Who we are

We support not-for-profit organisations with knowledge and resources to serve their communities well.

About us Who We Are

View National Action Plan (PDF)

Community organisations provide a wide range of services that enrich our lives. This includes supporting parents, caring for older people, running youth groups, fighting fires, surf lifesaving, environmental protection, as well as organising education, religion, sport, and arts events. Most of these groups will have some form of board or committee governance.

We are here to help board members working in community governance who may feel under-resourced, overwhelmed, and isolated. By providing the tools and resources they need, we can help board members develop their governance skills to become effective governors and advisors.

View National Action Plan (PDF)

150,000

NFP's/NGO's

27,000

Charities

230,000

Volunteers who freely give their time to NGO's and charities

$20 Billion

Annual income generated by New Zealand NGO's

$58 Billion

Assets managed by the national NGO sector

Supporting Community Governance in New Zealand

We will share case studies, offer opportunities to connect with leaders, and hold roundtable discussions with experts and thought leaders.

Read stories

We will facilitate opportunities to connect with people in governance roles through online panel discussions, think tanks, and co-design workshops.

See our events

We will provide learning opportunities, tools and templates, and easy to follow guides to help you do your job well.

Explore resources

Vision statement

We have a vision that all community governance organisations across Aotearoa are well governed. We hope to inspire, engage, and provide you with educational tools and resources to help embed best-practice governance at the board table.

Our why

We're here to help lift the governance ability of community organisations in Aotearoa.

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Hēmi Rolleston

Independent Board Chair

Hēmi Rolleston

Independent Board Chair

Hēmi Rolleston - Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui

Hēmi has significant commercial and leadership experience in Māori economic development, science, innovation including research and development. He has held a number of senior executive roles and senior governance roles including Chair of the McDiarmid Institute, Inzone Education Foundation and Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust and an Advisory Board Member of Waikato University Management School.

Hēmi lives in Tauranga Moana.

Find me on LinkedIn

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Rose Hiha-Agnew

Chief Executive | Tumu Whakarae

Rose Hiha-Agnew

Chief Executive | Tumu Whakarae

Rose Hiha - Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Rongowhaakata, Ngāti Kahungunu.

Rose has extensive experience in management and governance across iwi, community, and governance organisations. During her career in local and central government Rose has led large-scale transformational programmes involving the environment, Te Ao Māori, and sustainability and infrastructure.

This has included the management of millions in partnership investments with iwi and communities across New Zealand.

Rose was Chair of Keep New Zealand Beautiful and Co-Chaired the Endangered Species Foundation. She currently supports national boards in digital equity and local art community boards.

A bit about Rose: She enjoys mountain biking and the forests and lakes; she has participated in several World Single Speed events and has a classic car 1962 Singer Vogue.

She is based in the Bay of Plenty - Lakes District.

Email me 027 233 3113 Find me on LinkedIn

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April McLennan

Learning and Development Manager I Kaiwhakahaere Tupuranga

April McLennan

Learning and Development Manager I Kaiwhakahaere Tupuranga

April came from a social enterprise background having started a charitable trust straight out of high school. For seven years she worked as an operations lead and board chair for that charitable trust. In her career so far, April has also held a programme co-design role, and a fundraising promoter role for a major charity.

April has developed high-level project and creative skills through her work having led projects including five youth conferences and the development of a modular online learning course. She has also enjoyed co-designing workshops for community of practice events.

A bit about April: Outside of work she enjoys exploring beautiful Ōtautahi and Waitaha, quality time with family and friends and playing hockey.

April works full time for Community Governance Aotearoa. She is based in Ōtautahi.

Email me 027 2555 943 Find me on LinkedIn

Community Governance Aotearoa Trust

Our Trust is made up of volunteers from across Aotearoa who represent government, philanthropy, Māori organisations and not-for-profit communities who support our kaupapa - providing good governance for our not-for-profits

Our Tangata Whenua Trustees are Theresa Roigard and Kevin Haunui.

Our Te Tiriti Trustees are Gordon Oldfield and Nikolao Cockerell.

Advisory Group

Our Advisory Group is made up of volunteers from across Aotearoa. They represent governance community peak body organisations, not-for-profit sector representatives, marae committees, Māori organisations, and government organisations.