Kia ora koutou, Following our special update pānui last week on the Social Investment Fund, Pay Equity and the Auditor General’s investigation, we are back with our usual round-up of news and events. In this edition, you’ll find analysis of Budget 2025 and the new community work experience sanction for beneficiaries, Hui E! updates, upcoming events and training, as well as a Constellation member spotlight kōrero with Alicia Sudden. Shout out to everyone celebrating Youth Week’s theme of Whai Wāhitanga: Take Our Place last week, and Ara Taiohi for all their work behind the scenes creating space for young people to be seen, heard and valued. Here at Hui E! we are very excited to be getting ready to recruit our Kaiwhakahaere Matua Tangata Whenua Co-Chief Executive to work alongside Katie. Look out for more on this soon. Ngā mihi Katie and the Hui E! tīma Budget 2025 – Hui E! Analysis The Government’s Budget has developed a small social investment fund, but not a social investment approach.Last week, I asked the Minister for Social Investment (and Finance), Nicola Willis, if the $190 million Social Investment Fund would be funded by cuts to our sector across the rest of this Budget. She assured me it was ‘new money’.So, in front of me is a list of numbers and arrows in my scrawled handwriting. As soon as Budget 2025 dropped, I rushed to look behind the curtain of the headline figures, scrolling through the estimates of appropriations. Read Katie’s full breakdown of the Budget here. Hui E! and the Community Constellation are analysing the full impact of the budget and advocating for transparency and investment in our communities. Update on Community Work Experience sanctions From today Community Work Experience, non-financial sanctions will be implemented by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). When we sought clarity from MSD on this initiative they shared the following information (summarised): MSD clients who have had sanctions applied to them, may approach community sector organisations for an unpaid position (at least five hours a week over four weeks). Note that community organisations who take on MSD clients for Community Work Experience will not receive funding to support them doing so. However, community organisations are under no obligation to accept MSD clients. Hui E! (along with many others) raised concerns about this approach to sanctions. You can read our submission here and this issue in the news today here. Hui E! Updates E koekoe te kōkō, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererūThe parson bird chatters, the parrot gabbles, the wood pigeon coos This whakataukī speaks to the unique notes native birds sing contribute to the collective birdsong we treasure in Aotearoa. Our diversity is one of the things we love about our Hui E! board. Today we wish the amazing Jewelz Petley a warm and heartfelt farewell after serving three years on our Board as Tangata Whenua Co-Chair. Jewelz has navigated us through some challenging situations with courage, care… and always with good humour. We will really miss your unique birdsong Jewelz! Thank you to you – and your whānau – for sharing […]