By Ben Yu

The Auckland Chinese Families Network Incorporated (ACFN) is a community organisation dedicated to celebrating and sharing Chinese culture – especially with children and families – through inclusive events.

Based on the North Shore, we’ve noticed a significant gap in open-park Chinese cultural events that reflect the diversity of our community. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience and participate in Chinese cultural celebrations in welcoming, accessible spaces.

To help fill this gap, we launched the New Zealand Chinese Children Festival at Browns Bay Beach earlier this year. This event was designed to bring families together to enjoy Chinese traditions, performances, and activities in a vibrant outdoor setting.

It was our first time hosting such a large-scale cultural event, and we are proud to say it was a success – thanks in no small part to the incredible support we received from ANCAD.

ANCAD’s guidance and resources were instrumental in helping us bring our vision to life. From providing a support letter for funding applications to helping us align the event with our organisational mission, ANCAD played a key role in our planning process.

They connected us with a strategic advisor who helped us identify potential funding sources and introduced us to other organisations with experience in hosting similar events.

ANCAD also supported us through the practical aspects of event planning – such as navigating council permits and assigning a dedicated advisor who had previously organised community events. This expert helped us identify blind spots and guided our team through each step of the process.

We truly believe that without ANCAD’s support, the New Zealand Chinese Children Festival would not have been possible. Their commitment to empowering grassroots initiatives like ours has made a lasting impact on our community, and we are deeply grateful.

We look forward to continuing our work to bring more Chinese cultural events to the North Shore and to building a stronger, more connected community for all families.

by Kiri Beven, Funding and Grants, Project Employ projectemploy.nz

At Project Employ, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the workforce. Employment is more than a job – it provides purpose, financial independence, and a sense of belonging.

Yet for people with intellectual disabilities or learning differences, sustainable employment remains a significant challenge. We exist to break down these barriers and make inclusive employment the norm, not the exception.

Since opening our doors in 2022, Project Employ has continued to make a meaningful impact on neurodiverse young adults and their families. Our work is strengthened by the incredible support of our local community. Every customer who visits Flourish Café directly contributes to the confidence, skill development, and future employment pathways of our trainees. Their daily support helps create real change and real opportunities.

From the very beginning, ANCAD has also walked alongside us, offering guidance, workshops, and practical support that has helped shape Project Employ into the strong, community-focused organisation it is today.

One of our most inspiring success stories is Kimiyo – a former Rangitoto College student, Kimiyo first joined Project Employ as a Gateway student and quickly showed determination, warmth, and potential. At Flourish Café Takapuna, she learned hands-on hospitality skills while building confidence in a supportive, inclusive environment.

With guidance from Job Coaches and encouragement from her peers, Kimiyo truly flourished. Her hard work earned her a paid internship with Air New Zealand, where she proved her reliability, teamwork, and positive attitude. This led to a three-month trial at JW Marriott, where she impressed managers with her work ethic and attention to detail.

Today, Kimiyo is proudly employed as a Food and Beverage Services Expert at JW Marriott. She continues to excel, inspire others, and demonstrate what’s possible when young people receive the right support, opportunities, and belief.

Kimiyo’s journey from Flourish Café to the frontline of Auckland’s hospitality sector shows the extraordinary impact of inclusive employment and how community support can transform lives.

Strengthening Readiness for Learning

by Deb Humphries (ANCAD)

The Creative Learning Centre (CLC) – School Programme pilot is a community‑led early intervention initiative focused on supporting the wellbeing of local intermediate students at risk from or currently excluded from school in the Eastern Bays.

In mid-March 2026, a 1 day a week (Tuesday) pilot programme began at Mairangi Arts Centre (MAC) with up to 10 students from Murrays Bay Intermediate. The school identifies students who would be best-suited to participate in the programme and provides teacher aide support.

The school programme pilot is being enabled through strategic collaboration between Mairangi Arts Centre (MAC), RESPECT, ANCAD, North Shore FVPN, Harbour Sport and Restore Hibiscus Bays. An innovative blend of arts, physical and environmental activities are supported as part of an overall relational, responsive, therapeutic approach with a semi-structured programme that gently links to curriculum areas identified by the schools.

A relatively high learner-adult ratio enables responsiveness to individual student needs through 1-1 time, with the programme team creating an environment where young people feel safe, heard, have fun, can be themselves and are connected with other supportive adults, activities and spaces in their community.

Programme Outcomes
Participants will develop a stronger sense of belonging within the group, helping reduce feelings of isolation. They will build a positive understanding of themselves, including greater emotional awareness and self-acceptance. From this foundation, they will strengthen their ability to form healthy relationships within the group and transfer these skills to wider social settings, such as school.

Programme Approach
This programme draws on the experiential learning model (ELM) developed by David A. Kolb and Ronald E. Fry, encouraging children to learn through doing, reflecting, and applying new skills in meaningful ways. Activities are designed to engage different learning styles, based on the VARK model (visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinaesthetic), ensuring accessibility and inclusion for all participants.

The programme is also grounded in Te Whare Tapa Whā, a holistic Māori model of wellbeing that recognises the importance of balancing emotional (hinengaro), physical (tinana), social (whānau), and spiritual (wairua) health. This integrated approach supports children’s overall wellbeing while building practical skills to manage anxiety.

Programme Values / Principles
The programme is guided by the use of whakataukī (Māori proverbs), which provide meaningful, culturally grounded wisdom to support learning and reflection. These sayings are used to introduce key themes, encourage discussion, and help children connect ideas about wellbeing, relationships, and resilience to everyday life.

Drawing from Whakataukī supports a values-based approach that emphasises connection, respect, and shared understanding. It also reinforces cultural identity and inclusiveness, helping participants engage with the programme in a way that is both relevant and meaningful.

Overall Pedagogy
The programme is underpinned by Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, recognising that children must feel safe, secure, and a sense of belonging before they can fully engage in learning and personal growth. Creating a supportive and predictable group environment is therefore a key foundation of the programme.

It also draws on William Schutz’s theory of three interpersonal needs. The programme intentionally supports:

• Inclusion – helping children feel accepted and part of the group before deeper engagement can occur (social level)
• Control – supporting children to develop a sense of agency and appropriate participation in group behaviour (balancing leadership and autonomy)
• Affection – fostering trust, connection, and positive interpersonal relationships within the group

Together, these frameworks guide how the group is structured and facilitated, ensuring children feel safe, connected, and able to build healthy relationships with themselves and others.

Tracking Impact and Demonstrating Success – Firming up our approach

An iterative, learning by doing, co-design approach involving both project delivery partners and students continues to shape and refine the CLC School Programme, with a plan, act, evaluate approach driving programme evolution and adaptions in real time.

Deb Humphries (ANCAD)

Even with boundless passion, youth-led initiatives often face a “sustainability gap.” It is common for a youth-led initiative to lose its momentum as people graduate and move on to another chapter of life; however, this was not the case for Bays Youth Council.

From the very beginning till now, ANCAD has always been a part of the journey, not only acting as an anchor but also a source of empowerment that allows the youth council to grow and build momentum. Because of ANCAD’s steady hand, the Youth Council’s capacity has grown exponentially. No longer just a consultative group of 5-8 youths but a group of 20 young individuals across year 9 to year 13 who are now leading and initiating events.

ANCAD provided a range of support such as a consistent framework of mentorship, networking opportunities and strategic support. Rather than directing Bays Youth Council to host certain initiatives, ANCAD empowered them to do what they believe will interest and benefit youth.

From the early initiatives such as clothes swap and beach clean-ups to the more recent events such as supporting the consultation of Auckland Mayoral Plan, ANCAD provides the strategic scaffolding that allows the young leaders to navigate the complexities of organising and hosting initiatives but also the opportunity to learn from their mistakes.

The recent consultation of Auckland Mayoral Plan at Summer spectacular showcased how important ANCAD’s support for Bays Youth Council has been. Infusing the plan with youth-led vibrancy, Bays Youth Council used lollies as votes and created engaging visuals to allow young people to gain an idea of the main aspects of the plan. Within the period of 4 hours, more than 80 individuals took the initiative to vote and take a lolly as a reward for themselves too!

Looking at the votes, transport and economic concerns are the main focus for many youths, with a combined 36 voters who believe Auckland Council should focus on these areas. Other voices that were captured highlighted the need to increase opportunities for young people. Some of the answers to the question “As youth, what do you want to see in our community?” were: “Uni student expo on specific subjects” / “Uni intro/prep guide”, “More youth performance opportunities,” “Safer/ more punctual public transport” and “Job market guide and what you can do.”

Today, Bays Youth Council continues to thrive under the support of ANCAD. Many initiatives are already being planned and executed for the coming month such as a potential collaboration with the Browns Bay Chinese Society to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year with the importance of sustainability in mind (the idea is to make dumplings from vege gardens and calculate how much carbon has been saved).

Thanks to ANCAD’s continuous support and their provision of a professional “safety net,” Bays Youth Council will continue to empower the community as well as mentor the next wave of young leaders.

By Eva Chen, ANCAD

NZ Ethnic Women’s Trust was established in 2001. For more than 20 years, the Trust has supported ethnic women and families across Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a well-established organisation with strong community trust and grassroots experience.

The Trust works closely with mums and families, especially migrants and former refugees who are new to New Zealand. It helps them feel connected, confident, and supported as they settle into a new country.

In 2024, the Trust joined the ANCAD Community Accounting Programme. This was not because the Trust was struggling, but because it wanted to strengthen its systems while continuing to grow.

As the Hamilton group expanded over the past two years, the Trust travelled regularly to visit families, support local leaders, and build capability. When the needs in Hamilton increased, representatives also visited the MSD Hamilton office to advocate for the community.

Because the Trust supports migrants and former refugees, the needs can be complex. Strong financial systems, clear reporting, and good governance are important when working with government agencies and funders.

ANCAD’s community accounting support and leadership programmes provided useful capability building in these areas.

ANCAD offered accounting mentors, university students, and practical advice. They helped with understanding financial reporting, governance processes, and accountability systems. This support was ongoing and relationship based.

The Trust was already doing strong community work on its own. ANCAD’s involvement added another layer of support, making the organisation more holistic and sustainable.

Financial management is now clearer, governance conversations are stronger, and the Trust feels more confident advocating for wider community needs.

Looking ahead, NZ Ethnic Women’s Trust will continue supporting families while strengthening its systems, ensuring long-term sustainability for the communities it serves.

By Eva Chen (ANCAD)

Although newly registered, the Centre has been working at grassroots level for over six years to support children and young people to stay connected with Chinese culture and to build belonging in Aotearoa.

Their commitment has nurtured the Chinese Cultural Group at Mt Albert Grammar School — performing at Unity Concerts in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and proudly progressing to Polyfest in 2025.

Beyond cultural performance, they run youth basketball sessions to encourage teamwork, confidence, and peer networks — helping young people “build your own family when you don’t have one in NZ.”

With support from ANCAD’s Community Accounting programme, they strengthened their finance systems using Xero, and subsequently secured Auckland Council funding for cultural “snack performances” this year.

Across the community, there is a growing sense of pride and connection emerging from the Centre’s programmes. Young people speak of how empowering it feels to celebrate and express their Chinese identity within mainstream community events, where they are welcomed, visible, and valued.

Parents echo this sentiment, noting that the environment their children enter each week is one where confidence is nurtured and leadership naturally begins to take shape.

Coaches and volunteers describe the basketball sessions as “whanaungatanga in action,” with friendships forming organically across different cultural backgrounds and young people discovering a shared sense of belonging.

Behind the scenes, the Centre has also taken significant steps to strengthen its governance and financial systems — work that is already paying off. With improved structures and accountability in place, the organisation is now better positioned to secure new funding and scale its programmes, ensuring these positive impacts can continue to grow across the wider community.

Cultural connectors working across our communities are consistently highlighting a few practices that make the biggest difference. First, it’s essential to meet people where they are — culturally, linguistically, and even geographically — recognising that true engagement starts with understanding the worlds they move in. Identity-building doesn’t happen in just one space, so supporting both arts and sports creates multiple pathways for young people to grow, express themselves, and belong. Another crucial investment is capability building: strengthening finance, governance, and strategic planning early on gives community groups the foundation they need for long-term success.

Just as important is giving young people opportunities to be visible; performances at events like Polyfest are incredibly empowering and help affirm cultural identity in ways that resonate far beyond the stage.

And finally, it’s vital to value the “informal families” that naturally emerge within community groups — often becoming the first place where new migrants feel at home, connected, and supported.

Those working closest with the young people describe a powerful journey unfolding before them. “When we first started, many of these children felt disconnected — unsure where they fit in Aotearoa. But through dance, through music, through sport, they have found pride and friendship.”

One leader shared that watching the group perform at Polyfest felt like a true milestone — not just for the children, but for the belief that their culture deserves a place on every stage in New Zealand. Another reflected on the deep sense of connection that has grown within the group over time: “Here, we build our own family. We show that belonging is something you create together.”

These lived experiences from the field capture the heart of what community spaces can make possible: confidence, cultural pride, and a homegrown sense of belonging.

By Eva Chen

In late November 2025 we gathered for the Community Accounting Ceremony 2025 – a moment to celebrate the mahi, growth, and collective achievements throughout the year.

The ceremony was not just an event, but a chance to acknowledge everyone who contributed to making this programme thrive – students, mentors, community organisations, partners and supporters.

In 2025, we worked alongside:

• 9 organisations in Semester One.
• 2 organisations in the mid-year intake.
• 11 organisations in Semester Two.

A total of 20+ Chartered Accountant mentors generously volunteered their time and expertise, guiding students and supporting community groups through real-world financial challenges. At one point, we received 165 Expressions of Interest from students, showing the high demand and enthusiasm for this learning pathway.

We are also proud to share some meaningful outcomes:

• 2 organisations successfully secured funding/grants after working with us.
• 5 students gained internships, part-time or full-time roles because of their participation.
• Our mahi reached beyond Tāmaki Makaurau – extending to Tauranga, Hamilton, and Tairāwhiti.

This year brought lots of learning and reflection. Community Accounting is not just about financial statements – it’s about capability building, financial confidence, implementation, governance, and empowering community organisations to do what they do best.

It was heart-warming to hear feedback from organisations who appreciated the patience and professionalism of our mentors and students, and from students who said the programme helped them bridge academic knowledge with real practice, gain confidence, and feel more connected to the community.

As we wrapped up 2025, we celebrated the progress made, the relationships built, and the impact created together. We continue this journey in 2026 – supporting more communities, growing young professionals, and strengthening the ecosystem that holds our communities together.

Growing Confidence, Strengthening Impact

A LiiFT Aotearoa impact story

By Katrina Brown, Manager, Grey District Youth Trust | greydistrictyouthtrust.com | IG: artsoup.nz

The Grey District Youth Trust (GDYT) is a charitable trust based in Māwhera/Greymouth, Te Tai o Poutini/West Coast. Established in 2001, GDYT’s vision is “to work creatively with young people (aged 12 to 24) in ways that cultivate connection, growth, positive change, and participation within the Grey District”.

I am the manager of the organisation. I work closely with our awesome administrator, Sandra Yeomans, and in collaboration with our Trustees and Chairperson Chris Efford, supporting youth-led programmes under GDYT’s three focus areas; Youth Voice; Youth-Friendly Spaces; and Arts and Wellbeing.

In 2021, we were running a creative programme from spaces we borrowed from other organisations session to session. Four youth participating in our programme applied for and were awarded seed funding from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, to trial their vision of a youth arts and wellbeing space in Māwhera/Greymouth. This trial was hugely successful and GDYT was determined to support the youth beyond the trial period. We were also hosting the district’s only out-of-school Rainbow Youth Group, and it was important to us that we could continue to provide this safe and inclusive space for our rural, neurodivergent, creative, and LGBTQIA+ youth.

By 2024, Art Soup had moved into its third and current space. We were providing regular Open Studio sessions, Rainbow Youth Group, weekly tech, painting, craft and music classes and clubs, a youth-led outdoor group, one-off workshops and events for Pink Shirt Day and Youth Week.

Youth were organising community events including an annual Youth Night Market and movie night and offering activities at events run by Grey District Council. With the programmes and youth participation growing, Sandra and I were determined to support our local youth by helping them secure funding to give some certainty to the future of Art Soup and their awesome mahi.

Sandra and I discovered ANCAD’s LiiFT Aotearoa webinars when searching for funding options. As Sandra says, “There is a LOT of information out there on the interweb and we could spend a LOT of money and time we don’t have attending webinars and training which may not be relevant to our organisation.” There is no way we would have been able to afford travelling to attend so much face-to-face free training in the main centres, or the price of training offered locally.

We both took part in the “Become funder-ready” webinar, which helped us to understand the funding environment and got us thinking about how we could strengthen our organisation. It changed the way we apply for funding. Sandra and I were aware that we needed upskilling to make informed decisions and lift our organisation whilst using best practice to meet our legislative and ethical requirements as a not-for-profit.

We, and members of our Board, have attended the majority of the “Governance Matters” webinar series made available through LiiFT each month. The accessibility and relevance of the training to our organisation and the clear, concise, and evidence-based information encouraged us to attend as many of the webinars as we could get to. It’s reassuring to have the knowledge from the training to make informed decisions, and it’s given us confidence to do so (although it can sometimes be a bit scary, it isn’t overwhelming anymore).

When one of our youth participants expressed their hope of establishing and leading a regular youth outdoor group, we were keen to support their vision. But this was new territory for us. The Health and Safety training gave us the confidence to branch out into supporting youth to adventure in the outdoors. We were able to advise our board from a position of knowledge gained through the training of their responsibilities and develop processes to identify and mitigate risk. This is now a key programme for GDYT, full of excellent adventures!

Over time, Sandra and I have attended over 20 webinars, some more than once, and we have recommended the Governance training to our Board members. For our younger, least experienced board members it provides accessible free governance training which gets them thinking and for more experienced board members it can fill in some gaps.

We have observed our younger board members gaining confidence to have a voice around the Board table. And we have been inspired to engage in further, paid training, scaffolded by this strong foundation of knowledge.

As we have implemented practical suggestions from the LiiFT training, we have grown our own confidence and also strengthened the reputation of our organisation in our community. It has been useful in our roles in a number of community organisations. It has inspired us to speak up more clearly about concerns and reminded us to celebrate the things we do well.

Through the collaboration between Rangitoto College, Mairangi Arts Centre and ANCAD, this idea came to life. On Saturday the 9th of May, more than 40 Rangitoto students came down to the Mairangi Village and Mairangi Arts Centre to set up their stalls and their products. The products ranged from fresh fruit juice, to dog treats, to pipe-cleaner flowers and even to marble cutting boards. For many of the students, Launch Pad was their first taste of what it truly means to run a business. They learned how to price their products, communicate with customers and to appreciate the amount of work that goes into creating, launching and selling a product.

ANCAD’s support and impact comes in many ways, both directly and indirectly. Members of Bays Youth Council, an initiative supported by ANCAD since 2020, showed up to help and support this youth- focused event from the set up to the pack down. The volunteers were on the ground, lending their hands wherever needed and even hosted a small engagement stall where they taught youth how to make origami tulips. ANCAD also played a crucial role in the planning and communication of the event, liaising with Mairangi Arts Centre as well as Rangitoto College. The event is definitely a success in itself, however the ongoing impact is something else that needs to be highlighted. Launch Pad demonstrates the need for youth led initiatives in the community as well as the impact of interdisciplinary collaboration between arts, commerce and youth.

Beyond the sales and sold out stores, the real impact of Launch Pad is measured in mindsets and growth. Students left not just with profits and a first- hand experience of business, but also with a deeper belief in their own capabilities and the knowledge that they are backed by a community that showed up to support them every step of the way.

From the excitement of selling out a product to those behind the work preparation, these small yet defining moments illuminate the shared hope among every organisation involved that Launch Pad will return, bigger, better and with even more schools and students taking part in the future. Launch Pad serves as a stepping stone to help youth enterprises and young people to have the chance to step up, show up and launch their ideas into reality!

Written by Rachel Gu (ANCAD Youth intern)

This was the theme for 2026.

At this year’s Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui, six outstanding high school students shared their lived experiences and reflections on how Aotearoa New Zealand can become a better, more inclusive place.

These students had already come a long way — progressing through their regional competitions before reaching the national final. The day before the final, they also took part in a hui, where they had the opportunity to connect with one another, reflect, and deepen the kaupapa behind their speeches.

Their speeches were a powerful reminder that listening is not simply about being quiet while someone else is speaking. Real listening means making space for another person’s story, especially when their background, culture or experience is different from our own.

Through their honest reflections on racism, identity, belonging and hope, these young speakers reminded the audience how much we still need to learn from one another in Aotearoa New Zealand.

When people truly listen, they begin to see beyond labels, assumptions and stereotypes. They can better understand the values we share, while also recognising the barriers and biases that still exist within our communities and systems.

This is where real change can begin — through honest conversations, open hearts, and the courage to listen before judging.

The Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui are organised by the New Zealand Bahá’í Community. The awards began in 2001 in memory of Hedi Moani and are held in support of Race Relations Day.

In 2026, the event is also supported by a number of partners and award sponsors, including NZ Police, the Human Rights Commission, Multicultural New Zealand, the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, MIT & Unitec, Speech New Zealand, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, and others.

Congratulations to all the speakers and award recipients.

Tohu Raukura ā-Motu
NZ Police National Champion’s Award

Awarded to the overall winner of the 2026 Race Unity Speech Awards

Recognises leadership in advancing the national conversation, talent and achievement.

Tohu Manaakitanga
The Manukau Institute of Technology & Unitec Award for Manaakitanga.

Is for a speaker who demonstrates manaakitanga through ngakau (compassion) and aroha (empathy) in overcoming prejudice and building bonds of kotahitanga (unity).

Tohu Whetumatarau
Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision

Is for a speaker who helps listeners to envision Aotearoa’s future as a multicultural society founded on Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

AWARDED TO:

Amanjot Singh — Hastings Boys High School

Tohu Māramatanga
Bahá’í Community Award for Insight

Honours a speaker for insights into the oneness of humanity and constructive approaches to overcoming racism in Aotearoa.

AWARDED TO:

Sisilia Misa — Middleton Grange School

Tohu Ahurea Rau
Multicultural New Zealand Award for Diversity

Honours a speaker for empathy and understanding of the cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Aotearoa.

AWARDED TO:

Kylie Arada — Southern Cross Campus

Tohu Auahatanga
Speech New Zealand Award for Delivery

This award Is given to the speaker whose creative and engaging delivery captures the audience’s attention.

AWARDED TO:

Paora Tavake — Dilworth School

Tohu Aumangea
Hedi Moani Memorial Award for Advocacy

For a speaker who shows us how to stand up for our rights and the rights of others.

AWARDED TO:

Lukas Strohmeier — Francis Douglas Memorial College

Tohu Manukura i Te Reo
Māori Language Commission Award for Te Reo Māori

Recognises the speaker who uses te reo Māori most eloquently and effectively in their speech.

Tohu Eke Panuku
Human Rights Commission Award for Impact

Recognises a speaker for offering an effective practical suggestion for ending racism and improving race relations in Aotearoa.

AWARDED TO:

Malak Tamimi — Queen’s High School

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