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ANGOA Association of Non-Governmental Organisations of Aotearoa Mahi Tahi — Working Together |
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NewsANGOA is politically non-partisan. ANGOA is hosting discussions with all political party spokespeople for the sector. Speeches they make to the ANGOA Roundtable are published on this page as they become available.
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Upcoming Events
Are you looking to upgrade your Microsoft® software and would like to get the latest products as donations? TechSoup at www.techsoup.net.nz is up and running and is now the way for not-for-profit organisations with charitable status to access Microsoft® software. NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations (NZFVWO) is working with an Australian agency to bring Techsoup to charities in New Zealand. Software is donated with an administration fee of 4% of the normal retail price. For example Microsoft® Office Professional Plus 2007 is just $27, plus GST! There are criteria about eligibility, size and frequency of orders fully set out on the TechSoup New Zealand website. Even if you don’t want to order now, make sure you get online and register your interest, so you can later order without delay when you need to buy. There are just three easy steps to making your selections!
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24 November 2008
24-26 November 2008, Waitakere, Auckland.
03 December 2008
Wednesday, 3 December, 10am to 12:30, by Teleconference.
03 October 2008
What's your global handprint?
It's in your hands: make good mental health a priority in your life.
Reach out: make connections and increase understanding.
Put your hand up: Be an advocate for positive change and social inclusion.
How Can You Celebrate?
Attached is a schedule of Mental Health Awareness events taking place around Wellington next week.
See www.mentalhealth.org.nz for more information.
23 September 2008
The Tangata Whenua, Community & Voluntary Sector Research Centre provides research resources to support people and organisations in the community sector, and to contribute to the strengthening of the Sector through enhancing our collective knowledge base.
The Research Centre wishes to appoint a Development Manager part time (20 hours per week) for an initial period of six months to implement the Governance Group’s strategic vision.
The Development Manager will need to:
Further information about the Research Centre can be found at www.communityresearch.org.nz
For a full job description and further information please contact either of the Co-Chairs before closing date Friday 10 October 2008.
Co-Chair Pat Hanley: lawler.hanley@slingshot.co.nz
Co-Chair Pania Coote: ptcoote@ihug.co.nz
24 July 2008
The energy for the ANZSTR conference to be held in Auckland in 24-26th November 2008 has really begun to buzz. As momentum and increased interest builds we have come to realise a wider group of researchers and practitioners have only just come to hear of our plans.
For this reason, we are extending the deadline of submission to 7 August 2008 and the Early Bird Registration date to 15 August 2008.
To recap: We are meeting to demonstrate and celebrate the contribution community researchers and their research in/for/by/with the community/NGO/Third Sector make to the wellbeing of people and planet!
For full information, and to check out the proposed programme currently under development go to http://www.anztsr.org.au/2008%20conference%20web%20home.htm
A whole range of funders who may be able to support your conference attendance is listed on http://www.mwa.govt.nz/links.html#funding
08 July 2008
The April edition of New Dialogue is now available online at www.nzfvwo.org.nz/files/ND23web.htm.
In addition you can access a pdf copy of the print edition by visiting our website, www.nzfvwo.org.nz, and clicking on the New Dialogue icon.
02 July 2008
We're in Trouble
... not with the law, but with the bottom line. We're within a whisker of running out of cash to pay our bills. And this is the first time I've had to write such a letter in my 8 years as executive director. Which is why I'm writing to you.
Prison Fellowship NZ has spent 25 years working with NZ's prisoners, prisons and the community by promoting programs, services and policies which:
Hone joined our mentor programme while serving time in the Prison Fellowship-linked Faith Based Unit in Rimutaka Prison. Recently he was released into home detention, with the continuing support of the same mentor and his link with a local church. Within weeks of Hone's release, the landlord sold the flat he and his partner were in, leaving them potentially homeless. But not for long: Hone's mentor and church family found a new flat, donating some necessary furnishings.
But if a guy's to stick to his intended non-offending lifestyle, he needs a job. So Prison Fellowship worked with Hone on identifying his passions and his skills. We're delighted to report that he has obtained full-time employment truck driving. Hone is just seven months out of prison, and with the continued support and encouragement of his mentor and his church, his prospects of staying 'clean' will grow dramatically.
For Daniel(just 19), life was worse than meaningless. His plan was to die from a police bullet, but instead it was Evan, the innocent shopkeeper who lay dead, shot by Daniel. Seven years later, with the help of Prison Fellowship's Jackie Katounas (who has herself spent time behind bars), Evan's only sibling came face-to-face with Daniel. Fran told him, 'Through this tragedy you and I are connected for life, don't let my brothers life be for nothing. I want you to get out of here and make something of your life.' Fran then hugged the man that murdered her brother and wished him well.
'Once Fran had left the room' says Jackie, 'I was alone with Daniel. I looked into his eyes and was prompted to go and put my arms around him - he just sobbed his heart out. All I could do was hold him; there were no words to say. Yes, I cried too.'
'I am really surprised by the difference. I honestly didn't expect it,' commented a Corrections psychologist after meeting Richard, three months after his release. At the Faith Based Unit we worked with Richard to understand his past violent choices. 'When I was a child my father regularly beat me. I was afraid he'd kill me,' he explained.
Richard returned to live with his long term partner, to whom he displayed violence before his prison sentence. Their relationship is progressing well -even she is surprised at the change. Richard is also establishing a small enterprise to financially support his partner and her children.
While inside, Richard met his mentor (trained by Prison Fellowship) who is now a key support person to him. They attend a local church where Richard is surrounded by people who accept him. His love for playing music has been boosted by the invitation to join the worship team.
'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners...' (Jesus)
Thank you for your prayers, your gifts, your sacrificial voluntary work - in whatever way you have supported the ministry of Prison Fellowship, you have been part of God's desire to 'proclaim freedom for the prisoners'.
Back to where I started: the bottom line: quite simply, it's too close. We're grateful to our small band of faithful financial supporters, and for the opportunities that several government contracts have provided for in our ministry of transforming, restoring and reconciling. Now comes the crunch: competing pressures and priorities facing the Government have meant that the recent Budget provided significantly less than we had hoped for.
We need $200,000 just to meet our payments over the next two months. And we need a strong team of regular donors/sponsors to enable us to plan future ministry with some certainty.
Can you help us? I invite you to consider how you might partner with us in Prison Fellowship's financial need. (If the pressures of mortgage rates, petrol and cheese prices or other commitments mean your own budget is currently maxed out, we understand!)
You can use the downloadable response form or go online to http://www.pfnz.org.nz to donate now
Thank you for your care. May God bless you too.
Kim Workman
National Director
Prison Fellowship of New Zealand
PO Box 40657, Upper Hutt, 5140, New Zealand
23 June 2008
Reaping the rewards of wholesale indifference
5:00AM, Thursday June 19, 2008, by Alan Johnson
Randwick Park is a suburb in the east of Manurewa with a population of 5600 people, similar to Kaitaia, Stratford or Ashburton.
Randwick Park and indeed Manurewa have only come to prominence recently because of a spate of violent crimes including the murder of a liquor store owner.
The media's representation of this and other recent murders has been ill-informed and unfair in the way that it has presented the people of Manurewa and their struggles.
Much of this recent media comment has focused on the personal stories of anger and despair and failed to acknowledge the wider community stories of anger and despair that provide both the context and some of the explanations for what has happened.
The background story to Randwick Park, and indeed to many parts of South Auckland, is one of indifference. Personal indifference, official indifference and political indifference.
The callous indifference that Navtej Singh's killer showed to him has chilled New Zealanders. The indifference of locals to Mr Singh's suffering as they apparently pilfered booze while he lay dying is disheartening.
And the indifference of police who followed operating procedure and delayed responding is appalling, but frankly not unusual in South Auckland.
Even the apparent indifference of Mr Singh and his business partner to the harm they were doing selling liquor in Randwick Park. A report in the Sunday Star-Times indicated that Mr Singh and his partner had extended their operating hours in an effort to increase turnover.
There were already problems in the area, with family violence and youth drinking in the streets, but this was just a business decision, after all.
This indifference extends deeply into officialdom as well with quite dismal performances by central and local government agencies. For example, the indifference of the Ministry of Education in its failure to plan for early childhood education in Manurewa is quite staggering.
Recent figures indicate that there are only places in early childhood education centres in Manurewa for 36 per cent of local pre-schoolers compared with a national average of 64 per cent. In Randwick Park there are early childhood education places for one in five of the 700 or so pre-schoolers living there.
The lack of early childhood education opportunities translates into numeracy and literacy problems in primary schools and to underachievement in formal qualifications in secondary schools. Just 41 per cent of the 929 Year 11 students attending Manurewa's three local high schools passed NCEA Level 1 in 2007 compared with 73 per cent of students in decile-9 schools and 81 per cent in decile-10 schools within the Auckland region. Over 40 per cent of Manurewa's youth leave school without any NCEA qualifications.
In 2007, the Ministry of Social Development provided funding for three youth workers for Manurewa. At the same time it provided six youth workers for Otara and six for Mangere in an effort to address problems relating to youth gangs and youth crime.
Manurewa has nearly 10,000 teenagers, hundreds of whom are engaged in crime, mainly petty. Three youth workers to address this challenge is a token effort at best.
But Manukau City Council surely takes the cake for its indifference.
The council has within its district planning powers the ability to zone out liquor stores in neighbourhood shopping areas. It has repeatedly been asked by community boards and residents to do this.
The answer is always the same - that a change to the district plan is expensive and lengthy. There were, however, resources available to undertake a plan change for a proposed canal and marina development on the Wairoa River in Clevedon, which is now being opposed by ARC and local residents on environmental grounds.
It seems that changing the rules for developers of expensive residential property is an appropriate use of ratepayers' money but protecting poor neighbourhoods from the impacts of liquor retailing is not.
The rich irony in all of this is that it is easier to establish a liquor store in a suburban neighbourhood than it is to start an early childhood education facility or build a classroom in a local school.
Manukau City Council's indifference extends to the way in which it fails to support citizens who are struggling to build community infrastructure. Our sports clubs in Manurewa are literally collapsing with decaying club buildings and falling participation by children and teenagers. One local rugby club has just three senior teams and no junior football.
Yet for all its rhetoric of social conscience, the council declined to assist the local rugby league club with a new building, despite the fact that it is the biggest league club in the country, engages the most at-risk young people and has outgrown its tired old building.
Much of what has happened in Manurewa over the past few months is unsurprising for local people. Mr Singh's murder was, frankly, an accident waiting to happen, as indeed much of our local misfortune is.
The key to reversing this misfortune is to overcome our indifference to one another as neighbours and to build stronger community relationships. The key to doing this is to empower local people to have more control over what happens in their neighbourhoods.
This empowerment will require resources and not just the rhetoric of apparently concerned politicians. These resources should be directed towards our children through their kindergartens, their kohanga reo and language nests, their schools, their music classes and their sports teams.
If Manurewa's kids had the same opportunities as their counterparts in wealthier suburbs, the crimes of indifference that we are now witnessing would be far less common.
Alan Johnson is a member of the Manurewa Community Board, school trustee and former Manukau City councillor.
23 June 2008
The attached paper outlines the key findings and recommendations from a comprehensive crossnational analysis of how new sites of local governance, particularly partnerships, act to encourage or discourage voluntary sector activism. It is based upon findings from a two-year comparative research project conducted in Manchester, UK and Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.
The findings arise from surveys undertaken in both cities and 128 interviews with key figures from voluntary and community organisations (VCOs), local, regional and national statutory sectors and activists working in the fields of mental health and community safety.
22 May 2008
Green Party Media Release
Almost $100 million has been secured by the Green Party in the 2008 budget, comprising their largest budget package ever.
Among the Green Party initiatives is a guaranteed $10.26 million over four years for the Community Organisations Grant Scheme to provide essential financial support to non-profit voluntary and community organisations. COGS has been chronically underfunded since its inception. The Green Party looks forward to hard pressed organisations all over New Zealand finding survival that much easier as a result of this funding boost.
The Community Internship Programme (CIP), a Green Party initiative, assists community organisations by sharing ideas, knowledge and experience between groups and sectors. Under a new allocation CIP’s annual budget will almost double, with an extra $313,000 every year, for the next four years. This extra funding will provide for 10 additional internships.
“The Green Party initiatives target the much-neglected community sector, that vital third sector of the economy where civil society organises in non-for-profit organisations to work for the common good. It promotes better health not by waiting till people are sick then treating them, but by keeping them healthy by preventing illness from cold damp housing, antibiotic resistant infections and contaminated food. It promotes democracy, by opening up the decision making process to ordinary people outside of politics and parliament. And it links key Green concerns about climate change and biodiversity conservation,” Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says.
Other big winners are $800,000 additional funding for environment centres, $1 million for refugee assistance and a Citizen’s Forum to consider funding of elections and political parties with $4.3 million.
“However, the Government has ignored the 61 percent of New Zealanders who just last month said they would rather not have tax cuts if it meant cuts to social spending like health, benefits and education.
“This Budget is yet again short-sighted. It all but ignores the environment, does little to prepare New Zealanders for the end of cheap oil, ignores the needs of students and fails to tackle some of the biggest issues that we as a nation are facing,” Ms Fitzsimons says.
A total of $53.4 million over five years has been secured for a variety of renovations to make State houses warmer, drier and more energy efficient. In addition to insulating the remaining 21,000 uninsulated houses, the package includes draft-proofing windows and doors, wraps for hot water cylinders, efficient shower heads, lagging of pipes and, if appropriate, new energy efficient home heating. The funding will double the current rate of progress on the insulation scheme and ensure that within five years no state house tenant will live in a cold damp home.
$10.26 million over four years will provide essential financial support to non-profit voluntary and community based organisations through the Community Organisation Grants Scheme, New Zealand’s most devolved funding scheme. Every year funding is allocated to over 3,000 community groups by committees of local volunteers, based on their knowledge of their own community. This money ensures the survival of a wide range of groups from the very small to the more recognised. The additional money will help thousands of groups better offset the ever increasing costs they have faced since COGS was established in 1986. The funding increase represents a 20percent per annum increase to the fund.
$4.324 million will fund a Citizen’s Jury to work with a government Expert Panel which will review and report to the Minister of Justice on the structure of electoral agencies and the funding of elections and political parties. The Citizen’s Jury will consider options on state funding of elections and political parties as proposed by the Expert Panel. This is a one-off 12-month initiative originally announced in December 2007.
$8 million over four years will support five major research projects on climate change on conservation land. The projects range from climate change implications for threatened species and threatened environments including the impact on freshwater resources and species adaptation.
$4 million, over two years, will go to the new National Community Biodiversity Fund to support restoration projects that protect indigenous biodiversity on public land, including Maori land, dunelands and waterways. This will complement the existing Biodiversity Condition and Advice Fund of $3.5 million a year that funds projects on private land.
$4 million funding over four years will establish a comprehensive antibiotic resistant surveillance system in New Zealand. The new system will be administered by the Ministry of Health, with the assistance of the New Zealand Food Safety Authority which will help to enhance services and improve the surveillance and control of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
The new surveillance system is likely to include
Funding of $2.4 million over four years will improve the monitoring and testing of foods that are imported into New Zealand. At present only foods that are categorised as being high risk are tested by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. The new funding will enable the authority to extend its monitoring and testing regime to imported foods other than those considered high risk and allow for random testing. The enhanced regime will include a new system which will use complaints, recalls, new research, health scares or border rejections – to alert NZFSA to foods that may warrant closer inspection.
Two important private members bills from the Green Party were passed in the last eight months: Sue Kedgley’s Flexible Working Arrangements Bill and Sue Bradford’s Minimum Wage (New Entrants) Bill. The Implementation of Private Members’ Bills and associated work programme gives $2.38 million over the next three years to assist employees and employers in understanding their new rights and obligations according to these new acts. This allocation will fund information kits, digital resources, the development of case studies, and advertising.
The Community Internship Programme (CIP), a Green Party initiative, is designed to assist community organisations by sharing ideas, knowledge and experience between organisations and sectors. Currently, there are nine six month internships funded annually. Under this new allocation CIP’s annual budget will almost double, with an extra $313,000 every year, for the next four years. This extra funding will provide for 10 additional internships, as well as allowing for greater flexibility of salary where this is necessary to attract appropriate skill sets.
A further $800,000 over four years has been secured to support the general running costs of Environment Centres. An environment centre’s role is to inform, advise and engage the community on environmental issues. The centres’ key roles are to: Motivate and inform existing and new environmentally-focussed groups; provide information and education to the community and act as a focus and meeting place for community action on environmental issues. Environment Centres first received government funding in an initiative from the Green Party in the 2000/01 Budget.
Two initiatives with total value $1 million will support refugees and the services that assist refugees. The Refugee and Migrant Service Refugee Resettlement programme gets a $600,000 budget boost ($150,000 a year over four years) for delivering vital services to refugees and migrants.
In addition money will also go to assisting refugee families – who have often come from overseas refugee camps to start a new life in New Zealand.
$200,000 for a Peacemaking Feasibility Study to will look at how New Zealand can expand its our role in resolving conflicts in the world, and assisting in post conflict situations. It would also take account of the experience of other small countries, like Norway in the Middle East and Sri Lanka, in helping prevent conflicts, getting negotiations going in conflict situations, working out ceasefire arrangements and helping with reconciliation.
16 May 2008
The government will introduce legislation to ensure that state-funded tertiary education institutions, state and integrated schools, and non-resident charities do not have to register with the Charities Commission to retain their tax-exempt status, Finance Minister Michael Cullen, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne and Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Ruth Dyson announced today.
The proposed legislation will also introduce a transitional measure, to be used in limited circumstances, to protect the tax-exempt status of organisations that run into difficulty with completing their registration applications before deadline.
"Under law that enters into force on 1 July, charitable entities will have to be registered with the Charities Commission to be entitled to the charity-related income tax exemption and for gifts to them to be exempt from gift duty,” Dr Cullen and Mr Dunne said.
"However, a number of associated gaps and uncertainties in the law have been revealed in the lead-up to the July deadline for registration.
"For the first time, New Zealand has a formal process for registering charities, with a deadline for registering, and that has highlighted some grey areas in current law as it relates to specific entities.
"As a result, there is some uncertainty about whether tertiary education institutions and state and state integrated schools must register with the Charities Commission if they are to maintain their tax-exempt status.
"A further question has arisen about the continuing tax-exempt status in New Zealand of non-resident entities that are registered as charities in their own countries.
"Under the new law, non-resident charities may not be allowed to register with our Charities Commission, which means they would lose their tax-exempt status in New Zealand, even though they may derive income from a variety of sources here.
"The government will therefore provide legislative certainty that all these entities and organisations will continue to be tax-exempt whether or not they register with the Charities Commission. Legislation will be introduced on Budget day, to ensure early enactment of the changes,” the Ministers said.
"The Income Tax Act and the Estate and Gift Duties Act will be amended to clarify that tertiary education institutions are exempt from income tax and from gift duty. The provision, which will have built-in safeguards to prevent private pecuniary benefit, will apply to institutions set out in the Education Act: universities, polytechnics, specialist colleges and wananga.
"Further changes will ensure that these tertiary institutions automatically have Inland Revenue-approved donee status, so that people who donate money to them will continue to qualify for tax rebates for their donations.
"This legislative clarification means that state-funded tertiary education institutions do not have to register with the Charities Commission to retain their tax-exempt status.
"The Estate and Gift Duties Act will be amended to provide that gifts to state and state integrated schools are exempt from gift duty, subject to safeguards to prevent private pecuniary benefit. They will also have automatic IRD-approved donee status, so that people who make cash donations to them will continue to qualify for tax rebates.
"State and state integrated schools do not need to register with the Charities Commission to be exempt from income tax because they already have a specific exemption in the Education Act.”
"The Income Tax Act will be amended to ensure that non-resident charities that cannot register with the Charities Commission because they are not established in New Zealand or have no strong connection with New Zealand will be able to have tax-exempt status here, subject to Inland Revenue approval.
"The Estate and Gift Duties Act will also be amended to provide that gifts to non-resident charities will be exempt from gift duty if they are unable to register with the Charities Commission.
"The proposed legislation will also amend the Income Tax Act to provide a limited discretion for the Commissioner of Inland Revenue to preserve the tax-exempt status of charities that were not able to register with the Charities Commission within the deadline but can prove they began the process of preparing their application before deadline.
"That measure is to provide greater tax certainty to organisations that run into difficulty in preparing their applications, owing to circumstances that may be beyond their control. It is intended to be used on a limited basis and will not apply to organisations that merely have not got round to applying for registration before the deadline.
17 April 2008
The April edition of New Dialogue is now available online at www.nzfvwo.org.nz/files/ND22web.htm.
In addition you can access a pdf copy of the print edition by visiting our website, www.nzfvwo.org.nz, and clicking on the New Dialogue icon.
18 December 2007
Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne have released a discussion document on Payroll-giving and its benefits.
This is an important issue for Tangata Whenua, and community and voluntary organisations.
The discussion document, called Payroll-giving: providing a real-time benefit for charitable giving outlines some of the options for developing and implementing a payroll-giving programme in New Zealand.
The discussion document identifies that there are a great number of economic and social benefits around payroll-giving for workers, businesses, not-for-profit organisations and the community at large.
Payroll-giving allows workers to nominate a sum of money that is automatically deducted from their salary or wages, which is then donated to their workplaces named Sector organisation(s).
The goal is to encourage giving, outline the benefits to business and ensure the implementation of payroll-giving is easy and inexpensive.
This is an issue that affects all New Zealanders, whether they are working or not. New Zealanders rely on our many services and not-for-profit organisations, creating a system of regular and ongoing financial contributions through workers' pay benefits the entire community.
We would encourage you to review the discussion document, and for your organisation to make a submission.
The deadline for submissions is 25 January 2008.
We will be sending you more information over the next few weeks to assist you in identifying the key issues for your organisation and to help in the submission making process. This is too important not to engage in.
Submissions need to be made before 25 January 2008, and can be addressed to:
Payroll Giving Project
C/- Deputy Commissioner - Policy
Policy Advice Division
Inland Revenue Department
P O Box 2198
Wellington
Or email: policy.webmaster@ird.govt.nz with "Payroll-giving" in the subject line.
You can find the issues paper at www.taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz
Please also contact us if you have any questions.
14 December 2007
The VAVA Project was initiated in 2002 to provide economically valid measures of the work of voluntary organisations - specifically in terms of inputs, outputs and outcomes.
Attached is a Summary Report.
14 December 2007
Greetings all,
The December edition of New Dialogue is now available online at www.nzfvwo.org.nz/files/ND21web.htm, supported by advertising from Bisvision, Brightstar and Governance Strategies.
In addition you can access a pdf copy of the print edition by visiting our website, www.nzfvwo.org.nz, and clicking on the New Dialogue icon.
The December edition of New Dialogue is focused on the important topic of Ageing in Aotearoa New Zealand. It contains contributions from the Office for Senior Citizens, the New Zealand Institute for Research on Ageing, Age Councern New Zealand and the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services.
This editions contains a special column about the latest report from the Valued Added by Voluntary Agencies project - a summary of the report, Counting for More, is attached - as well as some advice on audits, reviews and other accounting services.
A big thanks to all our contributors in 2007 and to supporters of New Dialogue and the work of the NZFVWO. We are especially grateful to IHC and Relationship Services for lending financial support to allow New Dialogue to continue to be distributed for free.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR, FROM THE NZ FEDERATION OF VOLUNTARY WELFARE ORGANISATIONS
14 December 2007
Get heard by negotiators, click here to sign the Global Emergency Petition
Dear friends,
24 hours to go, and crisis at the Bali climate talks. In the last day alone, over 150,000 of us have surged to the global rescue -- calling on the world not to give in to wrecking tactics by the governments of the US, Canada and Japan. We’re putting a full-page ad in the Jakarta Post’s summit edition where all the negotiators will see it, warning them to avert Titanic-like disaster -- and we’re coming together with other NGOs to deliver millions of signatures for climate action to governments.
I’m writing from the main hall at Bali, where Al Gore just said it’s time for “a global people power movement” to step in. He’s right. Our new global emergency petition brings us directly into the main battle at Bali -- and there’s no question that delegates here are watching what we all do. So please -- drop everything for thirty seconds, click below to see the ad and sign the petition if you haven’t already, forward this link to everyone you know
If the world can muster well over 200,000 crisis signatures in the last 24 hours for our actions tomorrow, we can show negotiators how urgently we care about setting a course for decisive climate action.
Last week, things in Bali looked good: near-consensus on a delicate framework of 2020 targets for rich countries, in return for which China and the developing world would do their part over time. IPCC scientists have said such targets are needed to prevent catastrophe. But Japan, the US and Canada are banding together to wreck the deal. The rest of the world is starting to waver, so we must do all we can – just click this link to sign the petition, then forward this message to all your friends and family
As US citizens tell the summit to ignore the Bush administration, our Canadian members are running a wildfire campaign against their government’s obstruction, including nationwide ads. Meanwhile, we’re bringing petitions from Greenpeace, Oxfam, LiveEarth, Stop Climate Chaos, Friends of the Earth, Al Gore, GetUp, MoveOn and Alliance for Climate Protection together with our own massive campaign to deliver a roar more than 2 million-strong to global decision-makers here.
It’s our world. We won’t let them wreck it.
With hope and determination,
Ben, Graziela, Ricken, Galit, Paul, Milena, Pascal and the whole Avaaz team
PS here’s the latest news from the summit -- some are proposing to go ahead without the US, Japan and Canada, where governments may soon change
Click for more about Avaaz’s campaigning and achievements so far
The IPS newswire says "Whereas traditional rhetoric and diplomatic gimmicks characterise the official UN climate change conference, environment activists are drawing the focus for their witty and irreverent take... In the forefront is a community of global citizens named Avaaz."
To read more about obstructionism by the US, Japan and Canada, check out the daily Fossil Awards – our "truth squad" (/New York Times/) voted on by more than 430 NGOs in the Climate Action Network, and hosted by Avaaz
But don't forget to sign the global emergency petition and spread the word today!
Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in London, New York, Paris, Washington DC, Geneva, and Rio de Janeiro.
To contact Avaaz, write to info@avaaz.org. You can also send postal mail to our New York office: 260 Fifth Avenue, 9th floor, New York, NY 10001 U.S.A.
If you have technical problems, please go to http://www.avaaz.org
26 November 2007
Kumi Naidoo, Secretary-General of CIVICUS will address an open forum hosted by ANGOA and the Social and Civic Policy Institute, NZ members of CIVICUS.
Tuesday 4 December from 1.30pm – 3.30pm followed by afternoon tea.
Venue: Global Education Centre, Level 2, James Smith Building, 55 Cuba St.
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world.
Members and partners span the spectrum of civil society including: civil society networks and organisations; trade unions; faith-based networks; professional associations; NGO capacity development organisations; philanthropic foundations and other funding bodies; businesses; and social responsibility programmes.
CIVICUS -
Kumi Naidoo has been Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Civic Participation since 1998. Born in South Africa, Kumi became involved in the South African liberation struggle at the age of 15. He was deeply involved in youth work, the underground movement, and mass mobilisations against South Africa's apartheid regime. Kumi was subject to persistent police harassment and went underground for one year before living in exile in England until 1989. During this time, Kumi was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and earned a doctorate in political sociology.
After Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990, Kumi returned to South Africa to work on the legalisation of the ANC as a political party. During the democratic elections in 1994, Kumi was the official spokesperson of the Independent Electoral Commission. He then went on to serve as Executive Director of the National Literacy Cooperation of South Africa. Kumi has initiated and led a wide range of education, development, and social justice initiatives within South Africa. Kumi was the first civil society leader to be invited to give the World Bank Presidential Fellows Lecture in 2003. He was also recently appointed by the U.N. Secretary-General to the eminent Persons Group on United Nations-Civil Society Relations. For further information go to: www.CIVICUS.org
RSVP to Dave Henderson dave.henderson@angoa.org.nz or David Robinson davidjrobinson@xtra.co.nz
01 November 2007
Dear Colleagues,
Two key people from the Sustaining Social Innovation project will be speaking at the ComVoices-organised cross-party Parliamentary breakfast, 7.30am on Thursday 15 November.
If you are able to get to Wellington, this will be the place to be. Cost is $10 per person, which can be paid at the door. If you are coming you will need to RSVP, to get through Parliamentary security. Send your RSVP to Emma McCleary, emma@ideasshop.co.nz
Hope to see you there
Dave Henderson
ANGOA Coordinator
Hi Everyone
At the meeting this morning we we discussing the visit of the PLAN people from Canada in the next couple of weeks within the context of 'Sustaining Social Innovation'. There was a lot of discussion about this at the Conference I attended last week in Canada - within a lot of varied contexts - eg. reducing poverty initiatives etc.
Below is some of the information about Sustaining Social Innovation that was on the breakfast invitation.
Also attached is a resource produced by Katharine Pearson and the JW McConnell Foundation which is really all about Sustaining Social Innovation. It's a pdf - if you can't open it, you can find it on the McConnell Foundation website which is www.mcconnellfoundation.ca
Although this has been produced as a resource for funders, it really does have some excellent information in it - and reflects the increasing commitment of funders to share the learning' - this is a tangible example of one foundation doing this.
Regards
Robyn Scott
Executive Director
Philanthropy NZ
Phone: DD 04 471 8901
04 499 4090
Mob: 027 618 2400
Fax: 04 472 5367
PO Box 1521, Wellington, New Zealand
www.giving.org.nz
More and more changemakers want to get at the roots of social problems. They are frustrated by our limited success at dealing with long term social problems. They realize that making “poverty history” or abuse, homelessness and exclusion history will require strategic thinking and acting.
The JW McConnell Family Foundation; DuPont of Canada and the PLAN Institute have launched a 2 year exploration to learn from social change initiatives that are leading or have led to profound change. By December 2006 they will recommend resources to strengthen the capacity for continuous social innovation in Canada.
Led by the PLAN Institute and Vickie Cammack; JW McConnell's Katharine Pearson and PLAN's Al Etmanski they have been consulting with changemakers in Canada and the US. These changemakers are very strategic and intentional about large scale social change. They realize that sustainability is bigger than the viability or sustainability of any one organization, enterprise or innovation.
Sustainable social innovation means being intentional about
Vickie and Al have identified 6 core patterns used to sustain social innovation or build complete solutions.
31 October 2007
As you can see from the ministerial chart below, we have Ruth Dyson as the new Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector. Government has acknowledged to greater prominence of the sector by moving the role to a Minister inside Cabinet.
Dave Henderson, ANGOA Coordinator
| # | Name | Portfolio | Other responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Rt Hon Helen Clark |
Prime Minister Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage |
Ministerial Services Minister in Charge of the NZ Security Intelligence Service Minister Responsible for the GCSB |
| 2 | Hon Dr Michael Cullen | Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Finance Attorney-General [Includes responsibility for Serious Fraud Office] Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations |
Leader of the House |
| 3 | Hon Jim Anderton | Minister of Agriculture Minister for Biosecurity Minister of Fisheries Minister of Forestry |
Minister Responsible for the Public Trust Associate Minister of Health Associate Minister for Tertiary Education |
| 4 | Hon Phil Goff | Minister of Defence Minister of Corrections Minister of Trade Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control |
Associate Minister of Finance |
| 5 | Hon Annette King | Minister of Justice Minister of Police Minister of Transport |
Minister Responsible for the Law Commission |
| 6 | Hon Pete Hodgson | Minister for Economic Development Minister for Tertiary Education Minister of Research, Science and Technology |
|
| 7 | Hon Parekura Horomia | Minister of Maori Affairs | Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Associate Minister of Education Associate Minister of State Services Associate Minister of Fisheries |
| 8 | Hon Chris Carter | Minister of Education | Minister Responsible for the Education Review Office Minister for Ethnic Affairs |
| 9 | Hon David Cunliffe | Minister of Health Minister for Communications and Information Technology |
|
| 10 | Hon Trevor Mallard | Minister for the Environment Minister of Labour Minister of Broadcasting Minister for State Owned Enterprises |
Associate Minister of Finance |
| 11 | Hon Ruth Dyson | Minister for Social Development and Employment Minister for Senior Citizens Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector |
Minister for Disability Issues |
| 12 | Hon Lianne Dalziel | Minister of Commerce Minister for Food Safety |
Associate Minister of Justice |
| 13 | Hon David Parker | Minister of State Services Minister of Energy Minister for Land Information |
Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues |
| 14 | Hon Nanaia Mahuta |
Minister of Customs Minister of Local Government Minister of Youth Affairs |
Associate Minister for the Environment Associate Minister of Tourism |
| 15 | Hon Clayton Cosgrove | Minister of Immigration Minister for Sport and Recreation |
Minister for Small Business Minister for the Rugby World Cup Associate Minister of Finance Associate Minister of Justice |
| 16 | Hon Rick Barker | Minister of Internal Affairs Minister of Civil Defence Minister for Courts Minister of Veterans' Affairs |
Associate Minister of Justice |
| 17 | Hon Damien O'Connor | Minister of Tourism | Minister for Rural Affairs Associate Minister of Health |
| 18 | Steve Chadwick | Minister of Conservation Minister of Women's Affairs |
Associate Minister of Health |
| 19 | Maryan Street | Minister for ACC Minister of Housing |
Associate Minister for Economic Development Associate Minister for Tertiary Education |
| 20 | Shane Jones | Minister for Building and Construction | Associate Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Associate Minister of Immigration Associate Minister of Trade |
| # | Name | Portfolio | Other responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Hon Judith Tizard | Minister of Consumer Affairs | Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand Minister Responsible for the National Library Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Associate Minister of Commerce Associate Minister of Transport |
| 22 | Hon Harry Duynhoven | Minister for Transport Safety | Associate Minister of Energy |
| 23 | Hon Mita Ririnui | Minister of State | Associate Minister of Corrections Associate Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Associate Minister of Forestry Associate Minister of Health |
| 24 | Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban | Minister of Pacific Island Affairs | Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Associate Minister of Trade Associate Minister for Economic Development |
| 25 | Hon Mahara Okeroa | Minister of State | Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Associate Minister of Conservation |
| 26 | Darren Hughes | Minister of Statistics | Deputy Leader of the House Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment |
| # | Name | Portfolio | Other responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Rt Hon Winston Peters | Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister for Racing |
Associate Minister for Senior Citizens |
| 28 | Hon Peter Dunne | Minister of Revenue | Associate Minister of Health |
10 October 2007
Tariana Turia, Co-leader of the Maori Party:
Yesterday I received a panui from Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa; advising me of their national hui coming up this Labour Weekend.
But it is not just any old national hui. This hui will celebrate twenty five years of weavers coming together.
It will be the first national hui of weavers that Te Kingi Tuheitia will attend.
And it will also include a special group of weavers referred to collectively as 'Te Kahui Whiritoi', who will share with the hui, the wisdom and legacy of their contribution to the weaving arts.
It seemed to me a perfect symbol of what I have come to know of the contribution of the community and voluntary sector.
I am pleased to be here today, to acknowledge the selfless dedication, the years of committed service, the specialist expertise of your work and the vital influence of the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations of Aotearoa, in shaping this nation.
Your influence is all about weaving together the people.
Knitting together a consortium of national, regional and local NGOs. Threading through your art, a focus on communication, on networking, on accessing relevant information.
Trailblazing initiatives which demonstrate partnership in action – whether it be joint ventures between the community, business and government, or projects between groups with similar aims and desires.
Whether it be ComVOiceS – an independent network of sector organisations; the New Zealand Council of Social Services, the New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare organisations; or marae, hapu trusts, the Maori Women’s Welfare League and others – there is one absolutely consistent thread which unites you all.
And that is the philosophy which we in the Maori Party recognise best as Mahi aroha – the unpaid activity which is an expression of tohu aroha; of manaakitanga; of whanaungatanga, of rangatiratanga.
The activities that we align under tikanga and kaupapa Maori as being about maintaining mana and rangatiratanga – rather than for monetary or personal gain.
The Maori Party, is in fact, the ultimate expression of Mahi Aroha. Other than the four Members of Parliament, not one of the 21000 members of our organisation receive financial payment for the voluntary activities they uphold to energise and inspire our communities.
And so, when I learn about the project led by Philanthropy New Zealand, Volunteering New Zealand and the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector in promoting generosity, I can’t but think of the amazing gifts of time, of passion, of tautoko that have blessed our party from day one.
Gifts of great generosity are also seen in the volunteers who last year, delivered more than 600,000 Meals on Wheels; the volunteers who bring library books to the housebound, the volunteers who knit ‘trauma teddies’ for children suffering after an injury or accident; the volunteers who distributed donated goods, furniture and clothes, within our communities.
The Maori Party is sincerely appreciative of the contribution that more than one million volunteers make to their communities and society. There is an immense amount of unpaid work that goes largely unacknowledged.
The Maori Party is particularly aware that te Ao Maori thrives on the devoted commitment of so many volunteers who support their loved ones in maintaining good health, in surviving the rigours of daily life, in keeping the community functioning.
We are keen to create an environment that supports, values and encourages effective volunteering by the people of Aotearoa.
The Maori Party is committed towards doing all that we can to support communities and we are therefore pleased to talk today, about some of the initiatives we are seeking feedback on.
The Genuine Progress Index distinguishes between positive contributions to society – such as the building of schools – and negative activity – like this Government’s obsessive practice of building prisons.
In a GPI framework, community and voluntary activities which contribute to the expression of positive social and cultural values must be recognised and measured, as adding to the comprehensive, sustainable and inclusive advancement of our nation.
The time and resources given for the strengthening of whanau; the support offered to marae and other community activities are all ways and means of expressing whakawhanaungatanga – which in turns offers a true value for all aspects of our community wealth.
A key issue we would be interested in learning your views about, is how the skills and expertise of the community and voluntary sector are being recognised in a financial sense, to acknowledge the value of the policy advice you provide to government.
We, in the Maori Party, see whanau as the universal building block, the foundation for economic, social, cultural an environmental benefits.
We seek to extend the Community and voluntary sector by investing in all sectors of our community – recognising the value of parenting and the vital contribution of the volunteer workforce.
Our focus is proudly motivated by the wonder of whanau.
Rather than starting from the viewpoint of dysfunctionalism and deficiencies, we instead start from recognition of the security, strengths and assets that exist within whanau.
We seek to explore how whanau relationships can be supported to nurture individual and collective development.
Strengthening whanau participation can also advance multiple and overlapping goals – such as the enhancement of te reo Maori; or in supporting collective business development strategies.
In a world where it appears every negative statistic brings out the call – where are the Maori leaders, we seek to answer that they are found in whanau.
Our focus, then as the Maori Party, is in looking at ways to encourage and support enterprising thinking and action in whanau, leadership. It is also about supporting the growth of whanau entrepreneurs; managing our own assets; and in fostering a belief that whanau offer a unique indigenous model for achieving economic independence.
The logical corollary in building up the Community and voluntary sector, is that we simultaneously seek to remove or reduce any issues that hinder development.
A key issue for us, is the priority of removing or reducing gaming machines. We are very aware that gambling creates enormous harm, especially in communities identified as high deprivation or low income. The Maori Party suggests that we should manage gambling as a social hazard rather than a harmless leisure pursuit.
Another equally urgent imperative is to de-normalise family violence; and to create opportunities for transforming whanau into sites of wellbeing. This will require education and liberation from within – and there is an important role for the community and voluntary sector in supporting whanau and families to take responsibility for making a difference in all of their lives.
Another of the issues we are deeply committed to is the ongoing need for standing up and speaking out against poverty.
We were fascinated to read in the Nightingale address that the Prime Minister gave last week in England, that she has been promoting/// Working For Families/, as having dropped our child poverty rate to below the European Union average.
This is in direct contrast to the advice we are receiving from organisations such as the Child Poverty Action Group who tell us that the multi-dimensional impacts of poverty are still hitting home for the our most vulnerable families.
In fact even the Government’s own report on the measurement of inequality and poverty – released by MSD in July of this year – stated “there has been no improvement for the poorer poor”.
And so, we have challenged the prevalence of poverty wages; we have challenged the discriminatory actions of a Government in cutting off opportunities for those dependent on income support; and we will never turn our back on the 250,000 children still in poverty.
So, how then, can the community and voluntary sector make a difference in any of these areas?
One of the issues we are keen to receive your feedback on, is the proposal that we in the Maori Party have been considering, that contracts between community organisations and government should be with one government agency who then reports to all other relevant agencies.
Within such a system, the agencies involved would each contribute funding to the community organisation. An outcome of such an arrangement would be that_ only one report would be required (_submitted to the contracting agency), resulting in reduced compliance and reporting costs.
When I had the privilege of being the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, I was so excited about the work that the Community Sector Taskforce had advanced in establishing a two house model, where tangata tiriti and tangata whenua are full participants.
This was very courageous work, and the Taskforce must be commended for the initiative they took in leading the nation forward.
And I want to acknowledge too the importance of the leadership provided by Justice Taihakurei Edward Durie who has given life to this concept, as evident in his Waitangi Day address in 1989:
“… the Treaty of Waitangi is not just a Bill of Rights for Maori. It is a Bill of Rights for Pakeha too. It is the Treaty that gives Pakeha the right to be here. Without the Treaty there would be no lawful authority for the Pakeha presence in this part of the South Pacific…. The Pakeha are the Tangata Tiriti, those who belong to the land by right of that Treaty.”
The Maori Party is committed to the notion of shaping a tikanga Maori house to express our kaupapa.
The Tikanga Maori House embraces the commitment of those that live and act according to kaupapa and tikanga tuku iho. We believe this to be a key factor in distinguishing tangata whenua as a distinct cultural group on the national and international scenes for the next thousand years.
It is about enacting the dreams and aspirations of tangata whenua to achieve self-determination for whänau, hapü and iwi within our own land; speaking with a strong, independent and united voice; and living according to kaupapa handed down by our ancestors.
And we are also committed towards supporting the aspirations and dreams of tangata tiriti, in their journey towards living in a Treaty based nation.
We look forward to any ideas that you may want to share with us, as we continue in our ongoing search for Treaty justice.
These are just some of the ideas and policy priorities that we are considering that impact on your sector, as well as impacting at the very basis of our cultural and national identities.
We are absolutely committed towards working together in partnership to achieve shared outcomes, to ensure our respective world views are valued, and to live in a nation which truly honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The challenge before us all now, is simply to make it happen.
Helen Leahy
Senior Advisor
Leaders' Unit, Maori Party
Parliament Buildings
WELLINGTON
Kawe Reo| Phone: +64 4 471 9170
Kawe Whakaahua | Facsimile: +64 4 499 7269
Kawe Reo Nekeneke | Mobile : +64 021 881 031
Karere Hiko | Email: helen.leahy@parliament.govt.nz
Paepae Tukutuku | Website: www.maoriparty.com www.maoriparty.com
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed or interpreted in this email and/or any attachments contained are not necessarily the views of the Parliamentary Office of the Maori Party.
07 October 2007
Wesley Community Action and Te Rununga O Raukawa are proud to be co-hosting the next Strengths Based Gathering - 2007. This event builds on the experiences of earlier gatherings at Bendigo (Australia) in 2000, Rotorua in 2003, Auckland in 2005 and Brisbane in 2006. Combining practice and research this event will have a unique focus on linkages between indigenous and western perspectives.
Leading international and national keynote speakers from the Education, Health, Social Service, Iwi and Disability sectors will help unpack key themes: extending our understanding of the strength based vision, deepening our knowledge of what works in practice, and addressing how SB practice impacts on organisations. The Conference programme will be a diverse and complete experience - with a smaller number of selected workshops for some in-depth work, a creative facilitator to link it all together, live local music, great food and time to mingle share and reflect.
For people who are frustrated with silo approaches, believe in the capacity of people to be a part of their solutions, want to be a part of a wider movement / network of people for positive social change — This is a must attend event.
For more information or registration visit www.fromstrength2strength.org.nz
21 July 2007
The Foreshore and Seabed Act (Repeal) Bill [i] is likely to come up for its first reading in parliament on Wednesday, 25 July. Both Labour and National have indicated they will not support the Bill which means that it will not be referred to a Select Committee for consideration.
This alert has three sections: some comment on Labour and National's double standard in not supporting any discussion about this Bill when they are prepared to support discussion about proposed legislation that attacks the Treaty of Waitangi, Maori and their rights; a reminder of what the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said about the Foreshore and Seabed Act; and what you can do about this. This message is available online at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/fs210707.htm
Labour and National's refusal to support the Foreshore and Seabed Act (Repeal) Bill at its first reading is a stark contrast with those two parties support for the first reading of two Bills which are an attack on the Treaty of Waitangi, and on Maori and their rights: the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Deletion Bill [ii], which would in practice remove all references to the Treaty in legislation and take away the jurisdiction of the Waitangi Tribunal; and the Treaty of Waitangi (Removal of Conflict of Interest) Amendment Bill [iii] , which is designed to stop serving Maori Land Court and High Court judges sitting on the Waitangi Tribunal - a Bill which is essentially discriminatory as it does not say anything about other situations where judges sit in other courts or decision making bodies.
Although both Labour and National have indicated they are unlikely to support these two Bills at the second reading stage, they supported them going to Select Committee to "allow debate" [iv] and so that "these important issues can be properly canvassed" [v].
What an outrageous double standard - why is it that discussion about proposed legislation which assaults and insults the Treaty and Maori is supported, but there will not be the opportunity for any discussion about a Bill which is intended to repeal legislation which was entirely unjust and unnecessary? Legislation, furthermore, that was found to breach the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
In April 2005, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (which monitors government compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) released its decision on the Foreshore and Seabed Act [vi]. As well as finding the legislation contained discriminatory aspects, there were two other comments made by the Committee which have particular relevance to this alert.
The Committee expressed concern about the political atmosphere that developed following the Court of Appeal's decision on the foreshore and seabed, and stated its hope that: "all actors in New Zealand will refrain from exploiting racial tensions for their own political advantage." Clearly advice not followed by Labour or National given their support for Select Committee consideration of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Deletion and Treaty of Waitangi (Removal of Conflict of Interest) Amendment Bills.
The Committee also requested the government talk with Maori in order to seek ways of mitigating the discriminatory effects of the legislation "including through legislative amendment, where necessary". Supporting the consideration of the Foreshore and Seabed Act (Repeal) Bill by a Select Committee would be entirely consistent with this recommendation.
This is an interesting time for the government to be refusing to support the Repeal Bill - they will be appearing before the Committee in Geneva at the end of this month to explain what they have done about the Committee's recommendations on the foreshore and seabed legislation, and to answer questions about other areas where they have failed to meet their obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (more information about that will be circulated next week).
And a final comment on the Repeal Bill - support for consideration of the Bill and criticism of National's position on it has come from some unlikely sources, for example, the Editorial in yesterday's Dominion Post: "At the very least, National could back Mrs Turia's bill to the select committee stage, arguing - rightly - that the process that saw a High Court decision to allow Maori to legally test their claims to ownership blocked by legislation promoted by a rattled prime minister, was flawed." [vii]
Please as a matter of urgency contact your MP (especially if they are in Labour or National) before Wednesday and demand that they support the Foreshore and Seabed Act (Repeal) Bill at its first reading - point out the hypocritical double standard in their party's support for Select Committee consideration of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Deletion Bill and the Treaty of Waitangi (Removal of Conflict of Interest) Amendment Bill, and their lack of support for the Repeal Bill. You can contact your MP's parliamentary office by phoning the switchboard at parliament (04) 471 9999 and asking to be put through to them. Phone and fax details for all MPs are available at www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/5858C8A5-ACDF-4B35-8D7A-3ABB7B19ACDB/55745/listofmembers210508.pdf
Email addresses for MPs are in the format of firstname.lastname@parliament.govt.nz, and for Government Ministers are in the format of firstinitial(no full stop)lastname@ministers.govt.nz, for example, mburton@ministers.govt.nz
If you would like to convey your views about this to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, their details are:
Helen Clark, email: pm@ministers.govt.nz, tel: (04) 471 9998, or fax: (04) 473 3579;
Michael Cullen, email: mcullen@ministers.govt.nz, tel: (04) 470 6551, or fax: (04) 495 8442.
It is very helpful for our work if you can send a copy of any fax or message you send, and of any replies you receive, to: Peace Movement Aotearoa, PO Box 9314, Wellington 6141; fax: (04) 382 8173; or bcc: pma@xtra.co.nz
Thank you.
[i] The Foreshore and Seabed Act (Repeal) Bill is a Members Bill which was introduced to parliament by Tariana Turia, on behalf of the Maori Party, on 12 October 2006. The Bill aims to repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 and restore, as part of that process, provisions in the Foreshore and Seabed Endowment Revesting Act 1991. The text of the Bill is at www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/gpprint/docs/bills/20060861.txt
[ii] The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Deletion Bill is a Members Bill, which was introduced by NZ First MP Doug Woolerton on 29 June 2006, had its first reading on 27 July 2006, and is currently being considered by the Justice and Electoral Select Committee. The Bill (similar to a NZ First Bill voted out in 2005) was part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement between the Labour Party and NZ First which specified that a Bill 'to remove references to the principles of the Treaty from legislation' would be sent for consideration by a Select Committee. The text of the Bill is at www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/gpprint/docs/bills/20060661.txt and an action alert on it is at www.converge.org.nz/pma/delbil06.htm
[iii] The Treaty of Waitangi (Removal of Conflict of Interest) Amendment Bill is a Members Bill which was introduced by NZ First MP Pita Paraone on 12 October 2006, and had its first reading on 27 June 2007. It was referred to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee and submissions on it are due by 10 August 2007. The text of the Bill is at www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/gpprint/docs/bills/20060851.txt
[iv] See, for example, Steve Maharey (Labour) in the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Deletion Bill first reading debate, at www.hansard.parliament.govt.nz/hansard/Final/FINAL_2006_07_26.htm#_Toc142986046
[v] See, for example, Christopher Finlayson (National) in the Treaty of Waitangi (Removal of Conflict of Interest) Amendment Bill first reading debate, at www.hansard.parliament.govt.nz/hansard/Final/FINAL_2007_06_27.htm#_Toc171831549
[vi] Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Sixty-sixth session, 17 February to 11 March 2005, Decision 1 (66): New Zealand CERD/C/DEC/NZL/1. The decision is available at www.converge.org.nz/pma/fs110305.htm
[vii] 'Seabed forces Key to stumble', Dominion Post, 20 July 2007, is available at www.converge.org.nz/pma/fs200707.htm
Peace Movement Aotearoa (PMA)
The national networking peace organisation
PO Box 9314, Wellington 6141, Aotearoa New Zealand
Tel: +64 4 382 8129, fax: 382 8173, email: pma@xtra.co.nz
PMA website: www.converge.org.nz/pma
Not in Our Name
www.converge.org.nz/pma/nionnz.htm
"War on terrorism?" — War is terrorism.
20 July 2007
“Continuing to build a sector voice that is independent from Government is the number one priority for over 95,000 groups and organisations that make up the Tangata Whenua, Community and Voluntary Sector” said Sam Sefuiva, Tangata Tiriti Co-Chair - Community Sector Taskforce.
At a National Forum in June attended by 150 sector leaders, the Community Sector Taskforce was endorsed to carry on its work to develop towards an independent body that is required to empower sector development into the future.
The call for some clear leadership on issues such as contracting and funding relationships and the need to strengthen viable community–led organisations was echoed strongly by the sector leaders at the forum.
“We need a sector-led review of all funding relationships with the government” said Tony Spelman, Tangata Whenua Co-Chair - Community Sector Taskforce.
“While it is good that a lot of sector funding comes from government, many of our groups and organisations are choosing not to participate in government processes. The very high level of administrative and monitoring oversight required by government has become excessive in many areas. This has made government processes to manage funding relationships unacceptable and unworkable from a community perspective,” he said.
Sector leaders at the June forum decided that it is important to keep moving forward and they confirmed that the sector’s preferred way of working on future development is via its Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi Relationships Framework which enables the interests of all parties to be engaged as groups and communities come together.
“When Tangata Whenua interests are properly factored into everyday ways of working in communities, both Maori and non-Maori interests can be catered for with a degree of balance that truly includes everyone,” said Iris Pahau, National Development Manager.
“This is important for the protection of the Treaty rights of Tangata Whenua and also for the wellbeing of the community as a whole.”
Sam Sefuiva said: “We need to build on work done at a local and regional level so that the strength of the sector can be realised at all levels throughout the country rather than continuing to emphasise Wellington-based national level activity because that is where central government resides.”
Tony Spelman said: “On behalf of over 95,000 groups and organisations in the sector we will partner with government but not be dictated to by them. We will take a greater control of sector-focused research and the way we communicate the voices within the sector on issues of importance to us.”
The Community Sector Taskforce has a 12 month timeline to manage its immediate transition in conjunction with the sector. Guidance will be sought from a wide group of local, regional and national sector leaders to ensure the transition is effective.
The next steps begin an exciting new era for organisations and groups in the Tangata Whenua Community and Voluntary Sector and the future wellbeing of communities is looking promising.
Hera Pahau
Email: hpahau@paradise.net.nz
Informed Community: informed_community@cst.org.nz
For more information, please contact:
Tony Spelman
Tangata Whenua Co-Chair
Community Sector Taskforce
Phone: (09) 636-2107
Cell: (021) 233-6309
Sam Sefuiva
Tangata Tiriti Co-Chair
Community Sector Taskforce
Phone: (09) 375-8629
Cell: 027 477-2086
Full text of this topic: cst.org.nz/r/topic/5FYDy00qqU0k2QGeRGF53F
Info about Informed Community: cst.org.nz/groups/informed_community
Info about Hera Pahau: cst.org.nz/contacts/herapahau
12 July 2007
Hello All
I wish to share some views on funding of the NGO sector and the document attached below is for discussion and debate. If you are interested, you can contact MECOSS directly with your opinions at info@mecoss.org.nz.
This discussion paper reviews the relationship between Funding Agencies and their clients in the Not-for-Profit sector in New Zealand. In particular it seeks to highlight certain weaknesses and failures in the system. The paper proposes that other Funding models should be considered, and one such model is briefly outlined.
It is a serious flaw in our system that results in the NGOs being the 'paupers' while the real power brokers are the Funders. This is also perhaps the underlying failure of our funding system, that results in community agencies finding themselves on an endless merry-go round of funding institutions.
In reality it is the NGO and community sector who is determining the quality of care that is delivered to our community across an enormous range of services: nurturing everything from health to environmental care, to youth and family work and the cultural wealth of our community. They are producing the measurable and quantifiable results whose consequence is a society that either is a leader or failure in community development and social outcomes.
We present this paper as a result of the many concerns that have been raised and expressed to us by a number of Agencies from the NGO sector that are working with MECOSS.
Thank you for your assistance,
Kind regards
Alison Dyson
Manager, Manukau East Council of Social Services
To Facilitate Optimum Delivery of Social Services to Our Community
Tel: +64-9-5333685
Mob: +64-21-671 677
Email: alison@mecoss.org.nz
Mail: PO BOX 39 266, HOWICK
Funding of not-for-profit Non Government Organisations, or Charitable Organisations comes through a number of streams. The principle ones include:
Each of these, with the exception of Private Fundraising and Appeals, has their own criteria with their respective application and reporting or accountability requirements and varying levels of engagement with the fund applicant.
There is no consistency in criteria or uniformity of application across any of these funding sources. Each one is approached by the applicant individually; hence many NGO's would make multiple applications over the period of a year.
It appears that in a vast majority of cases the NGO applies for funds which it does not expect to receive as the common understanding is that applications are only ever partially funded, therefore the NGO sector is constantly scrambling to cut corners to 'make-ends-meet'.
A significant amount of time and effort is expended in the NGO sector in seemingly endless funding rounds. The work load required is often unrecognised and not provided for in 'Administration time'; many NGO sector workers report working into the night and over weekends to keep up with the funding applications. This is one of the real barriers to seeking funding.
We believe it is time Funding bodies recognised that the Community Sector is not there to work for them; on the contrary, Funders are there to work for the NGO sector.
If we assume that the primary function of Funding bodies is not 'policing' of funds but rather the delivery of targeted and well conceived funding then they need to be approaching the sector in the following ways:
The community services sector is regularly lead to believe that they have triumphed when they find or secure a funding source; however it is the funder who should feel triumphant, that they have assisted an NGO offering services which achieve valuable outcomes for the community in which they work.
It is a serious flaw in our system that results in the NGOs being the 'paupers' while the real power brokers are the Funders. This is also perhaps the underlying failure of our funding system, that results in community agencies finding themselves on an endless merry-go round of funding institutions.
In reality it is the NGO and community sector who is determining the quality of care that is delivered to our community across an enormous range of services: nurturing everything from health to environmental care, to youth and family work and the cultural wealth of our community. They are producing the measurable and quantifiable results whose consequence is a society that either is a leader or failure in community development and social outcomes.
Funders have an important role as the 'enablers', while the NGO sector and community organisations, are the 'implementers'. Unfortunately in too many instances we are failing as a society to be leaders in social outcomes because we are not funding our organisations in an efficient or sufficient manner, the 'enablers' are not partners in the process of service provision and therefore are not fully aware of the needs of the agencies they are funding.
The Funding sector needs to recognise that they are service providers to the Community and NGO sector and they need to improve their service provision.
They need to align themselves so that a funding model is established which enables community organisations to transparently and fluidly make their applications.
Established agencies with a funding history should receive information annually which includes their funding history and all current data held on the group. This information should be stored and simply 'updated' by funders at each new funding round and at accountability periods. Instead of this, we have the nonsense of every funding form appearing as a whole new document which requires completion as if the Funding body had never heard of you before, although you may have been doing 'business' with them for years. Imagine how many banks would stay in business if they treated their clients in a similar way.
First time applicants should receive extra assistance with their initial approaches and Funders should take this as an opportunity to 'get to know' their potential new clients.
Information on NGO groups could be shared across the funding sector, once approval for this had been given individually by each NGO. This would allow funders to simply and transparently review the financial status of NGO's applying for funding.
Improvements such as this are easily achieved; it is the work and responsibility of funding institutions to tackle this situation.
Transparent, joined-up and effective funding will lead to a more cohesive and competent community sector that can then spend its valuable time, resources and expertise on fulfilling their mission, instead of running the whirly-gig of endless funding rounds.
The Government has allocated funds to redistribute into the community sector to tackle some of the serious social issues facing our country, including Domestic Violence, services for Older People and for Youth. However regularly these sectors report funding horror-stories - organisations that have 4 vehicles on the road to service clients and no funds to run them; 3 resignations recently of highly skilled women working in crises 'immediate response' work (90% of their work in Domestic Violence) due to lack of sufficient support, resources and staffing for them to continue. We doubt this is the outcome the government had in mind. Who is accountable for this? Who will sort out this mess?
The situation is extremely serious and no-one appears to hold a 'birds-eye' view of the picture: There are signs of a burnt-out community sector due to poor delivery of funds throughout the MECOSS network. This, despite the fact that there does seem to be reasonable funding resources backed up in funder's pockets or government pathways.
Our communities are facing some profound challenges and yet many community organisations working in the Social Services sector are floundering.
No-one has a strategic view of:
All this is a result of the funding sector being too focused on its niche areas of interest (- a 'silo' funding philosophy) and on 'policing' their funding applications. Poor outcomes result from the Funders lack of collaboration and working together effectively to enhance the relationship between funders and their clients, the NGO community sector.
Other issues arise across the sector, which like so may others could be tackled with a united approach by Funders. Once such issue is Audited Accounts. Many Funders require Audited Accounts to accompany applications; this is an expensive operation, particularly for the many smaller NGO groups, funding is not usually provided for this purpose.
A simple solution would be for Funders to approach some Auditors and ask for an appropriate 'Fee Schedule' for auditing the not-for-profit NGO sector that is in receipt of funding through one of the recognised funding streams. After a successful negotiation of terms, this information could then be published for the NGO sector.
This sort of practical information and assistance would be a significant contribution to the dilemmas faced by the NGO Sector when they are required to fulfil Funders criteria which may be beyond their normal practices. Funders could also have a real understanding of the costs incurred and would perhaps consider covering those expenses.
It has been the practice of many organisations to use a 'sympathetic' accountant to fulfil this 'auditing' role; it has recently come to our attention that Accountants have been advised not to do this for the not-for-profit NGO sector if they are not qualified Auditors.
This is just one of several issues that the Funding sector could act on to facilitate easier access for their clients to necessary supports.
The Community sector welcomes and encourages a diversity of Funders and Funding streams; however the management of the system is clumsy and burdensome for the sector. A number of models could be imagined that would greatly streamline the system.
Geographic areas, perhaps reflecting local government territories, would have Funding Panels around the main funding areas such as:
Each Panel would have representation from all funders (government and non-government) interested in that sector. Local groups would make a single Funding Application to the Panel (or to multiple Panels if that was appropriate for the Organisation).
Funding Agencies would then take copies of the applications relevant to their Agency back to their committees to consider. The Funding Panel would subsequently reconvene and each Funder would outline the extent/areas of funding they could contribute to each application.
An important picture would emerge of who was being funded, if they were funded to 'viable' levels and which geographic areas were under or over resourced.
It is clear that in a model such as this, Funders would retain independent consultative processes within their own committees and be able to respond to and fund applicants whose work meets their criteria.
It also follows that Funding Panels would have a good 'birds-eye' view of services, resources and community driven concerns in an area. Funders could be confident that they were 'funding for success' by seeing the full extent of funding requirements of groups and endeavouring to ensure that they were met.
Ideally the NGO sector would benefit most if multi-year funding was recognized as the norm (some funders are now doing this in limited circumstances). It can be difficult to plan from year-to-year when funding is so contingent annually, there are unforeseen events and patterns which emerge and need to be responded to by the sector, funding does not always allow this under the current structure.
It might be a further consequence of Funding panels that Funders would be able to assist some identified groups to become more robust by providing appropriate mentoring or partnering to support the groups to achieve good practices, something that is always a risk in management of Community Services.
As previously noted, with a 'birds-eye view' a broad picture of services will emerge and allow the NGO landscape to be analysed:
Administration resources must be built in to Funding grants to allow the NGO sector to effectively tackle this side of their work and particularly the business planning they should be doing.
Ensuring good social outcomes is a joint process between the community sector and the funding stream. Sadly, what leads to poor service delivery and inadequate resources is not the lack of fund capacity, but the delivery of the funding.
Funders must be held responsible for allocation of viable levels of funding, constant under-resourcing takes away the potential for professional levels of service to be achieved and maintained.
It is time to fix these anomalies before we destroy the community sector and along with it the potential to achieve good community outcomes.
Contrary to popular belief, funders are failing to assure success in the community sector; who will hold them accountable?
09 July 2007
Following a discussion at the ANGOA community and voluntary sector Roundtable on 4 July, it was agreed that ANGOA should circulate a draft letter that organisations and individuals can use as a draft for expressing their concerns to Government.
The discussion highlighted that there is no incentive for power companies to avoid disconnections. In fact one company alone shows in their company accounts that they made $6.5 Million just from the disconnection and reconnection fees that they charged to consumers. A key part of their strategy to achieve this income is to refuse to accept part payment of accounts, as was attempted by the family in Auckland.
There are 34 companies signed up to a Code of Practice for the industry, but few or none seem to be following it.
If you would like to help to reduce electricity disconnections and the hardship they cause many families (35,000 to 70,000 disconnections per year – far more than in comparable countries), send a letter to the Prime Minister calling for a full public enquiry. A sample letter is below.
Information about the procedure for specific complaints is available at the website of the Electricity and Gas Complaints Commission: www.egcomplaints.co.nz
The Right Honourable Helen Clark
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Dear Prime Minister
I am writing to you to voice my concerns regarding electricity disconnections. As you know, many families struggle to meet the everyday costs of living including electricity charges. I believe, from the information which has come to light since the tragedy in South Auckland regarding electricity company practices with respect to disconnections, that it is only a matter of time until a similar tragedy occurs again.
It is my belief that electricity companies are in fact gaining substantial income from disconnections and reconnection fees. Therefore they in fact have no incentive not to disconnect consumers.
I believe the refusal of companies to accept part payments when families get behind with their payments is in breach of the Electricity Consumer Code of Practice which requires that companies “disconnect a consumer only as a last resort, except for reasons of safety”, and also that they “have policies for assisting consumers who are having difficulty paying their bills.”.
I believe that, notwithstanding the measures
