Our community and not-for-profit sector is often described as needing help. But our latest 2026 Sector & Insights Survey raises a more important question: who is really helping whom?
I wrote to Hon Louise Upston, Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, to share the findings and ask: are current funding and policy settings providing the certainty community organisations need to continue delivering essential services and outcomes for their communities?
Every day, community organisations hold together services, relationships and local solutions that people rely on. They step in when systems are stretched, work close to whānau and communities, and turn limited resources into real outcomes.
Of the 201 individuals that responded to our survey, 68% expect their financial position to stay the same or decrease, while 81% say they need more multi-year funding. Yet 64% have seen no increase in multi-year funding opportunities. Communities are expected to provide certainty for others while operating without certainty themselves.
A combined 62% report reduced government contracts, contracts being cut altogether, or continued uncertainty while waiting for decisions. This uncertainty undermines organisations’ ability to plan, retain skilled staff, sustain services and support their communities.
Boards are carrying this pressure too. Average board performance was rated at just 5.8 out of 10. More than half of respondents experienced board resignations in the past year, while 58% have no dedicated governance training budget. At the same time, boards are being asked to make decisions about data, privacy and artificial intelligence. Only 8% feel very confident making those decisions, while 55% are concerned about using AI responsibly.
At Community Governance Aotearoa, we now connect with more than 6,000 people and organisations, and the survey is only one part of the story. What matters most is that people keep showing up. They attend Board Talks, download resources, join discussions, ask hard questions and share their experiences. That gives us something more powerful than statistics alone: a real-time picture of what community organisations need to succeed.
We see that demand in the 72% of respondents who have accessed the Good Governance Code, and the 56% who attended a Board Talk in the past year. We see it in our new Certified Community Directors programme, in Data Talks, and our sector response a Community Data Governance Code for Aotearoa coming in 2027. We are helping boards prepare for decisions arriving faster than many feel ready for.
So what does this mean?
In my letter to the Minister, I set out four areas that would make a real difference to our sector: multi-year funding, less uncertainty caused by delayed funding decisions, stronger investment in governance capability, and support for emerging challenges such as data and AI governance.
The sector is not waiting to be rescued – we are already helping people and communities every day. The question is whether those with resources and influence are prepared to back it.
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