MUBAR! A Cautionary Tale

Patrick Davies • September 6, 2024

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! 

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A Governance Milestone

By Community Networks • February 3, 2026
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!

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