Network News February 2020

• An Update from CNA Executive Officer Ros Rice
• Meet the Members –  Waimarie: Hamilton East Community House
• An Introduction of the Independent Childrens’ Monitor
• New Zealand Charity Reporting Awards 2020
• On Air – Listen to Ros talk about…
• Volunteering New Zealand Needs Your Feedback!
• Is She Incredible? Nominate Her Now!
• Funding Collaboration in 2020  
• ComVoices Blogs
• Incorporated Societies Act Review
• Inland Revenue Updates
• All Your Learning & Development Opportunities
• Easy Evaluation Workshops 2020
• About Community Networks Aotearoa

An Update from CNA Executive Officer Ros Rice

Tēnā koutou katoa

Welcome to 2020 with us here at C.N.A.  It’s going to be a big year.
Of course there is an election coming up in September, so watch closely to see if Government is prepared to not only support the non-profit sector, but also people living in poverty and desperation who need help to live more fulfilling and less stressful lives.
I also want to see commitment from government to talk and to listen to those who are working with and within communities.  Those who are at the coal face.  Don’t we all know how often we are told what the answers are and expected to follow blindly the funded solutions when we know for a fact that they just won’t work 
Welcome to 2020 with us here at C.N.A.  It’s going to be a big year.
Of course there is an election coming up in September, so watch closely to see if Government is prepared to not only support the non-profit sector, but also people living in poverty and desperation who need help to live more fulfilling and less stressful lives.

I also want to see commitment from government to talk and to listen to those who are working with and within communities.  Those who are at the coal face.  Don’t we all know how often we are told what the answers are and expected to follow blindly the funded solutions when we know for a fact that they just won’t work.

Also this year C.N.A’s Executive Committee have decided it is time we did a nationwide membership survey.  We want to understand who our members are, what they do, what their reach is, and what can we as a National organisation do best to meet our member’s needs.  I intend to travel to lots of our members during 2020 to have these discussions. Plans are being discussed and decided in the next month, and we will let you know how this is going to come together.

We have some other plans for 2020.  (To be revealed later.)  At the moment C.N.A’s staff is myself and my friend Patrick Davies.  In July we see the return of Lisa who has been on maternity leave to look after her divine little twin girls.   I really want to emphasise that we are keen for you to call us with any help or queries you might have.  We offer support when we are asked.

Finally 2020 will include our one-day membership Hui which will be held in Wellington in October.  As usual we will not charge our members anything to attend.  You just have to get yourselves here. Nows the time to put some of  your budget aside – the sooner you pay for your flight tickets the cheaper they will be. Book them now for the 16^th October to arrive the night before or early in the morning.

Stay in touch and I hope to talk to you all soon.
Ros Rice

And lastly, as always, remember we’re here to help. If you’re a member of CNA and have a problem or issue, or just need some information, please don’t hesitate to contact me on (04) 472 3364 or eo@communitynetworksaotearoa.org.nz. 

Meet the Members –
Waimarie: Hamilton East Community House

Waimarie is a safe place where people can express their worries and ask for help.

Situated in the heart of Hamilton East at 53 Wellington Street, we serve South East Kirikiriroa, which covers Hamilton East, Hillcrest, Silverdale, Hayes Paddock and parts of Peachgrove. We are bounded by the river and the railway line of Peachgrove Road. We opened in December 2001.

Waimarie offers a range of services and activities which includes Community Education courses such as sewing and yoga, ranging from term to term. We currently offer yoga, Tai Chi, conversational French, sewing and ukulele. Within reason, and as long as we can find a suitable tutor and have enough attendees, we can organise classes in pretty much anything. There is gardening on Fridays, where volunteers work in the Community Garden under the expert eye of  our Gardening Coordinator.

We hire out our spaces to community groups and businesses at very reasonable rates. We also offer services such as legal advice, advocacy and budgeting in collaboration with Emma Miles, Craig Wills (Pukete Neighbourhood House) and the Hamilton Budgeting Advisory Trust. We employ clients recovering from serious mental illness to clean, wash cars and garden in collaboration with Integrated Recovery Services (part of the Waikato DHB)

We have recently completed quite extensive renovations, which have enlarged our spaces and allowed for different and improved activities and groups.

We love to chat with people and try to meet the needs that people bring. People come in to offer help or produce and to find connection and belonging.

An Introduction of the
Independent Childrens’ Monitor

Some of you may be aware of the newly established Independent Children’s Monitor. The role of the Independent Children’s Monitor (the Monitor) is to oversee the Oranga Tamariki system including the Oranga Tamariki (National Care Standards and Related Matters) Regulations 2018 (NCS Regulations).

The Independent Children’s Monitor monitors the system of state care, not individual children, to ensure the organisations that look after our tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people are doing what they need to, to enable them to reach their potential and thrive.
The Monitor have published their first Report Agency Compliance with Regulations 69 and 85 of the Oranga Tamariki (National Care Standards and Related Matters) Regulations which is now available on their website.

Each agency currently being monitored was required to provide a response to the findings in the Report to the Minister for Children – view their responses here.

In January, the Independent Children’s Monitor, Office of the Children’s Commissioner and the Office of the Ombudsman travelled to Invercargill, Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson and Blenheim for the first five of 18 hui around the country. In February and March, the Monitor will be hosting hui in Hokitika, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Hamilton, Porirua, Gisborne, Havelock North, Whanganui, New Plymouth, West and South Auckland, Kaitaia and Whangarei.

The purpose of the hui is to introduce the Monitor and other oversight agencies and share the mahi currently underway to strengthen the Independent Oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system. You will come away with a greater understanding of the agencies involved in the work to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, what their roles are, what’s coming up and how you can get involved now and into the future. This is the beginning of the Independent Children’s Monitor’s ongoing engagement.

If you are a children’s professional (whether from non-government or government – particularly in the social sector), a provider of services to tamariki and or rangatahi or local iwi the Monitor would love to see you.

If you would like to receive regular updates from the Monitor, please subscribe to updates here.

New Zealand Charity Reporting Awards 2020

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand is proud to announce the 2020 New Zealand Charity Reporting Awards to recognise the efforts of registered charities meeting the financial reporting standards. The Awards will coincide with the Charity Law, Accounting & Regulation Conference for the 3rd year. To celebrate the success of the previous Awards we are introducing a new category – Innovation.

To be eligible you must enter the same report as the one filed on the charities register for your most recent financial year. Templates are available on https://charities.govt.nz.

CAANZ has released a guide to Enhancing Not-for-Profit Reporting. The guide is to support organisations in the not-for-profit and charity sector with their reporting requirements.

Interested? Click here for more information,
or contact maike.scherer@ charteredaccountantsanz.com
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: Midday, Friday 21^st February, 2020