CommunityNet Aotearoa RSS Archive

Many charitable, non-profit organisations are growing their presence online. Donors, existing and potential, are also sharing their ideas and opinions about the charities they support in places such as Facebook, MySpace and personal blogs.

This has, however, led to greater competition amongst charities in raising funds and awareness of their work.

A study by Massey University’s College of Business seeks to understand what leads to positive experiences for both donors and the charities they take an interest in.

To complete the survey visit: http://masseybusiness.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3FaKd3cI5dzjCcc&gp=2 .

It will take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister, Tariana Turia, has expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the volunteers, friends and families who have so willingly expressed the hand of manaakitanga in supporting the communities of Ōtautahi.

“People throughout Canterbury have shown when the going gets tough, the tough get going – putting aside their anxieties and fear, to give their time, skills and energies to others,” said Mrs Turia.

“It has been wonderful to see the way people have stepped up to the mark, in their own way. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has set up their Facebook page to provide the space for whānau to send messages of support; youth groups have also used Facebook to get mobilised – setting up work teams to clear the streets of silt and rubble.”

“And of course the amazing contribution of volunteers in formally organised groupings such as Civil Defence Centres, the Welfare Centres, and the Red Cross has been seen in the long hours of dedicated efforts”.

Mrs Turia was particularly enthusiastic about the local time-banking scheme in Lyttelton. Ten percent of Lytteltonians have signed up to the challenge of checking on the elderly, providing drinking water, helping the Fire Brigade and creating that necessary central space for people to come together.

“Time Banking is a wonderful concept that grows self-help by trading skills in a community. Members of a Time Bank share their skills with other members within the community and are given time credits for the work they do. They can then “cash-in” the credits they gain to get the services and support they need.”

“This is a great example of community resilience and the generosity of spirit that helps everyone to get through the trauma of events as they have unfolded, in the wake of the Ōtautahi earthquake,” said Mrs Turia.

• For more information on earthquake appeals and how to contribute, visit: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/promotions/news/article.cfm?c_id=500848&objectid=10671104

New Zealand is being urged to take a fresh look at the way it cares for the elderly to eliminate loneliness, helplessness and boredom.

These three things account for the bulk of suffering amongst older people, according to an Australian aged care consultant. Joanne Hope-Murray, a nursing lecturer and Vice Chair of Eden in Australia and New Zealand, was addressing delegates to the New Zealand Home Health Association (NZHHA) conference in Wellington.

The three day conference, themed Dollars & Sense, looked at the future of aged and disability care in New Zealand against a backdrop of an ageing population and rising healthcare costs.

Ms Hope-Murray represents The Eden Alternative, a new philosophy she says is revolutionising aged care around the world and reducing costs because it leads to happier, healthier people and lower staff turnover.

The Eden Alternative is based on 10 principles aimed at making environments in which elderly people are cared for much more vibrant and interactive and their lives and activities more meaningful. Some of the principles include having continuing contact with plants, animals and children, less emphasis on structured routines and the opportunity to give as well as receive care, such as looking after pets.

“Current funding models are based on a silo approach which is not consistent with a continuum of care for the elderly from assistance in the home to residential care. The Eden Alternative is about normalising everyday living, fostering lifelong learning and incorporating a community spirit by addressing the plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom.”

Ms Hope-Murray told delegates that real change requires a paradigm shift in the way we currently think about how we deliver services in the community and residential care.

“Our culture is so focussed on the young. We need to start valuing the wisdom and experience of our older citizens like some traditional cultures do.”

The Eden Alternative, which was founded in America, has been operating in selected aged care facilities in Australia for a decade. New Zealand has nine facilities practising the philosophy.

Ms Hope-Murray told conference delegates, representing New Zealand home health care providers, that The Eden Alternative is equally applicable to the care of elderly living in the community.

“What it requires is a workplace culture change to replace ageist attitudes and policies with a more elder-centred approach that honours and values older people and supports them to live rich and interesting lives.”

For more information on The Eden Alernative visit: http://www.edenalt.org/

Two outstanding community education providers from Northland will receive Dynamic Community Learning Awards during Adult Learners’ Week/ He Tangata Mātauranga, 6-12 September 2010.

The Awards, sponsored by Mary-Jane Rivers, the McCombs-Rivers family and Alison Broad, celebrate community engagement, excellence and energy in adult community learning.

Circus Kumarani from Dargaville, Northland began in 2003 with a show involving members from two disability providers and local school children. Four groups of disabled adults attend classes weekly, as well as children, youth and community members. The group’s purpose is to provide circus skills for all ages and abilities and use these as a means to, not only support individual learning and confidence, but to break down barriers between groups. Circus Kumarani looks for opportunities to bring all the different groups together for open stage nights, special workshops, rehearsals and shows including “Circus Infusion” 2009 involving 111 members with representatives from across the whole community.

The Kaipara District Council has included working with Circus Kumarani in its draft Long Term Community Plan, as it sees the Circus as being “of significant benefit to the community”.

Flax Roots Whānau, Rawene, Hokianga provides training in low budget digital documentary film making. It was formed to offer employment opportunities in the Hokianga area and to record the history of community members, harnessing their collective experiences.

Anyone can take part thanks to the very low fees. The course has had positive impacts on its participants and has been the catalyst for the annual Short Film Festival in Rawene, leading to some film-makers entering the International Short Film Festival. Opportunities for paid work in filming and editing have also been created. Local events have been filmed and archived, developing a storehouse of knowledge for future generations.

The courses have a strong community-based Tikanga component. Whanaungatanga promotes peer learning and support as well as mentorship within foundation-level and advanced classes.

Circus Kumarani and Flax Roots Whānau are just two of the many innovative community learning initiatives recognised throughout Adult Learners’ Week / He Tangata Mātauranga. Inspirational learners and teachers will also be honoured at award ceremonies all over Aotearoa. Each year around half a million adult New Zealanders participate in adult learning programmes.

This year’s theme ‘Learn for Today and Tomorrow – E ako mō tēnei mā me āpōpō’ emphasises the immediate impact of learning on the lives of adults and their communities and the way it strengthens long term opportunities especially in a time of economic uncertainty.

For more information on the Dynamic Community Learning Awards check the Adult Learners’ Week website: http://www.adultlearnersweek.org.nz

The Welfare Working Group welcomes the contribution New Zealanders are making to the current debate about the benefit system and its timeframe is being extended to provide more opportunity for public feedback to be heard.

The Welfare Working Group was established by the Government in April to develop practical options for a more sustainable and effective welfare system, with a specific focus on identifying ways to reduce long?term benefit dependency while ensuring timely, effective and appropriate supports for people when they need them.

Welfare Working Group Chair Paula Rebstock said that there has been a lot of feedback on the issues paper released earlier this month.

“It is clear New Zealanders are interested and keen to engage in the consultative process.“

The issues paper set out what needs to be considered if New Zealand is to reduce long-term benefit dependency, get better outcomes for those who need welfare support, and ensure the benefit system is effective and sustainable. People can comment on the issues paper until 17 September 2010.

The Minister for Social Development and Employment Paula Bennett has agreed to a request from the Welfare Working Group to extend the timeframe for its work. It will now deliver its final report in February 2011.

Ms Rebstock said the extended timeframe will give the Working Group more time to consider the views of wider New Zealand through submissions, online feedback and workshops through the remainder of this year.

“Feedback will also be sought on an Options Paper, which will be released in November,” Ms Rebstock said.

“The large and growing number of people currently on long-term benefit support should be of concern to all New Zealanders. The Working Group wants to take the time to engage more New Zealanders in its work.”

For more information on the Welfare Working Group and to comment on the issues paper, visit: http://ips.ac.nz/WelfareWorkingGroup/Index.html .

High-achieving young Pacific New Zealanders will be recognised for their outstanding contributions through the newly-created Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards.

Launching the awards at Bishop Viard College in Porirua, Prime Minister John Key said the initiative is designed to celebrate the endeavours of young Pacific people across a range of disciplines, as well as provide a platform for further achievement and leadership.

“New Zealand’s Pacific population is growing. A large of part of our country’s international competitiveness will depend on how well we capitalise on the skills and talents of Pacific New Zealanders, and it’s vital young Pacific leaders are recognised for their achievements and potential,” said Mr Key.

The three awards are:

• The University of Auckland Award for Leadership
• The Weta Award for Creativity
• The Cogita Software Award for Inspiration

“I am delighted one of our top tertiary institutions and two globally-successful businesses have come on board to help some of our most talented young people seize new opportunities,” said Mr Key.

“These awards will help develop leadership potential among Pacific youth, as well as opening up career or study options for the recipients.”

Nominations for the awards close on 11 October 2010, with winners announced on 19 November 2010.

For more information on the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards and to make nominations, go to: http://www.pacificyouthawards.org.nz .

The Health Research Council of New Zealand has released a Request For Proposal (RFP) for the Ngā Kanohi Kitea: Māori Knowledge and Development Research funding initiative.

Developing Māori capability and knowledge is the prime focus of Ngā Kanohi Kitea research grants. The grants provide opportunities for iwi, hapū and other community groups to address community identified health needs.

Grants available

Development Grants
Up to $10,000 is available over three months to assist applicants in preparing their full project proposal.

Project grants
Up to $200,000 is available over eighteen months. These grants are designed to investigate a well defined research question.

Kay dates

• Registration for Investigator Briefing Meeting – 1 October 2010
• Investigator Briefing Meeting – 6 October 2010
• Development grants due – 1 November 2010
• Project grants due – 11 April 2011

For more information visit: http://www.hrc.govt.nz/root/pages_maori_health/Māori_Knowledge_and_Development_Research_Fund.html

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed the release of a tax policy issues paper that seeks feedback on suggested changes to improve the fairness of social assistance.

“People should not be able to receive more social assistance simply because of how they structure their affairs or receive their income,” he said.

The paper follows the Government’s announcement in Budget 2010 that it will reform the tax rules around how family income is defined for entitlement to Working for Families, student allowances and community services cards.

“Basically, these schemes are intended to help low and middle-income families. People should not be getting help that they do not need.

“For example, people can receive quite large amounts of income through a trust and yet still qualify for Working for Families tax credits. That is clearly not fair,” Mr Dunne said.

To address such issues, the issues paper suggests broadening the definition of family scheme income, which is used to determine entitlements to Working for Families tax credits and other programmes.

The broader scope of the definition would include income from trusts, some fringe benefits, passive income of children such as interest or dividends over $1,000 a year, and income of non-resident spouses.

“Any changes coming from the consultation process will be added by Supplementary Order Paper to the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Bill which is currently before Parliament, along with other Budget 2010 tax measures requiring legislation,” he said.

Changes to the definition of family scheme income for Working for Families tax credit applications and all new applications for the community services card would apply from 1 April 2011. The new definition could apply to all new applications for student allowances from 1 January 2012.

The issues paper, Social Assistance Integrity: Defining Family Income, is available at http://www.taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz . Submissions close on 24 September 2010.

A new report – Social Lending: A Tool for Grantmakers, an Opportunity for Communities – discusses the opportunity social lending offers New Zealand’s public and private grantmakers as well as social enterprises, non-profits, iwi, and low-income communities.

Prepared by Laura Benedict, with funding from the sponsors of the Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy, the report describes the three types of social lending:

1. lending to social mission organisations
2. small businesses owned by or employing disadvantaged people
3. low-income individuals to help them avoid loan sharks and improve their financial stability.

It explores the lending implications of Māori historical disadvantage and the challenges of Māori cultural preferences on accessing credit, especially for collectively owned enterprises.

To read the report visit: http://www.fulbright.org.nz/voices/axford/2010_benedict.html

Laura Benedict is Vice President, Commercial Lending at Self-Help in Durham, North Carolina – the largest social lender in the United States of America.

During Laura’s Ian Axford Fellowship exchange to New Zealand she was based at the Ministry of Social Development and Philanthropy New Zealand in Wellington, where she researched opportunities social lending offers to New Zealand’s public and private grantmakers as well as social enterprises, non-profits, iwi, and low-income communities.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori role as outlined in The Māori Language Act 1987 is to support Māori language revitalisation efforts, promote and preserve the integrity of the language and provide advice to the Minister and wider public sector on language issues as required.

A recent survey conducted by Research NZ has found that 38% of New Zealanders support compulsory Māori language education in schools.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori is buoyed by the statistic, and believes it shows a maturing of attitudes and acceptance of wider NZ society of Māori language concerns and issues.

“Certainly a statistic like this would not have been achieved thirty to forty years ago”, says Chief Executive, Glenis Philip-Barbara.

“We are clear however, that 38% still represents a significant minority of the population, and there is still much work to be done”, says Glenis Philip-Barbara.

“We encourage robust debate on this point, and are also heartened that the majority of the positive support for compulsory Māori language education (i.e. 50%) comes from the 15-34 age group”, says Glenis Philip-Barbara.

While it would be ideal to have the Māori language learned by all students in all schools one day, on a practical level there is a concern about whether the education system could meet the demand associated with making Māori language compulsory in schools. As it is, there are not enough Māori language teachers to meet current demands, and making a move such as this would seem shortsighted in that context.

For more on the survey visit: http://www.researchnz.com/press_releases.html