A new year of fresh starts.

Thank you for taking a moment to read our first newsletter of 2025 as we settle into the new year. There's certainly plenty to catch up on, with several developments within the Pathway group as we kick off what promises to be another impactful year. 

In this issue, you'll read about our 3 year anniversary with Pathway Affordable Housing, an exciting new initiative for our wāhine, and about Oak Tree providing flexible employment. You'll also read about our CEO's recent visit to the NI Unit as well as Alloyfold's latest update from the American Rental Association Trade show in Las Vegas – but first I'd like to share a few highlights of our early 2025.

Firstly, a significant milestone has been our deepening partnerships with local community groups and volunteers. We've welcomed several new groups and individuals who are bringing a range of different skills and perspectives into the Navigate Initiative unit. From addiction support to musicians, these volunteers are creating new pathways for our Tū Ora that go far beyond traditional support models.

We have had a real emphasis on community as we've started the year, particularly in providing reintegration sessions both in the unit and in the community. Volunteers have been instrumental in providing these sessions and have shown how important community input is in our work. 

Those who have been following our journey know how critical our partnerships are – particularly with the Department of Corrections – in creating meaningful change for individuals and ultimately the community. The trust and collaboration we've continued to build has put us in a really solid place in this regard, and we’re excited to see these relationships continue to flourish.

Team dynamics are always evolving, and this quarter Uelese has stepped into a new role as unit lead, taking on the responsibility of guiding our work in the Navigate Initiative Unit. I’m pleased to be working closely with the reintegration team this year as we continue to help people make fresh starts.

The funding landscape for nonprofit organisations continues to challenge us in ways we've not seen before. As government support becomes increasingly constrained and traditional funding sources dry up, we've been reminded of the critical importance of our program sovereignty. Our ability to maintain independence and flexibility in how we support individuals is more crucial than ever. It's only through the generosity of our supporters alongside our social enterprise model that we will be able to continue to provide comprehensive, innovative support that makes a difference.

Our volunteers and supporters remain the heartbeat of our organisation, and it never ceases to amaze me how many in the community have dedicated time and resources to help people make fresh starts. We would like to thank all who have supported Pathway as we move into 2025.

Kirsten Billcliff

COO, Pathway Charitable Group