Strengthening community governance in Central Otago’s smaller rural areas is underway thanks to Huddl and Volunteer South.

The groups have joined forces to offer a free workshop in Roxburgh in early November, bringing community groups and non-profits together to address key governance challenges.

The Community Committee Essentials workshop will look at the lifecycle of a non-profit board, focusing on committee recruitment, induction and succession planning - vital knowledge for the long-term sustainability of local groups.

A 2024 Community Needs Assessment survey found that more than 70 percent of non-profit groups across Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes were facing challenges within their organisations - and accessing funding was the key issue.

Huddl was established to find practical ways to support those groups with tools and a framework, and this year has been making an effort to reach smaller areas such as Roxburgh and Ranfurly, with targeted support.

The organisation works alongside charitable organisations to build capability and capacity, providing practical tools, mentoring, training and guidance to help them become more sustainable and effective.

Huddl project lead Fiona Reeve said each of the rural areas have specific needs and changing demographics in their not for profit groups, and some required a different approach.

The Roxburgh session was designed to build both capacity and confidence within the community sector.

“We’re excited to offer practical training to help community groups in the Teviot Valley,” she said.

“Local community groups do such important work in this area, and we want to provide some tools and information to help support and upskill their boards and committees.”

Volunteer South community connector Sue O’Brien said the partnership with Huddl reflected a shared commitment to helping community organisations thrive.

“Volunteers are the heart of our communities. This workshop gives volunteer boards and committees the confidence to manage change, bring in new people, and ensure their boards are set up for success.”

The Community Committee Essentials workshop in Roxburgh will be held on Thursday November 6 at the Roxburgh Service Centre. Register here huddl.nz or check out the link under our public notices.

Huddl will also run a series of policy workshops across the region over November to help non-profit boards develop key governance policies, including finance, health and safety, risk management, diversity and inclusion, and emerging areas such as AI and cybersecurity.

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