure that your organisation is accessible to everyone in your community and that no one is left behind.

CNA May Journal - Ros & Patrick

Thu, 04 May 2023 03:52:00 GMT

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

��️ Ros Rice, May Journal Entry:

We are preparing ourselves for a big event. You may be aware that we have spent some months researching how Banks interact with the For-Purpose Sector. Everyone knows that the annual AGM followed often by a change of signatories from your Executive Committee or Board can be a very stressful event. Why? We now have the answers.

Before the research report comes out, I think it should be ok to tell you the two main problems for NGOs when working with our Banks here in NZ. One is the Banks interpretation and attempt to work within the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. We all want the Banks to manage risk, that’s why we trust them enough to give them our money!

But there also seems to be a stronger reason for our problems. The issue of profit making! Why is customer service so poor in many cases, and why do some tellers not seem to understand or even care about our Sector? Why are branches closing everywhere, and in some cases why do we feel like the banks would prefer not to have our sector as customers?

All those things have to do with Banks spending money. And the profit motive is very strong. Yes “the force is strong with these institutions” and us, the little outliers don’t make much money for them. That however is an erroneous understanding. The For-Purpose Sector is huge and contributes a massive amount to GDP. Not only that, we all understand that we are the glue of communities and well-being. That just doesn’t mean a lot when it comes down to the bottom line. Values often fall away when money comes into the equation.

But let’s be positive. We want to work with the Banks, and they aren’t baddies. They are just motivated differently. Let’s all work together and hopefully, this report and our conversations with our Banks will make some changes for the better.

The report is likely to be made public in late June.

�� Patrick Davies, May Hot Take Entry: Is it Weta or Wētā?

Like most organisations in Aotearoa/New Zealand CNA has a policy of being good partners in recognising Te Tiriti o Waitangi. But what does that mean? What does it look like? I think it’s a sound.

Ros, Dan, and I have just come to the end of a 10-week Workplace Te Reo Māori 1 course. It’s been a very comfortable journey in a small group from various workplaces all looking to embrace the future of this Motu. It’s also been a little frustrating wrapping my angaanga around it all, but we’re happy to make the odd te hē along the way.

My biggest takeaway from this is the journey, not the destination.

Some of you may know I have a background in teaching – how many times have I reminded a pupil that you don’t ever get it immediately? My teaching example has always been ‘tying your shoelace’. What, many moons ago, seemed an impossible task, (seriously, this lunchtime try to describe the actions of tying a shoelace out loud, without actions – it’s uaua!), is now a subconscious thing that you do without a second thought.

Take Rua would be that to get to the point where it comes easily to you is parakitihi! parakitihi! parakitihi! If you don’t use it, you lose it. Picture this – Me about to ask Dan a question and then, finger poised in air, rushing back to my desk to look up my manual so I can ask if he ‘wants a drink’ and then both of us checking if his reply ‘He kawhe māku’ is gonna get him that coffee (yes, it did).

As I sit at my papamahi and read this on the monita of my rorohiko, I know this is going to be a long journey, but one well worth taking. I’ll ask questions when I don’t know, I’ll be happy to be corrected in pronunciation (which I’m weta at!), and I’ll continue to ask ki te pēhea a koe? Without adding ‘oral quote marks’ until it rolls off my tongue.

And I’ll be really happy to translate the words I use, if asked, without embarrassment, because I like the sounds and meanings I make. I like realising that te reo Māori is foremost an oral language – to be spoken and to be heard. So, let it be heard. I’ll allow myself to stumble, and I will always pick myself up, and tihei mauri ora!

What is the Tick for Governance Course & Why Should I Enrol?

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 00:44:54 GMT

Let's take a closer look at what the Tick for Governance course has to offer.

Whether you are a board member of a non-profit organisation, a community group, or a social enterprise, effective governance is key to ensuring the success and sustainability of your organisation. That's where "A Tick for Governance" comes in - a comprehensive course designed to provide essential training for effective community governance.

CNA has developed this course to empower community leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their governance roles.

Let's take a closer look at what the Tick for Governance course has to offer.

Overview of the Course

The Tick for Governance course is a friendly and easy-to-digest online course that covers various aspects of community governance. It is designed to be flexible and accessible, and you can complete the modules from home and at your own pace.

The course is divided into 10 different modules, starting with Te Tiriti and Relationships with Māori, and covering governance foundations, legal responsibilities, management, the numbers, policy and procedure and more.

Each module is designed to be interactive and engaging, incorporating real-life case studies, discussion prompts, and practical exercises. Participants will also have access to valuable resources, templates, and tools to support their governance roles.

Benefits of "A Tick for Governance"

Enrolling in the Tick for Governance course can provide community leaders with a wide range of benefits, including:

Enhanced Governance Skills: The course equips participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfil their governance roles effectively. From understanding legal and ethical obligations to mastering best practices in decision-making and financial management, participants will gain valuable skills that can be applied in their governance roles and beyond.
Increased Confidence: The course aims to boost participants' confidence in their governance roles by providing them with a solid understanding of governance principles and practices. Armed with this knowledge, participants can make informed decisions, engage in constructive discussions, and effectively contribute to their organisations strategic direction.
Networking and Peer Learning: Although everyone must do this course as an individual, community leaders could take the opportunity to facilitate group discussions, share experiences and challenges, and learn from real-life case studies in teams.
Improved Organisation Performance: Effective governance is directly linked to the performance and sustainability of an organsation. By applying the principles and practices learned in the course, participants can contribute to improved governance within their organisations, leading to better decision-making, stronger financial management, and enhanced organisational performance.
Recognized Accreditation: Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a micro-credential from NZQA, and a certificate from Community Networks Aotearoa, a recognized and respected organisation in the community sector. This accreditation can add value to participants' professional profiles and demonstrate their commitment to excellence in governance.

In today's rapidly changing environment, effective community governance is more crucial than ever. Tick for Governance is a comprehensive and practical course that provides community leaders with the essential knowledge and skills to excel in their governance roles.

What are you waiting for? Get amongst it!

What Folks Have to Say About TFG:

CNA April Journal - Ros & Patrick

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 23:45:23 GMT

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

��️ Ros Rice, April Journal Entry:

Kia ora team,

This month has been a time-trippy month. Some weeks and days have gone so fast, and others have dragged interminably. Is it the same for you? But as time moves on, we can forget things that are very important! How are the people on the east coast and people in Auckland who are still recovering from the weather events managing? Do they all have somewhere to live? What is happening to their finances? Can they get insurance or is that a battle? It is easy after a disaster for the rest of us to move on, but never forget the tail of a disaster. The people left behind cleaning up and trying to reassemble their lives. For them time can be very slow. Let’s keep offering our love and support.

CNA alongside, CAB and Presbyterian Support held a summit to talk about how Wellington-based national organisations can respond to disasters. We have a lot of talking points that came out of that discussion so keep watching this spot for further updates.

CNA is also coming close to bringing our Banking research to fruition.

We are discussing what kind of responses we would like to see, and what we do with this research. This is also a moment of ‘watch this space’. If we can even make a small change to how banks and their ‘for purpose’ customers interact, we will be thrilled, but we hope for more than just that. Remembering that banks are huge economic powerhouses and in Aotearoa’s case - mainly owned in Australia and that some of the legislation we are looking at that governs how banks operate is international legislation. We believe any small change will be momentous. Big change will be a cause for massive celebration. We are hoping that the for-purpose sector and the banking sector can work together for mutual win-wins.

�� Patrick Davies, April Hot Take: Self-Care.

Well… being…

It's on our lips a lot – how are you feeling? Are you coping? And yet, we sometimes say ‘fine’ just so we don’t start in case we don’t stop.

It’s a very real thing these days, isn’t it? Covid, extreme weather events, cost of living, rent increases and inflation outpacing pay increases (when and if they happen)! If that didn’t depress you…

In our Sector we are already dealing with the vulnerable and with the dreaded word ‘resilience’. Resilience is “the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties”. Now that’s all fine if it’s just one event. But we seem to have one after another in the last two years. How do we keep balance?

We’ve all been told so many steps to ensure our sanity – you may be driven mad by the word ‘kindness’ but, it is appropriate. And no more than in looking at your own work life. If you were your own client, what would you tell yourself? Write it down – 3 things that get on top of you, and then talk to yourself about it as though you were advising your best friend. Regardless of what they are, they are what you feel strongly about. Take a moment to ‘advise’ yourself about how deep it goes.

Given the context of what has been going on is it the straw that broke the camel’s back, is it really important – it might be right now to you but hear it, say it out loud and listen to what you would reply with. This can take 5 mins, this can take 20 – it doesn’t matter. Acknowledging something out loud puts it in the world and takes it out of you - where it sits like sand in your hotdog. Write it down, make a paper plane and then send it on its way; write it on a balloon and pop it. We talk to kids about their feelings and find really creative ways to show them how to feel them as they happen and how to release them; why shouldn’t we have a bit of that fun, a bit of that silliness?

You know what they say- go for a 10-minute walk at lunchtime, just to get you away from your computer and not ‘working through’. Working through your lunch is just the same as bringing in your cold to work ‘because you’re a trooper’. If someone came to work with a streaming nose you’d send them home, right? Same to these habits – get out of them. Put one hour in your calendar as a meeting and have it with yourself. Work should not be a grind, but it is, but it can be more. Be kind to yourself.

https://mentalhealth.org.nz/five-ways-to-wellbeing

CNA Member Spotlight: Get to Know COLAB

comms@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz (Community Networks) — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 22:38:28 GMT

Each month, we like to take the opportunity to put the spotlight on just one of our incredible member organisations – to take a deeper look at their missions, mahi, and impact they’re making in their communities. Today we’re spotlighting COLAB, the network working collaboratively to achieve a sustainable thriving, community in Te Puke.

Who is COLAB and what do they do?

COLAB was established late in 2017 to better enable its members to work collectively to support Te Puke. Te Puke is a town located 18 kilometres southeast of Tauranga in the Western Bay of Plenty of Aotearoa. The people of Te Puke get plenty of vitamin C, because the town is the hub of the kiwifruit growing industry!

COLAB works with various charities and for purpose organisations to:

Connect and network to make folks aware of all the resources that are available in their community.
Collaborate and work together to achieve better outcomes for their community.
Create initiatives to build a stronger community.
Communicate for the community in a position of advocacy, particularly for those that are not heard.

COLAB Initiatives:

The key areas that COLAB focus on are:

Housing:

Establishment of the Te Puke Housing solutions and brokerage service
Te Puke / Maketu based housing assessment and strategy
Housing related workshops and educative programmes

Community connection and cohesion:

Supporting training and development opportunities for the people of Te Puke, such as Te Reo Māori classes, Women’s computer literacy courses and sustainability workshops.
Supporting community led celebrations such as World Fest, Christmas in the Park and Matariki.

Responding to local trends and opportunities:

Community wellbeing and resilience projects
Food security programme - supporting a range of Kai Security and sovernity projects across the community
Youth development projects
Local volunteering solutions

Upcoming Events Supported by COLAB:

Wilde Weeds Workshop in Conjunction with Neighbours Aotearoa – Saturday 18th March

Linda-Mary Barrat teaches the community about the wonder of weeds, including how to identify and use common garden weeds both medicinally and as a food sources.

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/730734225304156/?ref=newsfeed

Neighbours Month – March

An initiative to encourage whānau to meet up with their neighbours and enjoy morning tea, a potluck or a game of footy in the park.

Event info: https://neighboursaotearoa.nz/register-your-idea?fbclid=IwAR2jnuy1u0jEdkj4cBOs4Ew5Fw1Cvq6pwQhTU-OyI5h9HIbzel_6coPqxdg

Skate Fest – Saturday 18th March

An epic Skate Fest hosted by Drop Deep Skateboarding. Held at Jubilee Park, Te Puke.

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/168801082597572/?ref=newsfeed

A huge shoutout to COLAB for all the awesome mahi they are supporting in their community.

Want to learn more? Head over to www.colabcommunity.nz to see more marvellous mahi.

CNA March Journal - Ros & Patrick

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 01:05:26 GMT

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

Meet Our New Chair & Deputy Chair

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 00:03:21 GMT

While many of our committee members of our Executive Committee for 2023 remain the same as the previous year, as of Feb 1, we have a few exciting changes we’d like to announce, including our new Community Networks Aotearoa Chair & Deputy Chair.

Chair – Holly Snape

We are thrilled announce Holly Snape as the new Executive Committee Chair. Holly is the Chief Executive of Community Waikato, and has worked in the community sector since leaving the University of Waikato in 2004. Community wellbeing has been Holly’s driving force for more than a decade. She believes in being informed about what is impacting our communities so that we can apply creative solutions to local problems.

Deputy Chair – Liz Davies

Our new Deputy Chair is the wonderful Liz Davies. Liz is the General Manager of SociaLink Tauranga and has previously worked in public health, local government, adolescent health and mental health. She is driven by social justice, and equality.

We feel extremely lucky to have such passionate, values-driven individuals as part of the CNA whānau. To meet the rest of our Executive Committee, check out our team page here .

Community Networks Aotearoa – What's in Store for 2023?

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 23:29:45 GMT

So, what does 2023 have in store for CNA? Here’s a sneak peek into just some of the projects we’ll be working on this year.

It’s been an interesting to start to 2023. With Prime Minister Jacinda Arden resigning, a looming recession, and the continuing rippling effects of a global pandemic, the community sector is certainly bracing themselves for a year of new challenges ahead. Our role, as the umbrella organisation for local, regional and national community networks in Aotearoa is to help our members through these challenges, listen to concerns, raise their voices, and provide resources and support so that they can focus on their impact.

So, what does 2023 have in store for CNA? Here’s a sneak peek into just some of the projects we’ll be working on this year.

Better Banking Project

The Better Banking Project is an investigation into how banks and changes to banking systems are affecting the work of community organisations. Just one major force behind these changes is the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act that is causing disruptions for many organisations across the country.

Through speaking to our members and their networks, we’ve discovered many organisations are having real issues with their banks, which is leaving them bogged down with paperwork, confused over conflicting information and having to jump endless hoops to complete seemingly simple tasks. For example, some organisations we’ve spoken to have been unable to access their bank accounts for prolonged periods of time, causing a flow on effect of frustration and anger.

Thanks to JR McKenzie Trust and the Todd Foundation, we’ve been able to engage Head Researcher and Economic Anthropologist Dr Jane Horan, to lead the research for this project. Over the coming months, Jane will be interviewing a broad range of community organisations, representatives from the major banks, Government Agencies and other key players in the financial sector to gain a deep understanding of what the issues are, and most importantly, how we can find solutions to create Better Banking for both the banking institutions and our sector.

Want to add your voice to the research? Fill out the Better Banking survey here .

Hui23

Another exciting event on the horizon is Hui23, our free members-only gathering in Pōneke, Wellington. This very special event is the perfect opportunity for us to connect with our membership, raise issues that we need to address, and of course celebrate the mahi that’s been achieved and have some fun along the way. This is a warm and friendly space for our members to connect, share experiences and take a break from the Zoom screen.

Dates for Hui23 are yet to be confirmed, but we’ll be sharing more details over the coming months.

Tick for Governance Course

In 2023, we'll continue to work with a number of organisations helping them to learn and be recognised for good governance skills and practices. Our Tick for Governance Course is a fun, easy and engaging online course has been developed specifically for community organisations, with everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t.

Our course modules will be continued to be updated throughout the year to ensure participants get the most up-to-date information they need to success in Governance.

Over the last two years many organisations are facing financial difficulty which why we are pleased to announce in partnership with MSD, we have a Financial Hardship fund available for those organisations. To apply see the website for details.

Learn more here.

New Member Engagement Initiatives

We’re always finding new ways to connect to our members, and this year, we’ll be trialling a range of new initiatives to support our networks and their organisations. From more one-on-one member koreros, regional roundups and interactive Bramble conferences around specific challenges our sector faces, we’re looking forward to connecting with our members in more meaningful and impactful ways for 2023 and beyond.

Plus, So Much More!

The four projects above are just a small taster of what’s in store for 2023. To keep up to date on the rest, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram , and sign up for our network news on our website here.

2022 Mahi Highlights - Community Networks Aotearoa.

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 19:54:41 GMT

It’s been an exciting year for us at CNA!

With the support of our passionate members and backing organisations, we’ve been immersed in many rewarding projects, connecting with countless community good-sorts throughout Aotearoa. As we all wind our way towards well earnt relaxing days on the beach, we’d like to take a minute to reflect ( and recap our own memories ) on what a whirlwind of a year 2022 has been!

Let’s recap on our hero projects:

Better Banking

In our latest project, we're investigating how banks and changes to banking systems are affecting the work of community organisations. Thanks to JR McKenzie Trust and the Todd Foundation, we’ve been able to engage Head Researcher and Economic Anthropologist Dr Jane Horan.

Since launching the project we’ve celebrated a number of wins!

Collected over 100 survey responses from community organisations, telling us about the difficulties they’ve experienced with banks. A huge thank you to everyone who has submitted a response – this research wouldn’t be possible without you.
Raising continuous awareness by having ongoing conversations with government departments, the Banking Ombudsman, MPs, and banks about the issues our sector is facing.
Held the successful Better Banking webinar in collaboration with Steven Moe. We had over 50 organisations tune in live! You can watch the recording here.

Tick For Governance

2022 was the year we launched our online governance course, Tick for Governance! This course is fun, easy, engaging and has been developed to help community organisations learn and be recognised for good governance skills and practices. We’ve been thrilled to see such a positive uptake of courses, hearing all your feedback and seeing it make such a positive difference across our sector.

We’d like to acknowledge and thank our friends at the Ministry of Social Development for helping us provide funding for those in need.

Learn more about Tick For Governance here.

Charities Amendment Bill Submission

Another huge win for us this year was the submission we made to the Select Committee, on the Charities Amendment Bill.

We’re in the midst of a very crucial time for charities in Aotearoa, and the final months of 2022 were important for us to make sure our voices were heard. Our submission highlights some crucial changes we’d like to see made to the bill.

You can read about some of them here in our latest blog post, or read the full submission here .

We were grateful for all the organisations that stood with us and supported our submission and look forward to seeing how our points are addressed by the committee.

Our team has expanded!

A huge thank you to Ciara and to Lauren who have stood in and done an awesome job at our communications this year, we’re so grateful for your support and epic mahi.

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve expanded our team, making way for a permanent communications role!

Say kia ora to the new CNA comms team! �� Dan & Lydia, a brother & sister duo with expertise in communications and digital marketing.

Other wins and highlights?

Our Bramble Conference! A fond highlight of 2022 was hosting and connecting with our members virtually through Bramble. The open and friendly discussions, networking opportunities and immersive experience that Bramble provided added an element of fun that left our members talking about the conference for weeks!
Attending the ComVoices meetings. The get togethers have been a fantastic space for sharing and learning from peers in the sector.
Between navigating the pandemic, it’s a pleasure to have been fortunate to connect with people face-to-face . We are grateful to have had the opportunity to present and attend conferences, Hui’s and meet-ups throughout the country.
We’ve met with multiple MP’s throughout the year, some on multiple occasions! While we have a long way to go, the walls of parliament are becoming familiar and it feels good to have our sector represented and heard.

And with that, it’s time to kick our feet up, enjoy the sunshine and enjoy quality time with friends and whānau. We wish you a restful break, a Meri Kirihimete and Happy New Year.

See you in 2023, there’s a lot in store that we look forward to sharing with you.

The CNA team.

Charities Amendment Bill 2022 - 5 Things We’d Like to See Change

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 22:39:12 GMT

The Charities Amendment bill has been a long time coming.

The bill amends the Charities Act 2005 - a key piece of legislation for the charitable sector that will impact over 28,000 registered Charities across Aotearoa. While the amendment bill includes some promising changes such as simpler compliance requirements and more affordable access to justice, the bill has some concerning creases we’d like to see ironed out.

Here are just five of them:

Definition of Officers

Let’s take a moment to recap on who officers are and what exactly they do. Officers of a charitable entity are responsible for ensuring that their organisation is run in accordance with its rules and the requirements of the Charities Act. They have a crucial role in ensuring that their organisation’s funds and assets are used exclusively to advance the charitable purpose of the organisation.

The new bill extends the definition of officers broadly to “ a person who is able to exercise significant influence over the management or administration of the entity ” ( Amendment Section 4 ).

This would allow people both within and outside the organisation to become officers, including any staff members, and even accountants and lawyers external to the organisation. As those working in the sector will know, exercising influence over management does not make you fit for purpose as a Charity Officer.

As the Charities Board has the right to ban an officer under Part 4 of the Incorporated Societies Act , Charities Services gain the power to essentially fire staff members, taking away the employment rights and responsibilities of the organisation's governing body.

It is this kind of regulatory change that shrinks the legal independence of Charities from Government and disrupts the very structure of the Community Sector.

No Post Implementation Review

The purpose of a post-implementation review is to evaluate the legislation against its expected outcomes. Unfortunately, the new bill has no mention of a review of any sort. With new regulatory restrictions, should it not be necessary to check the validity of the new legal requirements, and keep a finger on the pulse of unintended consequences that emerge? We think so.

Still looking for a first Principles Review

For the bill to be implemented effectively, there needs to be a first principles review of the Act conducted by an independent body. This ensures comprehensiveness, integrity and removes the risk of conflict of interest.

It’s frustrating to see such a review, which has been promised to the Charitable Sector for some time now, be ignored once again.

Annual Review of Procedures

While some amendments in the bill reduce compliance work and make reporting easier for Charities (particularly smaller organisations), some add further, unnecessary restrictions that bog organisations down and take their time away from meaningful mahi in their communities. An example of this is the requirement for an annual review of procedures.

While there are Charities with out-of-date constitutions, legislating to enforce all Charities to complete annual reviews is overkill. Yes - we should encourage a better understanding and use of constitutions, but this should be done through education and cooperative work between the Charities Services and respective organisations. Legislating this as an annual requirement is unnecessary and over-regulatory.

A Eurocentric Framework

As Doctor Elizibeth Kerekere states in her address to the House, the Bill represents a “ Eurocentric framework that our Māori, Iwi, Hapū and Whānau organisations are working within .”

We are disappointed to see that the bill includes no mention of a Māori Advisory committee being formed to show true collaboration between Charities Services and Tangata Whenua.

Community Networks Aotearoa will be advocating for the changes above (along with a long list of others) to the Select Committee in December 2022.

This is a crucial time for Charities in Aotearoa and your voice matters. Public submissions for the Charities Amendment Bill close December 9th, 2022. Whether you’re 14 or 74, a volunteer or a director, all public submissions are given the same respect and value. All you need is an interest and opinion on the bill or inquiry.

Read the full bill on the New Zealand Legislation Website here.

Surprise Wgtn Airport Community Awards Nomination!!

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 22:12:17 GMT

CNA has been nominated for a Community Award!

Well, this was a surprise this morning - s ome anonymous nominator has put us forward for the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards !

"Wellington International Airport and the five local councils come together to recognise the work carried out by community groups in the wider Wellington region. The focus of the awards is to celebrate volunteers for their valuable contribution to society."

We are really proud of the mahi that we do for our Members both regionally and nationally. Including loads of support, advocacy, and projects to help organisations focus on what they are there to do - not the bureaucracy they deal with to get that mahi done!

Our must do Tick For Governance course is gaining traction with uptake growing daily - it is a Governance 101 course for anyone on a committee, board, or trust. In a fun and whimsical way it covers all you need to know if you are on one of those bodies. We're out to strengthen and grow our communities by equipping them with easy to understand knowledge that will get them acknowledgement by giving them an NZQA approved micro-credential upon successful completion.

We're now starting on our next project - looking at easing the difficulties Not-For-Profits have with the banking sector. Ever tried to change your org.s signatories? Have you got over the hassle of the end of cheques? Proving identification of board members? Explaining to a bank that the Anti-Money Laundering legislation is not aimed at you? If you want to find out more or you want to tell us your horror stories for our research head over to our Banking Issues in the Community Sector page.

So thank you to who ever nominated us and - watch this space!

Meet the Members: Ara Taiohi

Mon, 16 May 2022 00:26:19 GMT

This month's Meet the Members features Ara Taiohi, Aotearoa New Zealand's peak body for youth development. Ara Taiohi supports, uplifts and represents the youth work sector, with 1600 organisational and individual members who work with young people.

They answered some of our questions about their mahi, their vision and their future...

Who are you and what do you do?

Tēnā tātou e te whānau. We are Ara Taiohi, the peak body of Youth Development. ‘Ara’ means ‘pathway, lane, passageway to/from’ and ‘taiohi’ means ‘young person’ in Aotearoa New Zealand. Therefore, Ara Taiohi is the pathway to and from young people.

As a peak body we are committed to developing projects and sharing resources, tools and information to enhance practice within the sector.

What areas do you cover and who are your communities?

We are a national organisation, our community are the people who work with young people in Aotearoa. Our tari/office is based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, but we have kaimahi residing in Ōtautahi and Tāmaki Makaurau.

Regarding the pandemic, what response are you most proud of?

Even though Youth Work was often not considered to be an essential service, we know that many young people relied on the strengths of their relationships with their youth workers. Our sector stood up and responded to this need.

What innovations do you use (either something you have created, had to create, or found out about that really helps you deliver)?

The more our mahi is informed by Te Ao Māori and other indigenous worldviews as well as being rangatahi lead the more effective we are in our communities.

What most excites you about your organisation’s future?

Our vision is Te Puawaitanga Taiohi o Aotearoa, seeing the Young people of Aotearoa thriving. When everybody who works with and supports Young People in Aotearoa (including Government, Business, Not for profit, Whānau and Communities) is grounded in a shared kaupapa our hope is this will be achieved.

Find out more about Ara Taiohi on their website here .

You can also follow Ara Taiohi on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter to keep updated on their mahi!

The Ara Taiohi team!

Community Tips: WanderSearch

Mon, 02 May 2022 23:55:53 GMT

Do you have people in your wh ā nau, community or network at risk of 'wandering'?

WanderSearch is a a technological development aimed at keeping people with cognitive impairments safe. It is delivered by not-for profit organisations, in partnership with NZ Police.

What is WanderSearch?

The WanderSearch system provides small devices (that can be hidden, carried like keyrings or as necklaces) that can be tracked by trained Police and/or Land Search and Rescue volunteers if the person goes missing. The idea is to improve safety and peace of mind for people living with cognitive impairments and their families, whānau and communities. It also supports users to live more freely and independently.

Who is WanderSearch for?

It is aimed at any person with a cognitive impairment who may be at risk of going missing. This can include people with Alzheimer’s and dementia as well as people on the autism spectrum or people with Down Syndrome. It is accessible across the motu, with local groups managing the program in different areas.

WanderSearch is seeking charitable funding so that money is not a barrier to individuals and whānau who would benefit from this technology.

How does WanderSearch work?

Each device has its own unique radio-frequency number that can be tracked using specialist technology in the event of a disappearance. The device is not constantly monitored, it can only be located once Police are notified. Devices can be tracked anywhere in New Zealand, even outside cellular reception. The devices do not need charging and are replaced every 3-6 months.

Are there other options for keeping at-risk people safe?

Yes, the Safer Walking Framework Profile is a risk reduction tool designed for anyone who is at risk of going missing when walking. It involves a form and up-to-date photo to be stored so it can be provided to the Police in the event of someone's disappearance. WanderSearch is a further precaution for people at a higher risk of going missing. The Safer Walking website provides further education, resources and tools to protect those at risk of 'wandering'.

Learn more on WanderSearch's website

Click here to find your local group

Meet the Members: The Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 23:28:33 GMT

CNA is proud to spotlight our incredible member organisation The Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust (RYALT). RYALT provides training in literacy for isolated rural adults and teenagers. The Trust has operated from premises in Port Waikato since August 2011.

We asked Bruce Fincham, RYALT's Community Coordinator, a few questions about what RYALT are about and the mahi they do!

Who are you, and what do you do?

The Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust is a non-profit charity that assists adults and teenagers living in rural or otherwise isolated areas by improving their literacy - reading, writing, and numeracy via volunteer coaches trained by the trust. Tuition is free, and our tutors coach by phone, video conferencing like Zoom or Google Meet and face-to-face to meet the student’s needs.

What areas do you cover, and who are your communities?

There is nowhere in New Zealand that is too far away for us to help a student. We work with students in rural communities who may live in isolated areas and would struggle to get to literacy centers in metropolitan areas.

Our students are adults and teenagers who have had struggles in life and the education process and have not had a successful outcome and left school for many varied reasons. Some of these students have lost faith in the education system and need to have that faith rebuilt. They do not want people to know about their struggles and are often embarrassed.

The Trust is fully aware of the faith and trust issues and works to rebuild confidence in education. We encourage learning at the student's pace, with compassionate coaches in a one-on-one student-coach environment, which goes a long way to rebuilding confidence, trust, and the desire to improve literacy and become worthwhile members of the community who can fully participate.

Regarding the pandemic, what response are you most proud of?

The proudest moment of the pandemic was the pulling together of the students and coaches to continue with literacy learning—seamless teamwork.

What innovations do you use (either something you have created, had to create, or found out about that really helps you deliver)?

We are primarily a cloud-based organisation. We have a wiki of resources for our volunteers to access, our volunteer training is online, and several staff were working remotely from home long before lockdowns forced that on people.

We find working with remote students exciting these days. Most of our students live a long way from their volunteer coaches. Once, we used to have to post envelopes to students so they could send their writing to their coach by mail. Now, most students have smartphones and can take photos of their writing to send to their coach. The coach and student can share readings during a Zoom call.

We also help our students get onto Skinny JUMP to get cheap internet. That way, they can talk to their coach on Zoom instead of by phone.

What most excites you about your organisation’s future?

Before becoming involved in literacy education through the trust about two years ago, I was not aware of the literacy issues that faced our communities in New Zealand. UNICEF New Zealand's New Report Card dated 3 September 2020 shows that New Zealand is failing its children. New Zealand ranks 35th out of 41 countries for child wellbeing, with 64.6% of 15-year-olds in New Zealand having basic proficiency in reading and maths. Landing New Zealand with an ‘F’ report card.

I coach three students voluntarily, a man in his 30s and two teenage boys who have dropped out of the education system and were very anti schooling and education. However, after two years, all three are making excellent progress in improving their reading and writing. They are so involved in our literacy sessions that they are now very reluctant to have time out and miss any weekly sessions.

With the Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust getting engagement from students like the examples above, we have an exciting future adding value to the individual student and our communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

You can visit RYALT's website here and get in touch with them here.

A snapshot of what RYALT is all about - some of our students enjoying themselves.

The New Incorporated Societies Act

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 01:50:43 GMT

On 5th April 2022, the new Incorporated Societies Act was given the Royal Assent by Her Excellency The Rt Hon Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro.

The law replaces the old Act from 1908, so what can community organisations expect from this once in 120 years law change?

The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 is fundamentally similar to its predecessor, the 1908 Act. However, there are some key changes that will affect community organisations and new provisions that fill gaps in the law. Many of the specifics of the new laws (including dates and deadlines) are unknown as they will be decided by regulations. CNA will keep this blog updated as more information is released.

When will the laws change?

Although the Bill has been given the royal assent - all provisions have not automatically become law. Most of the provisions of the Bill will come into force on a date yet to be elected by Order in Council, to allow time for regulations to be made. The parts of the Bill that replace the old 1908 Act will come into force by 5th April 2026.

What actions do community organisations need to take?

Every organisation must re-register under the new Act by 1 December 2025 . Existing societies incorporated as boards under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 can stay as they are or re-register as an incorporated society under the new Act.

In order to re-register, most organisations will have to amend their constitution to comply with the new laws, which require that constitutions include:

the appointment of 1-3 person(s) who can be contacted by the Registrar of Incorporated Societies when necessary.
more information about officers, including how they are appointed, how long for and when they can be removed
more information about committee members, including the amount, what they can do, the quorum (minimum amount that must be present) and how meetings should be run.
a dispute settlement procedure.
how the constitution can be changed.

Incorporated societies will also need to gain the consent of every member of their organisation. They will need to make sure their membership processes includes asking for, and recording, that consent.

Every incorporated society will have to establish a 'governing body' made up of at least three appointed officers. It is no longer enough just to appoint officers, a 'body' (such as a committee or board) will have to be formed.

All incorporated societies will need to continue to file their financial statements (with bigger societies having these audited) and follow new financial reporting rules. The new rules to be followed will depend on the size of the society. Societies that are not registered charities will need to file annual returns.

Societies will need to continue to keep a register of all their members and their contact details.

Other changes to the law:

There are some other changes in the new Act that (in most circumstances) won't require any action on the part of incorporated societies, but are still useful to be aware of:

The minimum amount of members required to start a society has been reduced from 15 to 10.

Appointed officers of a society are now subject to 6 new duties they owe to their society:

The duty to act in good faith and in best interests of the society.
The duty to exercise their powers for proper purpose.
The duty to comply with the new Act and their society's constitution.
The duty to exercise the care and diligence that a reasonable person with the same responsibilities would exercise in the same circumstances.
The duty not to agree or allow the society to act in a way that creates a "substantial risk of serious loss to the society’s creditors".
The duty not to agree to an obligation unless the officer believes "at that time on reasonable grounds that the society will be able to perform the obligation when it is required to do so".

The new law also introduces a simpler amalgamation process for societies to be able to join together without worrying about members and assets transferring, or about contractual obligations.

The Act also contains seven criminal offences relating to incorporated societies. These are:

Making false or misleading statements.
Fraudulently using or destroying a society's property.
Falsifying register, records, or documents.
Operating fraudulently or dishonestly incurring debt.
Improper use of “Incorporated”, “Inc”, or “Manatōpū”.
Acting in contravention of a banning order.
Failing to comply with provisions of the Act (such as failing to call an AGM, register financial statements etc.)

Meet the Members: Volunteer Central

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 20:25:20 GMT

Volunteer Central started as a charitable trust established in 2005 to develop a volunteer centre in the region. The doors first opened on 24th June 2010, aiming to connect the community through volunteering. Ten years later, VRC took on the new identity of Volunteer Central to consolidate the direction the centre has taken. They are a proud member of Community Networks Aotearoa and we are so happy to have them!

We chatted to Kate Aplin, Volunteer Central Manager, about Volunteer Central's purpose and mahi...

Whatunga Tūao | Volunteer Central is proud to be working in the Horowhenua, Manawatū, Palmerston North and Tararua area supporting individuals to gain skills, confidence, and a sense of wellbeing through being volunteers, and to support organisations to increase capacity and capability through providing opportunities for volunteers, and also through team volunteering.

Alongside working with volunteers and organisations they work closely with the four Iwi that are mana whenua of the areas they cover (Ngāti Raukawa, Rangitāne, Muaūpoko, and Ngāti Kahungunu), and the four Councils in the area. We do this to support and actively be involved in community development strategies that focus on the wellbeing of the community through connections, networks, safety initiatives and environmental initiatives.

An example of this mahi has been working with the DHB, Civil Defence, Councils, MSD, Iwi, and community organisations to develop a safe, accountable and reliable process for delivering essential items to people needing to isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19. Whatunga Tūao | Volunteer Central has been actively involved in the initial discussions about the response, has developed the safe and confidential delivery process and templates used by all organisations, has provided support and training to Community Connectors on the process, and provides volunteers to undertake the deliveries. This imitative was undertaken following recognition that the community did not have the capacity to provide such a response at that time, and we have been able to provide the community some time to develop this capacity while maintaining a safe community response.

Whatunga Tūao | Volunteer Central works closely with local businesses and values the support of businesses through sponsorship to be able to undertake their valuable mahi – it is an awesome way to have the community value of understood by the corporate world and give them an opportunity to tautoko this. Volunteer Central is also very fortunate to have close partnerships with the 17 other volunteer centres across the country through Volunteer Central Network Aotearoa which regularly meets (virtually!) to share experiences/initiatives/frustrations/and resources to make the communities across the motu safe and connected.

If you want to know more about Whatunga Tūao | Volunteer Central or their COVID-19 response mahi, you can contact manager@volunteercentral.nz or call 06 354 6027.

You can also visit their website here.

Community Tips: Techsoup NZ

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 21:26:46 GMT

In a new blog series we are calling Community Tips, CNA will be discussing tricks, tools and resources that can support and help out our member organisations and their kaimahi.

During CNA's 2022 Conference at the end of February, one of our fantastic presenters, Amanda Reid from BERL (Business and Economic Research), talked with our attendees about the impact of current and future technology on community organisations. Amanda's presentation looked a lot at cybersecurity risks, and how NGOs can mitigate them and respond, as well as taking the opportunities presented by new technologies. We're starting off our Community Tips series with a post on Techsoup NZ, an awesome technology resource for the not-for-profit sector that Amanda recommended in her presentation.

In their own words, Techsoup is a not-for-profit focused on "building stronger communities through technology". Kind of like a technology-focused CNA, they serve the not-for-profit sector by providing products, training, services, education, advice, resources and information to their membership. Providing everything from Social Media training courses to discounted Microsoft Office packs, event management, website building and cyber security protection, all services cater to the specific needs of community organisations. These services are often free of charge or discounted to ensure accessibility for the communities that need it the most.

Membership is free and currently consists of around 30,000 charitable organisations.. Techsoup also partners with other technology companies to provide more products and information. Here at CNA we receive weekly emails about workshops, discounted tech products, news from the tech industry and handy tips.

You can find out more here and sign up as a Techsoup member here.

Find out more about Amanda's Presentation and the other resources she discussed on our Conference Reflections page here.

Feel free to get in touch with us with any questions or comments!

Banking Issues in the Community Sector

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 00:24:51 GMT

CNA is currently gathering information and experiences regarding problems that community organisations have with the banking sector - we want to hear from you!

Months and months to change a signatory...

Chasing down Board members that live across the country for their signatures...

Conflicting and contradictory information and guidance from banking staff...

Endless hoops to jump through, paperwork to complete and problems to solve...

Travelling significant distances to the nearest bank branch...

Do these issues sound familiar? Tell us!

As a representative and advocate for the community sector, here at CNA we always have our ears to the ground, listening for and gathering the concerns of the community organisations of Aotearoa New Zealand. One issue keeps cropping up time and time again - difficulties dealing with banks. So, our latest project involves investigating how banks and changes to banking systems are affecting the work of community organisations.

The first step in addressing this issue is consulting with our network - that means we want to know whether you, your organisation or community members have experienced banking difficulties.

Thank you to everyone who has already submitted responses. We've received stories of months spent getting one thing done; changing signatories; inconsistent forms; EFTPOS problems; depositing cash; branch closures; staff not knowing sector information - let alone our obvious money laundering! Some organisations noted that making any changes at all to how they did banking was a time-consuming and confusing process.

How we interact with banks and deal with money is changing fast, such as the digital transformation of IRD, clsure of rural and suburban bank branches, the Reserve Bank considering a digital currency and more. CNA wants to ensure community organisations' concerns and perspectives are heard amid these changes.

We want to hear about any problems or negative experiences you've had. Fill out this survey to tell us about your experience.

This is the start of a collaborative project with our member organisations across the motu, including Community Waikato , Community Waitakere , Taupō Council of Social Services , SociaLink , ANCAD and more...

A Visit to South Dunedin Community Networks

comms@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz (Community Networks) — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 23:32:27 GMT

Patrick Davies, CNA's wonderful membership engagement officer, paid a visit to one of our members during a recent trip to Ō tepoti. South Dunedin Community Network creates connections across South Dunedin to address challenges and build strength in the community. We are very proud to have them as a CNA member!

Journey Up South!

Yes, you read that right, ‘up’ since direction is relative. Which is why I was in Ōtepoti/Dunedin - for a relative’s birthday. While I was there I took the opportunity to drop in on one of our newer members, South Dunedin Community Network .

Situated on King Edward Street, the main drag of South Dunedin, SDCN works out of offices which are owned by the Dunedin City Council (DCC), though they will soon be moving to new premises, when the building is demolished to make way for a new library and community centre. Their current space is an open plan office with loads of nooks, crannies and other rooms allowing the large number of different community groups to use their spaces in a variety of ways.

While Level 2 has not allowed communal groups to get together, Robyn McLean (Network Manager) and administrator Grace Hannah have a lot on the go. A great initiative is that two of the carparks just outside the office which connect directly with the pavement have been commandeered and niftily fenced in so that at lunchtime members of SDCN can (safely) interact with local passersby, and also offer a chocolate for signing up to their newsletter.

COVID-safe community engagement taking place outside the SDCN offices - on this day Red Cross was sharing the space!

SDCN's hardworking kaimahi in front of a map of South Dunedin - from left to right: Patrick Davies (CNA), Eleanor Doig (Chair), Robyn McLean (Manager), Jule Barth (Deputy Chair) and Grace Hannah (Administrator).

One of SDCN's projects is The Lowdown , edited by Steve King, a monthly circular that's "a bit like a community noticeboard". It arose partly from the meetings of the South Dunedin Stakeholders group, which was a loose conglomeration of statutory agencies, NGOs, community groups and private individuals, and is now a thriving hub.

I got the chance to update Robyn, Grace, Eleanor and Jule on our Tick For Governance project as well as our upcoming mahi on Banking difficulties and the widening Digital Divide effecting community organisations.

Two top items of interest for SDCN are the redevelopment of Forbury Raceway, a large area which is being sold by the owners. Hopefully, with the intention of becoming social housing and a community hub, and the DCC’s reaction to the flooding that continues to happen in South Dunedin. This has led to the SDCN preparing to engage with the local stakeholders via a Citizens’ Assembly so that they can discuss the issues and look towards mandating a direction of action.

We look forward to seeing Robyn (and hopefully Grace) at our Conference here in Wellington next February.

The Future of Money - Digital Cash?

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 22:47:24 GMT

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand recently published some issues papers exploring the future of money in Aotearoa New Zealand. This included the potential for a new digital currency. CNA met with the Reserve Bank on behalf of the community sector, to discuss our interests and concerns regarding this issue.

Cryptocurrency, the decline of cash, the COVID-19 pandemic, increased online purchasing - these trends and more are changing the way all of us, our communities and organisations use money. It is unsurprising then, that almost 80% of countries are exploring, developing or experimenting with the idea of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). It sounds complex, and it is, but essentially a CBDC is a form of Digital Cash .

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand | Te Pūtea Matua, has recently released a series of issues papers that explore the future role of Central Bank money, which includes exploring whether a CBDC would be appropriate here in Aotearoa New Zealand, and what it might look like. You can find links to those issues papers here. The Reserve Bank wants feedback on these issues papers before 10am, Monday 6 December 2021, and we encourage all our members to read on and submit their responses where appropriate.

After reading these, the team at CNA were interested, a little confused and had a lot of questions. So we organised a meeting with Peter Northcote and Bronwyn Kenna from the Reserve Bank who are working on the Future of Money – Te Moni Anamata. Peter and Bronwyn were keen to hear feedback and questions from the community sector, so we recorded what they told us as a way to introduce and simplify this issue for our kaimahi in community organisations around NZ.

Central Bank Money vs Private Money

The main thing to understand before discussing what the future of money might look like, is that there are two different types of money in our country . That is: c entral bank money and private money . Central bank money is cash, distributed by our central bank (the Reserve Bank) and backed by the Government. Private Money is the money in our bank accounts, which is backed by private entities - banks. At the moment, physical cash is the only form of central bank money, but a CBDC would introduce a new form of central bank money which would be digital . Unsurprisingly, private money is currently much more common than central bank money, because most people use their bank accounts and bank cards a lot more than they use cash. However, around 6% of New Zealanders use cash for every single one of their transactions - that's around 305,040 people.

The Reserve Bank is exploring a CBDC for a multitude of reasons, including the decrease in cash use. Central bank money is meant to act as a 'value anchor' for private money; because it is backed by the Government, it is the most reliable, stable and safe form of money. It is also meant to be a tool of social and financial inclusion, because it can be used by anyone and everyone. However, it can't do these things if it is irrelevant or not widely used.

Financial innovation like cryptocurrencies and other forms of digital money have also motivated the Reserve Bank to look at how they can keep up with these trends.

The current situation implicates a lot of issues that CNA, alongside other community organisations, is already concerned about. The principal two being the Digital Divide and Banking issues. As more and more financial services, agencies and payment methods move online, those without internet access or bank accounts are left behind, and services can become inaccessible for many communities. Evidently, the future of money provides both solutions and complications to these issues, which we hope the community sector will be able to speak to in their responses to these issues papers.

What a CBDC Would Look Like:

As an electronic/digital form of cash, CBDC would work just like cash - as a means to save and pay. It would need a payment instrument - likely a card or a phone app - but it would not require a bank account . This is a key difference - as it allows CBDC to be accessible to people who don't want to or can't open a bank account, and it removes the associated costs of doing so.

So, people would have cards with digital cash loaded onto them - they could choose to deposit actual cash onto their card, get paid onto their card or transfer money from a private bank account to their card. In practice, it would work like a bus card, but with lower risk as the money is backed by the Government.

Other than keeping central bank money relevant and potentially fostering social and financial inclusion, the Reserve Bank also believes a CBDC could:

act as an additional monetary policy tool, for example, by providing monetary stimulus or paying interest
support financial inclusion, wellbeing and the provision of government services, such as by partnering with government programmes. This could look like providing benefits and calculating tax through the use of CBDC.
involve New Zealand in global initiatives that use CBDCs in cross-border payments

CNA's Thoughts, Concerns and Questions

We were both excited and concerned by these discussions, and it prompted a lot of questions and issues to consider from the perspective of the community sector. We posed our questions in our meeting with the Reserve Bank, with the following responses:

Would the introduction of a CBDC, intentionally or unintentionally, phase out cash?
Reserve Bank (RB) response: The RB will ensure cash is available for as long as people need it.
We had a number of privacy concerns around this - although CBDC would be pseudonymous, with names and personal details not necessary for usage, it could still be tracked and traced. How could we stop it being used, for example, in criminal trials, or to control/criminalise those on the benefit for their spending, etc?
RB response: The balance between privacy and crime control (focusing especially on money laundering and tax avoidance) is something they are currently looking at. All information would still be subject to the Privacy Act and part of this process would be creating legislative mechanisms and information sharing arrangements that are very narrow and explicit.
We were concerned about how a CBDC and the data it provides could be misused by future governments.
RB response: The Act that governs the Reserve Bank gives it independence to achieve its own objectives and this protects it from political influence. Parliament would have to amend that Act to infringe upon this independence.
What would the integration with other Government agencies look like?
RB response: This discussion will occur further down the line, but the RB is aware that the agencies that NGOs work with need to be included and have been working with the Ministry of Social Development and Te Puni Kōkiri on this.
What about access to statistics about people's spending, saving etc., which could be useful data?
RB response : The RB has an obligation to share statistics with Government departments within the limits of the Privacy Act. The RB already currently collates and publishes data on their website; as a principle they share data as much as possible.
What is the link between a CBDC and cryptocurrency, or what is the difference?
RB response : CBDC is issued by the Reserve Bank and is an obligation/IOU backed by the Government, whereas cryptocurrency is a speculative investment.
How will the RB measure the success of this project?
RB response : The success of this project would be linked to the RB's objectives of stewardship - how inclusive and effective is the currency? Is it providing New Zealanders with a new way to pay and save? How trusted and resilient is it?
How would a CBDC affect banks?
RB response : If people used a CBDC then the RB could see the flow of funds from banks and could control this flow through incentives to keep money in banks.
Could this contribute to working out tax or tax avoidance of multi-national corporations?
RB response : This is something they're looking into, especially in relation to the review of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act.
Where would/is the RB getting regulatory and legal framework advice from?
RB response: They are currently using the GAP analysis tool (the comparison of actual performance with potential or desired performance) to look at how the statutory framework supports the aims of a CBDC. The results of this will be presented to the Minister of Finance early next year.

Some of our questions were deemed 'design questions' that would be addressed if it was decided a CBDC would be implemented. These included: whether interest on savings would be available and whether it would be available to use overseas as a digital wallet.

Learn more...

This was just the start of our engagement with the Reserve Bank on this issue, we hope to learn and collaborate more in the future to stay informed on this project and ensure the voice of our members and the community sector is heard. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to get in touch!

This blog is meant as a summary of the potential of a CBDC in NZ, as well as CNA's engagement with this issue up until this point. We encourage you and your organisation to learn more about this issue, get in contact with the Reserve Bank and respond to these issues papers before the deadline of 10am, Monday, 6 December 2021 :

View the Reserve Bank slides presented to us at our meeting (Note: the presentation is a summary of issues paper content designed to introduce and encourage engagement and response, and the issues papers are what people should read and rely upon before responding using the online feedback tool.)
Email futureofmoney@rbnz.govt.nz to discuss engagement and presentation opportunities.
The Future of Money: Stewardship issues paper
The Future of Money: Central Bank Digital Currency issues paper
Submit on a CBDC using the online response tool
Or download a copy of the feedback form

Explainer: Social Worker Pay Equity

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 23:11:47 GMT

Social Worker Pay Inequity is a complex issue created by a multitude of forces at play that undervalue and underfund social services. CNA Communications Officer Ciara O'Callaghan chatted with Brenda Pilott, who is coordinating the Pay Equity claim, to produce this explainer, breaking down the basics of a complicated issue.

In September 2021, CNA member organisation SociaLink, alongside Social Service Providers Aotearoa (SSPA), Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) and the Public Service Association (PSA), launched a campaign to support social worker pay equity.

CNA Communications Officer Ciara O’Callaghan talked with Brenda Pilott, the SSPA Pay Equity Coordinator, to understand the history, process and implication of this claim.

What do we mean when talk about Social Worker Pay Inequity?

In 2018, a pay equity claim was settled for Oranga Tamariki (OT) social workers, acknowledging that they were underpaid and significantly increasing their pay. However, this was limited to OT, and therefore social workers within the community sector (including those in Iwi, kaupapa Māori, NGO and all community social services) did not get a pay increase.

A pay equity claim has been lodged against a representative group of community providers employing social workers. There are two elements to this claim: firstly, the OT settlement established that OT social workers were undervalued on the grounds of sex-based discrimination and secondly, social workers working outside of OT do comparable work, and are substantially undervalued. There is a clear pay equity case. The campaign is highlighting the need for community social workers to get comparable pay to their OT counterparts.

Currently, there is a 34.02% pay gap between OT social workers and social workers in the group subject to the claim, despite the same qualifications, experience, work and clients. This looks like:

An average hourly rate of $28.51 for these community social workers versus $43.21 for OT social workers.
A $60,000 yearly salary for a new starter at OT and $100,000 at the top, compared with a median pay of $58,662 for these community social workers.
Social workers in the Iwi and community organisations in the claim are earning on average $25,000 a year less than those working in OT.

Why does this disparity exist?

The fundamental cause is the systemic and historic underfunding of the NGO and community sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. That is why this claim is so important, as it highlights wider problems in the sector that need to be addressed before pay equity can be achieved. An independent report by Martin Jenkins in 2019 found that New Zealand social service providers are underfunded by at least $630 million per year. Brenda says the pay equity campaign is “the most effective lever to produce more funding” to social services but is one of many efforts to address decades of underfunding, and is by no means the silver bullet.

Fair and realistic funding is the key. NGOs cannot pay social workers any more than their funding allows them. It is not that they don’t want to increase pay, it is that Government funding means they can’t. This has contributed to the pay disparity as NGOs are unable to pay social workers a fair rate or retain them – “they are being poached by OT.”

Everyone involved with the social worker pay equity claim agrees that pay equity cannot be delivered without an increase in Government funding.

Other than “critical underfunding”, Brenda says this disparity also exists due to cultural and political misconceptions about the value of social work, indicated by the only recently introduced mandatory registration of social workers. These misconceptions extend to the work of community and NGO organisations like CNA, SSPA and SociaLink. Comparisons with business and Government sectors often deem the community sector as less professional, efficient and productive. Brenda says the opposite is true – community kaimahi are often more reliant on their own skills and more resourceful.

However, Brenda is also clear that this campaign is not about diminishing the mahi of OT social workers. “It isn’t a competition; it is about the same work being done in different sectors. It is about levelling the playing field.”

How do demographic factors like socio-economic status, gender, age and ethnicity come into play in this issue?

As with all Pay Equity claims, social work is a hugely female-dominated workforce. This contributes to the undervaluing of the work of social workers, as with all care work. Māori social workers are disproportionately impacted by this disparity, with more Tangata Whenua in the Iwi and community sectors than in Government. The community sector is experiencing compounded negative impacts because border closures and MBIE policies have limited a supply of social workers from overseas who are not eligible for skills-based visas.

There are two age groups where Brenda has noticed that the pressure of this disparity is really felt: for older people thinking about retirement savings and younger people starting out in the workforce and thinking about the cost of families and a home. These financial vulnerabilities make it difficult for people to work where their passions lie or their skills are best suited. Instead, they accept jobs with Government because of the financial incentive.

How does this disparity impact social workers, their mahi and the communities they serve?

This has disrupted the collective knowledge-sharing and growth of the community sector and the inheritance of knowledge and mentorship from more experienced kaimahi. It could also mean the type of mahi community social workers do may suffer: preventative mahi, wrap-around services and long-term support. This mahi is often done to prevent the need for Government agencies, such as OT, to step in.

Brenda emphasised that we cannot say that this disparity is affecting the quality of service delivery: “People are doing their utmost to mitigate any impacts”, including working unpaid hours. It should not get to the point of communities suffering and work standards falling for a call for pay equity to be answered. Pay equity is needed because the work of community social workers should be valued, as with all social workers.

What does the path towards a solution look like and where are we at?

Currently, Brenda and the Pay Equity Team are beginning negotiations on behalf of social workers with the PSA. A bargaining strategy has to be formed and approved by the Government before bargaining begins.

Effectively, they are working through two parallel processes at once - negotiating the pay equity claim with the PSA and working to develop and agree funding and a whole-of sector solution with the funders at the same time. This is complex because funding from social work comes from across the Government – health, justice, social development etc. This claim requires Government agencies to rethink and assess how they approach funding: matters such as contributory funding, underfunding and often a multiplicity of funders for the same provider. These are all important issues, and the claim highlights the problems with Government contracting systems, but they are also obstacles to the progression of the claim.

There is also the additional complication that, though the original claim was a representative claim lodged against just five social work providers, Brenda and her team want the settlement to be extended to all social workers in the community sector or they won’t accept it. This whole-sector approach is a challenge for all parties involved.

At this stage, contacting and connecting with all social workers in community, NGO and Iwi organisations is of vital importance, so the Pay Equity Team have a mandate to represent social workers across the motu. If they aren’t connected, they may not reap the benefits of the settlement.

How can people support the call for pay equity?

The most important thing is to get the word out to organisations in the community sector that provide social work. Brenda and her team need to be in contact with them so they can be consulted and represented in the claim, and end up benefitting from pay equity. Organisations employing social workers can join SSPA to get involved. Individual workers can have their voices heard and represented through the organisations advocating for pay equity – PSA and ANZASW.

There is enormous strength in the Pay Equity Team representing the majority of social work providers in this matter. United action by employers is needed to support the pay equity claim and seek full funding to give effect to a settlement for all NGO social workers.

Stay informed by signing up to the SSPA pay equity emailing list by emailing YES in the subject line to payequity@sspa.org.nz. or go to this website.

Sources and links:

Community interview: Karen Stockmann of Community Waikato

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 02:03:25 GMT

We are so excited to have Karen Stockmann, Community Advisor at CNA member organisation Community Waikato, running two participatory, collaborative events at our 2022 Conference!

CNA Communications Officer Ciara O'Callaghan had a chat to Karen about why she loves running these events, how they benefit participants and why the answers to our sector's problems are within all of us!

Day One of CNA's Conference 2022 will feature two collaborative events facilitated by Karen: the World Café and the Marketplace. These activities allow participants to access a source of deeper creativity and shared knowledge that might not be available through more traditional approaches to collaborative work. In this interview, Karen discusses what drew her to these events and how they can benefit Aotearoa's Community Sector!

Kia ora Karen! Can you start off by telling us a bit about yourself and your mahi?

I have been an advisor at Community Waikato since 2011, and have worked in and around the community sector for the past 30 years as an advocate, supporter, trainer, leader and governor. I spent 10 years operating my own training, facilitation and development consultancy where I used a lot of participatory and strengths-based approaches to assist communities, organisations and individuals to achieve their self identified aspirations. I am the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Interactionz, a mother of 4 and grandmother of 3. I have a strong commitment to social justice and the importance of creating a society where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and belong in ways that are meaningful to them.

How did you get involved in running collaborative events? What drew you to this mahi?

I was first introduced to these kind of participatory tools when I went to North America in 2005. I went to an event focused on Inclusion, Diversity and Community at Ryerson University in Toronto. There I met some of the people who created these methodologies and got to witness them in action. After this experience I also participated in an Art of Hosting training in Melbourne which further cemented my interest in using facilitation tools and approaches that enable participants to create new and innovative solutions to the challenges they face. Art of Hosting describes the work of an international community of people working in this participatory, collaborative way. I've had a lot of opportunity to meet people using these tools and to use them myself and experience how effective they are.

Using these tools in an organisation or community takes a lot of trust, especially on the part of the people who hold positions of responsibility. We have been so conditioned by society to feel that as leaders we need to have the answers or find the answers; to prescribe and control everything. If we are running a conference, we expect to be in control of everything. The typical approach is to have ‘experts’ fill people up with information like they are empty vessels. Participatory approaches like art of hosting are an alternative way of doing things that acknowledge individuals, their experiences, the knowledge they already hold and the fact that they are not empty cups to be filled up!

This idea of co-creation has a long history - hosting circles, talking, sharing and story-telling is as old as time. This is how, as societies, we have historically done things. I find it really exciting that we are being drawn back to these ways of working - it brings out the strengths and abilities of people and it allows us to focus on opportunities and possibilities rather than problems; and to take a capacity-building approach, not a deficit approach.

"It allows us to take a capacity-building approach, not a deficit approach."

Can you tell us about the two collaborative events you will be running at CNA's Conference 2022?

CNA decided to include a full day of collaborative events on Day 1 of Conference 2022 because feedback from members was that they wanted to connect, be inspired by, challenged by and learn from other participants. Both of the events I'll be running - Market Place and World Café - will create spaces and opportunities for people to do those things. With large groups of people, like at a conference, it is not enough to tell people "Now go and chat to each other". These two methodologies grew from the understanding that the wisdom we need comes from within ourselves, rather than a subject matter expert coming and telling us what we need to know.

World Café was developed by Juanita Brown and David Isaacs as a response to noticing that our best work often happens when people are brought together somewhat informally but with a common focus or purpose. It is about helping people to approach challenges or areas they want to grow/enhance/develop by working together with others and exploring powerful questions - questions that are difficult to answer and bigger than what we would consider in our everyday work. The questions are aspirational, generative and lead into deeper inquiry. In World Café participants engage in conversations on a series of powerful questions specifically crafted around a topic or theme. People move around tables in an organised way, creating a cross-pollination of thoughts and ideas. One host stays at each table, which allows different groups to explore layers of conversation and multiple thoughts and ideas. The host connects and links each different conversation to the previous ones, so everyone has the benefit of all the discussions and thoughts in the room. The discussion is just as much about answering the questions as reflecting on other people's answers. Something magical often happens at the third or fourth round of conversations, the more changes, the more powerful the conversation is. You don't start from scratch each time, but instead bring in all the previous discussions. At the end, key points from each conversation are harvested and shared. Everything is pulled together around the focal question we started with. This allows us to empower people to recognise that the answers are within them and the people around them.

"People are empowered to realise that the answers are within them..."

The second event, Marketplace , is about mobilising the wisdom that is already in the room. It comes from an observation many of us have made that the most meaningful engagement at conferences is often the conversations that happen at the breaks, or between speakers, with other participants. Marketplace is an open space technology approach developed by Harrison Owens. With Marketplace we will create the space for conference participants to set their own agenda and topics for the workshops. People will be invited to bring along topics such as ideas they want input on, problems or issues they need help with, projects or achievements they want to share and other participants will choose which topics they want to participate in. There will hopefully be time for a couple of rounds of topics. One of the beauties of Marketplace is the law of mobility which means people can move around as they wish. At the end of the sessions we will harvest key reflections and learnings or insights so everyone can take something away from the experience. It's an activity that facilitates intentional conversations, it's about creating the space, holding the space and sharing the learning.

"...it's about creating the space, holding the space and learning."

What kind of topics will we be focusing on at these workshops ?

World Café will be looking at how we could approach some of the key challenges and priorities facing our community organisations now and into the future. The topics we discuss and workshop during Marketplace will be up to the Conference participants ! This is a chance to bring your ideas, concerns, and opportunities to discuss and share with other organisations and individuals. You will have the luxury of choosing what you want to focus on and engaging other members of our sector for ideas, solutions, feedback, different perspectives, and thoughts!

Why do you think it is important for us to have events like these at conferences?

These events are really energising and they create connections within our sector that last beyond the conference. They strengthen our communities and grow our collective knowledge - after these workshops we will know who knows what about certain topics, which organisations are working on what and who we can ask about certain thigs. All very valuable knowledge and connections!

What have you noticed about people’s participation in these events? How does it differ from general, unstructured networking?

There is a tangible energy and excitement created in the room - a really powerful positive energy that comes from exploring possibility. There is greater commitment to small actions people can take. It is very different from feeding people a lot of theory and them walking away unsure how to utilise it or put it into practice. Collaborative events are more action-orientated.

What do you enjoy about running collaborative events like these?

I really enjoy the energy, and I am always blown away by people's generosity - sharing their knowledge and experience. I like seeing relationships and connections being formed that grow in the future. There are always new possibilities that emerge and new ideas and projects that are born from these beginning conversations.

How do you think the community sector will benefit form these events, and more collaboration in general?

Community organisations in Aotearoa can be isolated and some have limited opportunities to meet with others, so these events give them that chance. We benefit through the cross-pollination that occurs, allowing us to source deeper creativity and sharing of knowledge. It's really the definition of synergy - the sum of our collective efforts is greater than the total of each individual contributor. Sometimes we aren't even aware of the possibilities and opportunities open to us - they aren't in our perspective or worldview, or we are too busy doing the day-to-day grind. These events create opportunities for people to realise those possibilities and potentials, it also creates confidence and widens perspectives - if we see what others are doing it means we can do it too.

"It's about synergy - the sum of our collective is greater than us on our own."

Thanks Karen for an awesome kōrero - we can't wait to witness these workshops in action next February at our Conference!

You can find out more and register for CNA's Conference 2022 here.

Karen's organisation Community Waikato can be found here .

COVID-19 Blog

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 21:54:03 GMT

Regularly updated news, resources and information about the COVID-19 pandemic and it's impact on the community sector.

Meet the Members: Raglan Community House

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 07:09:39 GMT

We serve the community of the Raglan township and surroundings, and also neighbouring communities Te Mata, Te Uku, Waitetuna, Waingaro, Ruapuke and Te Akau.

Located at 45 Bow St Raglan/Whaaingaroa, Raglan Community House (RCH) has been operational since the late 1980s. Our team consists of one full-time Manager, a Financial Administrator (30 hours per week) and a team of volunteers. We also have a Budget Advisor (4 days a week) who provides the Building Financial Capability Service.

We open Monday to Friday from 9am-4pm and our regular services include a Drop-in Lounge, Low Cost Counselling, and Free Budgeting. Our Op Shop supports our community with low-cost clothing, opens Mon-Fri and is run by our volunteers. It also provides an opportunity for volunteers to gain Retail Experience, especially young people. Other weekly activities include Technology Support, Te Reo Maori classes, Seniors Coffee Club, Drug &Alcohol Counselling, Narcotics Anonymous, Probation Service, Toy Library and Justice of the Peace Service.

We have regular collaborations with the Raglan Health Transport Service, transporting community members to health-related appointments in Hamilton, and the Whaaingaroa Raglan Affordable Housing Project (WRAP) with Raglan’s Chamber of Commerce and Community Board, finding solutions to the lack of local affordable housing. We are the base for Raglan Maori Wardens and facilitate youth-focused weekly activities and events. We have strong organizational values of Integrity, Respect, Empowerment and Social Justice and our Vision is “Whaaingaroa- A safe and healthy community”. Our workspace is fun and inclusive, supported daily by local whaea who fill the space with Te Reo Maori, Waiata, Ukulele playing, Love and Laughter.

We serve the community of the Raglan township and surroundings, and also neighbouring communities Te Mata, Te Uku, Waitetuna, Waingaro, Ruapuke and Te Akau.

During the Covid Lockdown we supported the community with counselling and budgeting via phone and emails, distributed food and resources, checked on our isolated and vulnerable community members, and supported the local Community Response Group with information and advice. Having a local economy dependent on tourism and hospitality, Covid has hit us hard. We are blessed with amazing local resources including world-reknown surf and creative resilient people who support each over.

In the last few years we have been very active in supporting local youth providing activities, projects and events. Kickboxing4Youth is a free twice weekly program that encourages physical and mental well-being, self defence and empowerment. We also collaborate with other groups including Raglan Community Radio to provide events that have included National Youth Week events, the Whaaingaroa Talent Factory (WTF) and most recently DJ workshops. We are also looking at providing Drivers Licensing and Mentoring projects.

Poharatanga (Poverty) continues to be the main issue we face, supporting many whanau who are living in unhealthy accommodation including cars, tents and caravans, but issues including mental health, abuse, trauma and addiction are also regular issues we deal with.

Challenges going forward include making sure our team/whanau are looked after, the organization continues to be robust and meeting community needs, and finding solutions to issues including affordable accommodation.

Changes to Microsoft Donations

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 00:42:20 GMT

MICROSOFT HAS ANNOUNCED A NUMER OF CHANGES HTAT AFFECT NOT-FOR-RPOFITS WITH DONATED OFFICE 365 OR MICROSOFT 365 LICENSES

Utilisation requirement

Microsoft requires organisations to have at least 85 per cent of granted (free, donated) licenses that have been assigned to users in active use. "Active use" means that those users have used at least one Microsoft cloud service in the last 90 days.

These cloud services include Exchange Online (i.e. email accounts), Yammer, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft 365 Apps.

Usage of perpetually licensed Office apps, such as Office Standard or Office Professional, does not factor into active usage metrics. These changes do not affect volume licenced desktop licences and on-premise Microsoft donations.

What This Means for Not-for-profits

To illustrate what this means, let's look at an example: If you had 20 donated licenses assigned to users, at least 17 of those users would have to have used at least one Microsoft 365 or Office 365 cloud service within the last 90 days.

If you have not met this 85 per cent minimum usage threshold, you may lose all your donated Microsoft cloud licenses, whether or not they're in use. Paid licenses would not be affected.

What About Automated Email Accounts?

As long as the licence assigned to the account is being used (e.g. engaging a Microsoft365 service such as Exchange), that licence will meet the usage requirement and does not need a human user to log in and access.

Access and Use Your Assigned Licenses as Soon as Possible

If you haven't already, you need to ensure every user with an assigned license is regularly accessing their accounts. For new subscriptions, please work quickly to activate and start using the licenses.

If you have more licenses than you need, you may also adjust your Office 365 or Microsoft 365 subscription and reduce the number of licenses that you hold.

To assign your donated licenses to staff members, or to remove users, follow these instructions or watch this guided simulation. The sooner you do this, the better. To learn more, see Microsoft's donated licenses FAQ sheet (PDF).

Donated Office 365 E1 Licenses No Longer Available

Microsoft will also no longer offer donated Office 365 E1 licenses unless you have a specific Enterprise Agreement contract in place with Microsoft. Instead, we recommend you consider one of the Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium donation offers. If you are currently using donated Office 365 E1 licenses, your licenses will remain active as long as you use them.

CNA’s Post Budget Briefing Released

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 07:19:32 GMT

We are incredibly pleased to be able to present you with the Post Budget Report that we commissioned from BERL (Business and Economic Limited).

Amanda Reid – BERL Principal Consultant who prepared this report – is a researcher with over 20 years experience working in the social and health sectors, covering research and evaluation, service design, and management roles. When engaging Amanda in this mahi it was clear she had an understanding of our sector and a passion to support, help and assist us bring clarity. Indeed – her master’s thesis was on the measurement of Well Being, which is available at the Open Repository here.

We hope you will take time to look at the breakdown of ‘where the money went’. We also hope that it assists and is valuable in your own work.

communitynetworksaotearoa

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2. Say Goodbye to Bad Meetings – ‘Coulda Been An Email’

3. Ensure Competent Reporting – ‘I Nodded Off’

4. Avoid Misunderstandings and Legal Risks – ‘Get Out Of Jail Free Card’

5. Boost Confidence in Your Organisation – “The Funders Are Going To Love It!’

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1. Review Your Financial Records

2. Get Your Annual Reporting Ready

3. Reconcile Grants & Funding

4. Confirm Tax & Compliance Obligations

5. Preparing for an Audit

6. Check Reserves & Plan for Next Year

7. Prepare for Your AGM

8. Review Governance & Risk Management

Looking Ahead

Need Help Making 1+1 = 6?

Hot Takes with Patrick!

Roundups with Ros - Financial Health for NFPs

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Roundups with Ros - A Message from Me!

Reflections on My Recovery and Looking Ahead to 2025

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Let Play Connect For! - Patrick Davies Hot Take

Neighbourly Natters: Connecting, Sharing, and Strengthening Our Sector

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More Than a Kit Kat: Why Taking a Break Matters

Embrace the Summer Reset

Lessons from the Launch: Embracing the Unexpected

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A Number of Small Steps for Your Organisation – One Giant For Leap For Constitutional Kind

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Member Spotlight - KŌ Kollective

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Tips for Reviewing Your Constitution Pt.2 – Restore or Rebuild Entirely?

Hey Kiwi non-profit superheroes, here’s another take on getting your governance document in ship shape condition.

Approach One: Adapt!

Approcah Two: Slash & Burn!

May Newsletter Entry - Ros & Patrick Journals

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Chief Executive, Community Waikato.

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