CNSST Foundation

What CNSST Foundation does

CNSST Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust established in 1998 and headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, providing integrated settlement, employment, education, social work, immigration, and translation services primarily to Asian migrants. The organisation operates through several service arms: Settlement Services (including the Overseas Chinese Services Centre); Employment & Enterprise Services offering free recruitment linking bilingual job seekers with Auckland employers; CNSST Education Institute delivering vocational MYOB and XERO accounting software training with over 150 graduates since 2011 and a stated 95%+ job placement rate; four Cultural Learning Centres across Auckland (Botany, North Shore, Howick, Parnell) offering Chinese language, mathematics, art, and after-school programmes; Social Work & Counselling Services including family violence intervention, child/youth services, and senior support; licensed Immigration Advisory (IAA-registered Rachel Huang); NAATI/NZSTI-certified Translation Services in Mandarin, Korean, and Japanese; and the MSD-partnered Driver Licence Support programme which has served nearly 1,000 clients since 2023.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid of fee-for-service (training course packages ranging from NZ$345 to NZ$1,890, immigration advisory fees, translation services, after-school tuition), government grants and contracts (MSD, NZTA, Auckland local boards, DHBs), and donations. The organisation holds a wholly-owned subsidiary, CNSST Education Institute (CNSSTEI), which delivers the vocational training line. A board of eight trustees chaired by Stella Chan governs the entity, with no parent company or external controlling owner identified. The organisation's competitive positioning rests on 25+ years of community trust, bilingual service delivery across English, Chinese, and Korean, and a portfolio of regulatory credentials (NAATI, NZSTI, MBIE, NZQA, IAA licensing) that create entry barriers for new community service providers.

Name

CNSST Foundation

Legal name

CNSST Foundation

Website

https://cnsst.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CNSST Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust established in 1998 in Auckland, New Zealand, delivering integrated settlement, employment, education, social work, immigration, and translation services to Asian migrants, with fee-based training and government-contract revenue streams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Migrant Community Settlement Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee Camp Coordination & Management (CCCM) (BPADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Systems & Skills Technical Assistance (BPADAEAI), Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD), Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB)

Keywords

• Migrant settlement services
• Community social work
• Immigration advisory services
• Vocational training courses
• Certified translation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Education and Training Services: CNSST Education Institute provides MYOB and XERO accounting software training courses. The CNSST Cultural Learning Centres offer after-school programs, Chinese language education, and cultural learning. Revenue is generated through course fees for professional accounting training and educational programs.
2. Community and Social Services: Free and subsidized services for community members including settlement support, social work, counselling, and housing development. Some programs are government-funded or partnered with MSD.
3. Translation Services: Translation and interpretation services for immigration documents and official papers in Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, and Japanese languages. Pricing based on document type, language pair, word count, and turnaround time.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CNSST Foundation is a non-profit community organisation that delivers settlement support, employment and enterprise services, education and vocational training (including MYOB and XERO accounting courses), social work and counselling, licensed immigration advisory, and NAATI-certified translation services primarily to Asian migrants in New Zealand. It operates a 35-person team from its Panmure headquarters and four Cultural Learning Centres across Auckland, and is governed by a Board of Trustees.

Product overview

CNSST Foundation is a community services organization offering a comprehensive suite of services to Asian migrants settling in New Zealand. The organization operates through distinct service divisions: Settlement Services (Overseas Chinese Services Centre, accommodation support), Employment & Enterprise Services (recruitment, job placement, work rights guidance), Education & Training (CNSST Education Institute with MYOB/XERO accounting courses, CNSST Cultural Learning Centres at 6 locations offering Chinese language and academic tutoring, driver training, after-school programs), Social Work & Counselling Services (family resilience, child/youth services, senior services, domestic violence support), Immigration Services (licensed immigration advisory), Translation Services (NAATI/NZSTI certified), Community Housing Development, and Environmental Sustainability. The CNSST Education Institute provides vocational training while Cultural Learning Centres focus on supplementary education for children.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Settlement Support Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 95% of MYOB students found accounting jobs after training
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of Social Development (MSD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with New Zealand Ministry of Social Development to deliver driver licence support program for vulnerable community members. CNSST provides free driving instruction, exam accompaniment, and vehicle use for eligible clients. The program aims to improve road safety, employment opportunities, and social outcomes for disadvantaged individuals.
• ADHB, WDHB, AUT, NIHI, TANI, FONO, HEALTH WESTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for the Healthy Mother Healthy Future Programme to improve Asian perinatal mental health outcomes. Partners include Auckland District Health Board, Waitemata DHB, Auckland University of Technology, National Institute for Health Innovation, Taichi Aotearoa New Zealand, FONO Maori Health Provider, and Health West. The program provides referral pathways, community support, health education, and counselling services.
• Overseas Chinese Services Centre NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNSST operates the Overseas Chinese Services Centre providing settlement support, community connections, and cultural integration services for Chinese migrants. Part of a broader network of overseas Chinese service centres.
• Auckland Local BoardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport from local boards including Waitemata, Howick, Otara-Papatoetoe, and Mangere-Otahuhu for Cultural Learning Centre operations. These partnerships provide funding, facilities access, and community legitimacy.
• Confucius Institute in New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory relationship with the Confucius Institute in New Zealand, directed by Nora Yao, for Chinese language education support and cultural programming guidance.
• NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for road safety messaging and driver licence support initiatives. CNSST shares NZTA safety campaigns with the community including drink driving prevention and mobile safety camera information.
• Whanau Resilience Auckland Regional CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNSST Family Services is part of the Whanau Resilience Auckland Regional Collective, working collaboratively on family violence prevention, parenting support, and community resilience programs combining local and Asian cultural values.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Immigration New Zealand Licensed Advisor Network: Regulatory body and national network of licensed immigration advisers including individual practitioners and firms competing with CNSST's Immigration Services arm on visa and residence applications.

Regional players

• The Fono (Pasifika health and social services): Auckland-based NGO providing health, education, and social services to Pacific communities; parallels CNSST's culturally-specific integrated service model but serves a different migrant demographic.

Broad incumbents

• Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand: National NGO network offering free information, referral, and advocacy across all of NZ; comparable in providing settlement-adjacent guidance to newcomers and disadvantaged communities, though non-culturally specific.
• New Zealand Red Cross Refugee Programmes: Established national humanitarian organization providing refugee resettlement, family links, and settlement support in multiple regions including Auckland; comparable migration services with broader geographic and demographic scope.

Direct peers

• Asian Family Services: NZ non-profit delivering counselling, social work, and family violence intervention tailored to Asian communities; overlaps closely with CNSST's Social Work & Counselling Team and Asian-migrant client base.
• Belong Aotearoa: Former Auckland Regional Refugee Services, provides resettlement, community development, and family/social support to refugees and migrants in Auckland; directly comparable service mix and target community.
• English Language Partners New Zealand: National NGO delivering English language, settlement, and training support for former refugees and migrants; operates across NZ including Auckland and shares CNSST's migrant education and community-integration mandate.

Emerging players

• Multi-Ethric Young Leaders New Zealand (MYLN): Emerging NZ non-profit supporting migrant and refugee youth through education and employment pathways; smaller scope than CNSST but overlaps on training and settlement programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cnsst-foundation

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CNSST Foundation