Community Networks Wellington

17/08/2026

Community Networks Wellington Network Meeting
Tomorrow 19 August !!

Nau mai, haere mai!
Kei te tino karangahia koe / You are warmly invited to our
August/Here-turi-kōkā Network Meeting

Full Network Round
Do you have a new service, resources, or an event you would like to promote? Are you struggling with an issue that may be affecting others in the sector? Or would you like to promote your day-to-day mahi?

Aaron Packard, chairperson of the Aotearoa NZ Human Rights Foundation will give a 5 minute talk at the beginning of the round, about their report being released on 10th August, "The right to a decent home in Aotearoa New Zealand: review 2023-2026 - Are we making progress or going backwards?

Over the past three years, the government has rolled out significant changes in housing - from social housing reforms, shifting to market-led solutions, to major changes to Kāinga Ora. But are they delivering on the promise of a decent home for everyone? The Foundation's report reviews government initiatives and measures them against New Zealand's obligations to progress the right to a decent home, grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It also look at the gaps in national housing data.

Come and join the korero.
ALL WELCOME!

Date: Wednesday 19 August 2026
Time: 11am—12pm (join us for morning tea from 10:45am)
Venue: St Peters Church ‘Garden Room’ 211 Willis Street (Entrance is on Ghuznee Street)

To RSVP click here: 19th August 2026 Network Meeting
Or for more information contact Debbie Delaney
by email at: [email protected] or visit

Community Networks Wellington (CNW) - Home of Wellington's Non-Profit & Social Services Sector

04/08/2026

Charity sector lobbying initiative - 20 August

As you are probably aware, the not-for-profit (NFP) sector is facing unprecedented funding cuts and reduced government support. This comes at a time when both costs and demand for services continue to rise. Over the past couple of months, Mana Communications has been connecting with NFPs and funders to gauge interest in coming together for a hui which will aim to achieve two things:

Provide a forum where organisations can share their funding struggles and the impact of this.
Lobby politicians to do better with providing funding support.

Hui details:
Date: Thursday 20 August
Time: 9am-5pm, with tea and coffee available from 8.30am.
Venue: Harbourside 4 Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011

Hon Louise Upston is confirmed to make an address. She will speak on the Government's current approach to the community and voluntary sector, and their intended direction of travel if re-elected in November.

The remaining agenda for the day is currently being finalised but is expected to include:

Various panels including political party representatives and iwi leaders.
Hear firsthand stories from those who have benefited from the work of not-for-profit organisations.
Breakout sessions for not-for-profits in attendance to discuss their experiences and what they want to see from the Government.

Mana Communications is speaking with peak body representatives and has formed a steering committee to co-create this event, consisting of:
Murray Edridge (Wellington City Mission)
Patrick Gemmell and Katie Boxall (Hui E!)
Zainab Ali (Youth Inspire Lower Hutt)
Leigh Keown (Vulnerable Support Charitable Trust)
Caleb Hulme-Moir (Mana Communications)

By coming together, we feel that the not-for-profit sector can speak with a louder, more cohesive voice. We'd love to have you join us and be part of this important kaupapa for the sector.

If you're interested, please email Jess Bleach from Mana Communications (https://manacommunications.com/) at ([email protected]) with the names of people from your organisation who will attend. This hui is being organised in a voluntary capacity, and there is no cost to attend.

Please feel free to share this with other organisations in the not-for-profit sector working in Wellington, or elsewhere, and reach out to Jess ([email protected]) if you have any questions!

22/07/2026

The Street Church (https://www.thestreet.org.nz/) are running a CAP Money course in August, and this is open to anyone in the community. It is a free budgeting course which helps you take control of your finances and live within a budget.

Please sign up at capnz.org/money (https://www.capnz.org/get-help/cap-money-course/) . I can also be contacted at [email protected]

12/07/2026

Community Networks Wellington Network Meeting Reminder
This Wednesday 15 July

Nau mai, haere mai!
Kei te tino karangahia koe / You are warmly invited to our
July/Hōngongoi Network Meeting

Speaker Topic: The Vulnerable Aged / Older Person Join us to hear our speakers:

Stephen Opie, Manager of Age Concern Wellington on issues facing the vulnerable aged community in Wellington
Alicia Sudden, CEO of NZCCSS (NZ Council of Christian Social Services) on the the ‘Older Persons Poverty Monitor’ NZCCSS are launching soon https://nzccss.org.nz/issue/the-older-persons-poverty-monitor-stakeholder-engagement-document/
And Nicky McDonald, Director of Office for Seniors on their ‘Better Later Life Action Plan’ https://www.officeforseniors.govt.nz/better-later-life-strategy/action-plan

Come and join the korero.
ALL WELCOME!

Date: Wednesday 15th July 2026
Time: 11am—12pm (join us for morning tea from 10:45am)
Venue: St Peters Church ‘Garden Room’ 211 Willis Street (Entrance is on Ghuznee Street)
To RSVP click here https://www.cnw.org.nz/our-next-meeting.html 15th July 2026 Network Meeting
Or for more information contact Debbie Delaney
by email at: [email protected] or visit www.cnw.org.nz

There is currently no measure of poverty for older people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Without such a measure we cannot track the impacts of policy changes in this space. As for our Child Poverty statistics, implementation of a set of measures that can track progress across the years is critical…

08/06/2026

⚠ HEAVY SWELL UPDATE ⚠

Tuesday 9 June, 5am

Mōrena Wellington

A heavy swell warning remains in place for the Wellington Region, with large southerly swells affecting the South Coast, Wellington Harbour, and the Wairarapa coast today and overnight.

🌊Dangerous waves, debris on roads, and road closures are expected, particularly around high tide.

A mandatory evacuation order is in place from 9am today for WATERFRONT properties in:

👟 Ōwhiro Bay

👟 Island Bay

👟 Houghton Bay

👟 Breaker Bay

👟 Moa Point

Lyall Bay is not included in this evacuation order.

If you're in an affected area:

💊Take essential items, medications, important documents, and clothing with you.

🐾Make arrangements for pets.

🫂Stay with friends or whānau if possible.

❤ Check on neighbours who may need assistance.

📍An Emergency Assistance Centre is available at Wellington South Baptist Church, 284 The Parade, for those needing support.

🏫Families should check directly with their local school or early childhood centre for any updates on opening arrangements. 🏫

⛴All interisland and commuter ferry services are cancelled Tuesday.

Stay up-to-date with weather warnings via www.metservice.com

Get the latest updates on Wellington City Council's page: https://www.facebook.com/wellingtoncitycouncil

For public transport updates check the www.metlink.org.nz

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

‼️ State of Emergency Declared as Massive Swells Threaten Wellington Coast ‼️
*8.39pm, Monday, 8 June

Wellington City Mayor Andrew Little has declared a State of Emergency for Wellington’s Southern and Eastern suburbs to support the response to the Heavy Swell Warning for Wellington’s South Coast. Please note the following advice from Wellington City Council.

WHAT WE KNOW
MetService has issued a Heavy Swell Warning for the South Coast between Ōwhiro Bay and Breaker Bay from 3am Tuesday 9 June and 9am Wednesday 10 June.

WHAT TO DO
We recommend that residents of South Coast waterfront properties and those who are concerned about flooding stay somewhere else tonight Monday 8 June. Residents of the South Coast can expect extensive road closures on Tuesday 9 June. We require those in affected areas including pets be out of properties no later than 9am on Tuesday 9 June.

A mandatory evacuation order will be in place from 9am tomorrow for waterfront properties in these Wellington south coast areas:

- Ōwhiro Bay
- Island Bay
- Houghton Bay
- Breaker Bay

Lyall Bay is NOT included in this evacuation order.

An Emergency Assistance Centre has been set up at Wellington South Baptist church, 284 The Parade will be open from 9pm Monday 8 June for those who don’t have a place to go tonight.

• Prepare a bag with essential items such as medications, important documents, personal items and clothing.
• Prepare to take pets and their supplies with you.
• Organise to stay with friends or family.
• Check on neighbours and anyone who may need help. Share this information if it does not delay you.

Please be aware that this is an emerging situation and information will be updated as it changes. For more details of the warning and the latest updates, visit the Wellington City Council website.

Stay safe out there people and please heed the warnings. Arohanui 💛

‼️📷 Storm in March 2006 - Please note this is an image created by The Dominion Post to depict similar sized swell from a storm that rocked Wellington in 2006.

On 3rd March the Picton to Wellington Interislander ferry, the Aratere, which was carrying 391 passengers, sailed into horrific conditions and was hit with waves of up to 14 metres in places and rolled over 50 degrees on two separate occasions in large ocean swells.

According to a Maritime New Zealand report, experienced crew thought the ship was about to capsize, which damaged railway wagons, cars, and injured passengers requiring two people to go to hospital.‼️

02/06/2026

EKTA is launching a multicultural community choir — “The Sound of Us”. The choir aims to bring people together across cultures, faiths, ages, and backgrounds through music, friendship, and connection. The idea is for the group to perform non-religious songs of the various communities that now make up Wellington.

We are keen to encourage participation from Wellington’s diverse communities. No singing experience is needed, and everyone is welcome — from experienced singers to complete beginners.

The choir will meet weekly for 8 weeks, culminating in a community performance celebrating the diversity and talent of our wider community. Interested participants can register by filling The Sound Of Us Registration Form and emailing it to [email protected]

20/05/2026

Citizens Advice Wellington Community Survey

Kia ora!

As part of a service and needs review project we are undertaking for Citizens Advice Wellington, we are reaching out to community organisations and asking them to fill in a short survey. https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=tJavBF9qd0mzaFxpOFIGx_rhDbKOk61Evzx1gIUColJUQTgzSFpSMzNGWUdBSDNaQ1ZEWU0yWEY4Wi4u&route=shorturl

The survey has been designed to help us understand the needs of our community and how we can best position our information and advice services to help the people of Wellington both now, and into the future.

The survey will close on 3 June 2026.

The information we collect from this survey will be analysed alongside other data and information we are collecting. Any data from this survey that is used in the report will remain anonymous and not be attributed to you. We want to hear your views about who our services are reaching and who they are not reaching and why, as well as how we might improve our services so we stay relevant and of value to the people of Wellington.

We so appreciate all you do for communities in Wellington. Thank you for filling in this community organisations survey! (Survey Link below)
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=tJavBF9qd0mzaFxpOFIGx_rhDbKOk61Evzx1gIUColJUQTgzSFpSMzNGWUdBSDNaQ1ZEWU0yWEY4Wi4u&route=shorturl

21/04/2026

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