Roundups with Ros - A Message from Me!

Ros Rice • February 10, 2025

Reflections on My Recovery and Looking Ahead to 2025



Kia ora everyone! I am very happy to let you know that I have returned to work following my extended medical leave.  I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the support and understanding I have received from CNA members and of course the incredibly supportive CNA Board.   


I was reading the latest Listener about women and how many women are not diagnosed with heart problems for many reasons but probably because women present with heart symptoms differently from men, and the issue is just not picked up in time.  How lucky am I?  The article says - “Coronary artery disease is the most common heart problem and the N0 1 killer of women globally”.  Another mind-boggling statement is “a large 2003 US study of women, found that for 69% of those who’d died from heart disease, their first symptom was death.”  So, I am an incredibly lucky statistic, especially since I not only had a genetic malformation of my aorta which had never been picked up but also symptoms which I never took seriously because I thought I was just ‘unfit’ or I had too much for lunch, that indicated severe heart disease.  So, thank you for giving me the support and time to heal and regain my health.  I was so very sick.  I have attached a photo of me on my first day back at work, and you will see clearly one of my 3 large scars.  I am proud of it, and I am not going to hide it under button up tops or polo necks.  It is me in 2025 and is a symbol of my survival.  It will look better over time, but I hope you don’t mind. 


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


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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

Burning for a Cause

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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