Statement of Government Intentions for an Improved Community - Government Relationship
Vision
Strong and respectful relationships between government
and community, voluntary and iwi / Māori organisations.
Government recognises that community, voluntary and iwi/Māori organisations play a unique and vital role in New Zealand society.
An independent and vibrant community sector is essential to a healthy civil society. Government and the community sector depend on each other to achieve shared goals of social participation, social equity and strengthened communities.
The Community and Voluntary Sector Working Party delivered a strong message that government relationships with the community sector need to improve if these goals are to be realised.
Government will be an active partner in building a relationship based on honesty, trust and integrity / tika and pono; compassion and caring / aroha and manaakitanga; and recognition of diversity.
Principles
Government is committed to developing relationships with community, voluntary and iwi/Māori organisations that:
- enable mutual interests to be achieved through co-operation
- respect the independence of community, voluntary and iwi/Māori organisations
- recognise and respect the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
- demonstrate effective two way communication
- involve leadership within the community sector and from government ministers
- acknowledge and support the positive role played by umbrella, national and strategic collective bodies
- embrace innovation and creativity
- respect and recognise cultural diversity
- are founded on public accountability and appropriately flexible good practice.
Government commitments
Culture of government
Government expects public servants to treat all New Zealanders with dignity and respect. This requires leadership from public service chief executives and senior managers to ensure that all staff have a good understanding of the values, governance arrangements and working realities of the community, voluntary and iwi/Māori organisations with whom they interact.- "Whole of government" approach
Government recognises that community, voluntary and iwi/Māori organisations interact across the range of government ministries and departments. Government agencies will give priority to working together, breaking down 'silos' and establishing co-ordinated, inter-sectoral policies and programmes. - Treaty of Waitangi
Government expects its departments and ministries to recognise and apply the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. Public servants need to be well informed about, and responsive to, Treaty matters. Government agencies will continue to develop and improve public servants' understanding of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, its relevance to the agency in which they work and its application to their own roles. - Participation in decision-making
Government values the contribution of community, voluntary and iwi/Māori organisations to good policy making and delivery of effective services. Government agencies and the community sector will work together to develop and improve consultation processes through sharing good practice, guidelines, workshops and training. - Government funding to community organisations
Government acknowledges the valuable contribution made by community, voluntary and iwi/Māori organisations to the achievement of shared social, cultural, environmental and economic goals. Government agencies will, together with the community sector, undertake a programme of work to address concerns about funding arrangements, effectiveness, compliance costs and related matters. - Strengthening the community sector
New Zealand's social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing requires a healthy and strong community sector. Government will work alongside community, voluntary and iwi/Māori organisations to support and strengthen the community sector.
Implementation
Government is committed to creating a genuine partnership with community, voluntary and iwi/Māori organisations. Building strong and respectful relationships with the community sector will take time and will require hard work, reflection and active engagement.
Government sees a future where the state performs its role as a facilitator of a strong civil society based on respectful relationships between government and community, voluntary and iwi/Māori organisations.
Rt Hon Helen Clark
Prime Minister
Hon Steve Maharey
Minister Responsible for the Community and Voluntary Sector