Message from the Hui E! kaiwhakahaera | chief executive When your job is convening brilliant people to meet and spark off of each other, then a highlight always has to be the annual Community Constellation hui where we come together kanohi-ki-te-kanohi. The energy, action-focus and stretch into uncomfortable issues and conversations was infectious.    We got to share in a few experiences of a papatipu leader in Ngāi Tahu who challenged us to sit in the problem and look for its crux without jumping to solutions. This was a really powerful way to gain clarity before acting, and one I am definitely going to use myself more often.  We focused on sharing and activating what already exists, so look out for an interactive map of our collaboration and independent analysis of sector data soon. Kia pai to rā,Katie Bruce What we’ve been working on In-person Community Constellation Hui Urgency, collective action, bravery and centering Te Tiriti were the sentiments echoed at Hui E!’s annual convening of the Community Constellation.   The Community Constellation, a collective of 25 peak body and capability building organisations convened by Hui E!, has now been meeting since late 2024. Brought together with the shared purpose of collective action to advocate and make visible the value of the tangata whenua, community and voluntary sector.   While it was acknowledged there is immense challenges within the sector from funding to increasing demand there was also a commitment to action and renewed energy to move forward.   Some key actions that the Constellation is drawing inspiration on are:  As we move forward into election year, there is opportunity to pool the talent, resources, expertise and passion for community.   How will you connect?  Starting in April Hui E! will be sharing behind the scenes, spotlights and interviews with the Community Constellation on Linkedin.   Social Service Providers Aotearoa Sector Leaders Hui  Hui E! Kaiwhakahaere Matua | Chief Executive, Tangata Whenua, Patrick Gemmell joined a sector leader kōrero hosted by SSPA in early February. Leadership, collaboration, Te Tiriti, devolution and data use were key themes. To see read outtakes follow this link.  Charity Services Hui This quarter’s meeting with Charities Services focused unsurprisingly on the hard deadline for incorporated societies to re-register, as well as opportunities to simplify and reduce compliance for small charities.   Updates from Charities Services:  Charitable incorporated societies will need to go through the full charities registration process if they miss the 5 April deadline to re-register as an incorporated society.  Incorporated Societies Register If incorporated societies are not re-registered by April 5, they risk serious legal, financial and tax consequences and will be struck from the Charities Register. The consequence included losing all access to the organisation’s bank accounts.    If you are a peak body for incorporated societies, now is the time to communicate to your members that they must re-register before the deadline to continue operating.   Information on how to re-register can be found through the NZ Companies Office:    If you are stuck, use the secure web message via myIR, and submit even a draft or an update of where you are with the process by 5 April. Also note that incorporated Societies that haven’t yet reregistered and likely cannot comply with their rules for notice etc now to approve new rules should use Schedule 1, clause 9 of the Incorporated Societies Act to adopt new rules and reregister – it’s a shortcut provision that means they don’t need to comply with their existing rules.  Key part of clause is below. Schedule 1, clause 9: Existing society may amend its rules to facilitate reregistration This clause applies— (a) to […]

Co-leaders and co-chairs with Tā Kim Workman and Haimona Waititi

Message from the Hui E! team Tēnā koutou e tau mai nei ki tēnei pānui   As we get closer to Christmas, we are reminded about the season of giving, care and being together to share the thoughts and reflections of the year with close kin.    We are acutely aware that it has been a difficult time for whānau across Aotearoa, so for the Hui E! Team, we hope that the content in this pānui provides some light, and we wish you all a happy and restful break.  Read on for information about what proposed tax changes mean for our sector. We also welcome new members to the Constellation, and are convening a Tangata Whenua Forum to help inform the direction of our work programme.   Enjoy the content in this pānui whānau and from your team here – we do hope this reaches you well.    Ngā manaakitanga ki a koutou katoa   Nā Jess, Katie, me Patrick mai i te tira o Hui E!    Introducing the Tangata Whenua Forum Hui E! embarked upon a series of engagements to look to convene a Tangata Whenua Forum of Iwi and Hapū leaders.  Hui E! wants to ensure that a treaty partner perspective and voice is accounted for in our work programme and with government departments to meet their obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.  An objective here is amplifing the treaty partner voice in conneciton with the sector wide voice whilst pursuing equitable change so that, hapū, iwi and whānau can continue to champion and tautoko their manaakitanga in their takiwā.   We have engaged face to face with the forum members, and we look forward to convening their first hui this month and discussing priorities that will support tangata whenua.  The co-leadership journey Hui E!’s co-leadership journey began over 10 years ago as multiple organisations came together to form Hui E!. Growth, change and re-envisioning the priorities of the organisation laid to foundation to realise that dream. Starting in 2026 we will be sharing Katie and Patrick’s reflections on being in a co-leadership model through video, personal reflections and sector voices. See below for a preview of the first reflections from Katie. Welcome to the new Community Constellation Members We are delighted to welcome the YMCA, Repair Network Aotearoa and the Rainbow Support Collective to the Community Constellation. Click here for more information about the Constellation and please do get in touch if you do not see your part of the sector represented or would like to discuss membership.  Taxation and the Not-for-Profit Sector – Targeted Government Consultation  The New Zealand Government is undertaking a targeted consultation with 50 community sector organisations (Hui E! is one of them) on proposed changes to tax rules affecting charities and not-for-profits, with submissions closing 24 December 2025. This follows a major advocacy win: the Government has removed charity business tax from the table after strong sector pushback, meaning charities can continue operating social enterprises and generating business income without additional taxation. The consultation now focuses on three key areas: donor-controlled charities (proposing a 5% minimum annual distribution requirement), raising the tax-free threshold from $1,000 to $10,000 for […]

Kei te hari anō tātau ki te whakahōnoretia te reo Māori i ngā mahi katoa,Kei te mahara tonu tātau ki a rātau e para i ngā huarahi maha kia ora tonu te reo ataahua nei.Nā tēnei waiata te whakatinanatanga o ā mātau whakaaro, i a te ao i a te pō.Nā te whānau o Hui E!As we celebrate Māori Language week – we acknowledge those who paved the way for the ongoing growth of te reo in our communities in our thoughts and hearts.This ballad is an extension of the sentiment we feel at present as the whānau at Hui E!Toitū te reo, Haumi e hui e Taiki e!