Tēnā koutou katoa,
As we settle into kōanga (spring), I’m reminded of how the changing seasons can serve as an invitation to pause and reflect on what has been growing, changing, and taking shape around us.
Before we get caught up in the rush toward the end of the year, our annual snapshot of the work we’ve undertaken across the sector is a timely reminder of the incredible mahi and achievements being made by community organisations and funders across the motu.
I’m always struck by the diversity of this work, and by the privilege our team and associates have in supporting it. From corporate foundations and community trusts to not-for-profit organisations working across the arts, health, and beyond, our current projects reflect the breadth of skills and experience within our team – from supporting the research that informs strategy, to evaluating the impact of funding.
What is being achieved across the sector is impressive, particularly in the face of increasing pressure. The latest sector review from Grant Thornton highlights the challenges facing organisations working with limited resources while responding to growing need in their communities.
We’re looking forward to the start of our inaugural 15-month Leadership through Restoration and Healing programme in November. Drawing on CSI’s innovative Haumanu framework, the programme offers a unique approach to bringing restoration into the work of systems change. We have just three places remaining, with application details below.
Finally, I’m reflecting on the recent words of Te Arikinui Kuini Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō, whose reminder to look forward, to learn, work, lead, and build something stronger for those who come after us feels like a fitting invitation as we look towards the season ahead:
"I will not allow the circumstances into which I was born to determine the limits of my life. I will learn. I will work. I will lead. I will build. And I will leave something stronger for those who come after me. Koinei te rā.”
Karinia Lee, Head of Centre | Kaihautu
Centre for Social Impact
Snapshots from our Year in Review
Our annual Year in Review snapshots bring to life some of the stories behind our annual impact summaries. This year’s snapshots touch on our work to support social enterprise, sector leadership and governance, inform the practice of philanthropy, and influence systems transformation.
Special thanks to the organisations featured in these stories: Foundation North; Clare Foundation; Ōtūrei Marae; Philanthropy New Zealand, and; the Global Future Search Network.
Our new leadership programme - applications closing
We now have just three places available for our innovative new programme, Leadership through restoration and healing. If you are a leader or facilitator who is interested in bringing restoration into the work of systems change and finding new ways for people to work, relate, design and learn together, this programme is for you.
Leadership through restoration and healing starts in November 2026. Over 15-months you will take part in three in-person wānanga (each lasting two days), seven 2.5-hour online sessions, and experience small group work in triads outside the online sessions.
Applications close Friday 16 October 2026
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!
Te Pūaha Talks - available now
AI introduction
This practical and interactive session will help participants build confidence in navigating AI and emerging technologies in community mahi.
Tyrone and Kamilla of Second Half provide an overview of AI and where it is already showing up in the tools and systems we use, explore practical opportunities and uses relevant to the social sector and community-facing mahi, share some of the risks and ethical questions surrounding AI, and discuss what the future may hold and how to prepare for it.
No sustainability team? No problem. Build your climate strategy
This practical online session designed for not-for-profit organisations looking to develop a simple and sustainable climate strategy.
FCCA Climate and Biodiversity Lead Esther Whitehead explores how to identify your organisation's biggest sources of climate impact, develop a realistic climate strategy and action plan, and use practical tools and resources to embed climate action into your everyday mahi.
Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust – Changing Waters workshops report
Improving the health of New Zealand’s freshwater catchments depends on all people working together to implement change. The Wai Connection engagement initiative was coordinated by Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust (MTSCT) and funded by Ministry for the Environment through the Essential Freshwater Fund, was created in 2022 to support that collaboration. A 2025 video with insights into three years of Wai Connection action is available here.
This year, before the Wai Connection funding concluded in June 2026, MTSCT commissioned CSI associate Miranda Cassidy-O’Connell to run a workshop series across the country to gather information and insights into the progress of freshwater catchment work in regions where Wai Connection had provided support.
Impact report – Te Tōpū Mangōpare
Manurewa’s Pride Project provides community-led support for local people with complex needs. Its Mangōpare programme is for rangatahi at risk of long-term unemployment. A report on the impact of the programme, funded by Foundation North, was recently completed by CSI in collaboration with The Pride Project.
The report found that 86% of graduates progressed into education (secondary or tertiary), employment or training. CSI associate, Rachael Trotman, says this success comes from Mangōpare’s holistic approach, its grounding in Māori values, and its deep understanding of rangatahi through being facilitated by people who have walked similar paths.
Climate & Nature-Positive Philanthropy hui
This August webinar offered by the Funders’ Commitment on Climate Action Aotearoa (FCCA) brought 80 participants online to learn how funders are taking action on climate, the challenges funders face, and the opportunities emerging for philanthropy to play a stronger role in climate action.
FCCA Climate and Biodiversity Lead Esther Whitehead says the hui demonstrated the value of connecting funders, communities, iwi, researchers and practitioners.
“This helps create the collaboration we need to source better data and develop stronger measurement and greater transparency so we understand what is working and where funding can have the greatest impact.”
The presentation and relevant links are now available online.
Innovation insights: The Skoll Foundation
The Washington-based Skoll Foundation invests in social entrepreneurs and other social innovators around the world. Louise Marra, CSI associate and board member of the international Collective Change Lab has been a panellist and keynote speaker at Skoll Foundation annual world forums.
We asked Louise about these world-leading gatherings for social entrepreneurs, innovators, funders, policymakers.
The Social Investment Agency - community commissioning underway
The Social Investment Agency has selected three communities to participate in the discovery and design phase for its community-led commissioning pathway. This follows an expressions of interest invitation to established local groups to help design how social services are delivered in their area. The communities selected are in Ōpōtiki, Porirua and the West Coast.
In announcing the selection, Social Investment Minister, Nicola Willis says the agency will be contracting “for real outcomes, such as fewer people stuck on the Jobseeker benefit, better school achievement, better health outcomes, and fewer offenders and victims of crime.”
New resources
Purpose under pressure: Grant Thornton report on the not-for-profit sector
In 2022, Grant Thornton surveyed a not-for-profit sector in the early stages of recovery from the Covid pandemic. Four years on, their new survey ‘shows the trends that were temporary, and those that now appear to be more permanent.’
The sector’s top concern continues to be financial sustainability, with a key theme identified of demand increasing while funding is not keeping pace.
Global and national influences affecting Foundation North’s communities
As part of Foundation North’s strategy review a report was commissioned from CSI on the global and national influences affecting the communities of Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) and Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland).
The report will also have relevance to communities across the country.
What is data governance, and why does it matter?
The Wednesday 30 September webinar from Community Governance Aotearoa will explore why good data governance matters before technology and artificial intelligence start shaping the way organisations collect, use, report and make decisions with data.
Registration is available below.
Co-Aotearoa Climate Future Search Wānanga - reflections
This three-day wānanga, which CSI associates Miranda Cassidy-O’Connell and Arohanui West helped facilitate, brought together people from across Tāmaki Makaurau to focus on the future of collective climate action.
Reflections from participants from the nine participating ‘voice’ groups are now available.