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 kererū
The 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 your time with Hui E! Arohanui tōku hoa. Thank you also to the awesome Maraea Turketo for stepping into the Acting Tangata Whenua Co-Chair role.
Upcoming Events
Early bird tickets now available for Whakamanawa 2025, Te Pai Ora SSPA’s annual conference. Click image to register.
New global UNICEF report.
NZ ranks alarmingly low on child wellbeing and mental health
National Volunteer Week (NVW) (June 15-21) honours the collective energies and efforts of volunteers across Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s a time to recognise and thank the millions of people who give their time and skills to our communities. Click the image to access resources to celebrate your volunteers!
Opportunities in Uncertain Times. Back by popular demand Socialink is hosting this webinar on improving financial and service sustainability for not-for-profits. Register by clicking the image.
The Intersection Workshop aims to improve social cohesion and reduce racism and social isolation in our communities. The workshops are informed and inspired by the vision of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Matike Mai but they are not Treaty workshops. They are designed for people who already have a working knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and want to transform that knowledge into everyday accountable allyship actions. Workshop are for folks who are living and/or working in Te Awa Kairangi/ Lower Hutt. Click the image above to register.
Charities and post-Budget tax position and discussion webinar with ParryField Lawyers that will break down the budget announcements made May 22 Click the image to register
Social Cohesion Project Launch. Watch the launch of Helen Clark’s Foundation’s most recent research project asking: What does social cohesion look like today, and how can we foster a more inclusive and resilient future? Click image to watch.
Community Constellation Spotlight: New Zealand Christian Community Social Services
If Alicia Sudden, chief executive of the New Zealand Council for Christian Social Services (NZCCSS), had a magic wand she would grant every person the ability to empathise and understand the experience of others.
In a way, this is what the NZCCSS does in its advocacy and support work for New Zealanders, specifically tamariki and older adults. NZCCSS fills the gaps in advocacy, particularly in aged care, with a big social services focus to create a world that is safe and just with a Te Tiriti lens.
Alicia is relatively new to her role at NZCCSS but brings a wealth of experience and knowledge. In her master’s programme she researched what happens to people after they leave a welfare system and informed her thinking on a system that needs fairness for everyone. Following the completion of studies she did work with the former Minister for Social Development and Employment, and former Prime Minister and Minister for Child Poverty Reduction, and later advocated for healthier and safer sexual health services across the Pacific as well as improving access to driver licenses through community providers at Waka Kotahi. It was after these roles that she joined NZCCSS.
Alicia notes that it is a challenging time in the social services sector. Funding, complex community needs, cost of living pressures and an aging population in need of care are all pressing issues that NZCCSS grapples with. Similar to concerns in other sectors, aged care is challenging, with funding not keeping up with inflation and costs go beyond what providers can afford. NZCCSS is also doing research on middle childhood. This is a group that often gets missed out in sector research but needs as much attention as their younger and older counterparts. This, and other research projects, can be brought into your workplaces with presentations by NZCCSS staff, of which Alicia spoke glowingly of.
The NZCCSS website is full of fantastic resources on engaging with the democratic process, sector research and an abundance of tools for the community sector to utilise. They can be reached through the website or by comms@nzccss.org.nz.
