October Newsletter Entry - CNA Journal By Ros & Patrick

Communications Officer • October 4, 2023

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. 

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A Response from CNA Chair Holly Snape: 1 Sector, 6 Parties Political Panel

By Community Networks • May 18, 2026
CNA Chair Holly Snape reflects on 1 Sector, 6 Parties, the first 2026 election-focused political panel created specifically for Aotearoa’s community and voluntary sector, highlighting key discussions, sector representation, and why community voices must be part of the election conversation.

Create Your Amazing Networking Election Event

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

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By Community Networks • March 31, 2026
Burning for a Cause: A Totally Scientific Analysis of the NZ Not-for-Profit Sector’s Relationship with Increasingly Stupid Levels of Spice
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