Issue 16 - 11 March 2008

Kia ora tatou. I am both sad and happy to confirm the news that Brenda Ratcliff is leaving her position as Director of the OCVS to move to a new role in the Ministry of Social Development’s (MSD) Human Resources group – as Lead Organisational Development Advisor. 

Brenda joined the OCVS as Director on 1 July 2004 and has been an energetic and enthusiastic spark in the OCVS for just under four years.  She has provided exceptional leadership, professionalism and commitment to the role of OCVS Director – and will be greatly missed by her team, and by her colleagues and friends in the wider CVS and government networks.  For those of us in MSD, there will be the consolation that we get to continue working with Brenda as she contributes to the Ministry’s commitment to cultivating inspired leadership.  This is work for which Brenda has great passion and we wish her well in her new position.  

We are now beginning the recruitment process for a new OCVS Director. Recognising that Brenda will be a hard act to follow and that finding a new permanent Director may take some time, we have appointed Ruth Harrison as interim Director to lead and support the Office through the next few months.

Ruth will be known to many of you through a number of former roles. Most recently she has been the Chair Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission.  Roles prior to that position have included: four years as Chief Executive of Workbridge, a senior executive role in the Wellington City Council, and several years with the former Department of Social Welfare where she worked in information technology and policy positions, including two years as Private Secretary to the Minister of Social Welfare.  We are most grateful to Ruth for agreeing to step in and assist us through this period of change for the OCVS.  She will step into this role from 17 March 2008.

Katherine Baxter, General Manager, Social Inclusion and Participation, MSD

This week, the community and government members of the Improving Government Funding Practice project team will participate in a two-day workshop with world-class facilitator Adam Kahane.  By working together in the Change Lab, we are breathing life into the Statement of Government Intentions for an Improved Community-Government Relationship . We will use the Change Lab experience to examine the relationship and, of course, issues around sustainability and funding, which impact on the relationship.

Since OCVS started to design the Change Lab, Pathway to Partnership was announced. (See separate story #07 below). While the Change Lab may provide helpful insights to better ways for government and the sector working together as part of Pathway to Partnership, the Adam Kahane event is a completely separate piece of work where issues will be explored at a high level and from whole-of-sector and whole-of-government perspectives.

Adam is a leading designer of processes through which business, government, and civil society leaders can work together to solve their toughest, most complex problems. He is the author of Solving Tough Problems: An Open Way of Talking, Listening, and Creating New Realities.  His availability for the project team's Change Lab has been made possible with assistance from the Leadership Development Centre. OCVS appreciates the opportunity to approach this topic in a unique and innovative way in order to focus on better joint action to address the complex issues we face.

Over 60 people from business, the community and government attended a half-day “communities of interest” meeting in Wellington in November to kick-start the project to increase volunteering and philanthropic giving in New Zealand.

After this meeting, the following people/organisations agreed to be on the project hub/working group:

• Debbie Noon (IBM)
• Elliot Strange (Signify Ltd)
• Greg Brownless (Legacy Funerals/Tauranga local councillor)
• John Prendergast (Community Trust of Southland)
• Joy Sylvia (Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury)
• Ken Laban (National Lotteries Grants Board) - temporary
• Kate Frykberg (Thinktank Charitable Trust)
• Kitty Hilton (Fundraising Insititute)
• Mark Cassidy (Guardian Trusts)
• Nick Jones (Nick Jones & Associates)
• Rachel Ritchie (Whanganui Community Foundation)
• Richard Till (chef, radio personality and host of community dinners)
• Sangeeta Singh (The Chinmaya Mission New Zealand)
• Tania Mataki (Te Puna Oranga)
• Tyron Love (Massey University).
  

Thank you to these people for agreeing to be such an integral part of taking this work forward. Volunteering New Zealand, Philanthropy New Zealand and the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector will provide secretariat support to the project and participate as hub members.  IHC is providing administrative support. The hub met for the first time as a group in February and meet again this week.

A wider team of people have agreed to be Advisors to the hub, and will play an important role as the hub members draw on their expertise going forward. We hope to continue to grow the communities of interest and circle of Advisors to this project, so please email kathryn.paton002@msd.govt.nz if you would like to be involved as an Advisor, but have not yet signalled your interest.

The ethnic sector is made up of people whose culture and traditions distinguish them from the majority of people in New Zealand. The Good Practice Participate website gives guidance from the Office of Ethnic Affairs on how to include an ethnic perspective in policy-making.

Visit the website for details about training courses in Ethnic Perspectives in Policy (EPP) and Intercultural Awareness and Communication (IAC).  EPP training includes tools and best practice models to ensure policy is developed that responds to the needs of all New Zealanders. IAC programme participants develop intercultural competencies, including cultural self-awareness, cultural literacy, and building cross-cultural bridges to engage with other communities.

Articles exploring ethnicity are also included in a recent issue of the Social Policy Journal

Minor amendments have been made to one brochure/checklist and four factsheets/topics in Keeping it Legal E Ai Ki Te Ture. These changes relate mostly to the introduction of KiwiSaver, and delays in the review of the Financial Reporting Act 1993. The online and PDF text of the relevent sections have been updated and copies can be downloaded/printed from the Keeping it Legal website, as follows: 

Copies of the original printed resource kit, Keeping It Legal E Ai Ki Te Ture are still available by contacting OCVS:

email ocvs@msd.govt.nz
phone 04 918 9555
fax  04 913 3080
or send a request to OCVS, PO Box 1556, Wellington.

The Study of the New Zealand Non-Profit Sector is a collaborative research project between non-profit sector representatives and government. The Study aims to form a definitive view on the size, scope and history of the non-profit sector in New Zealand, and then to compare this internationally as part of the Johns Hopkins University International Comparative Study of the Non-profit Sector.

The Study Committee met in February to review the initial draft of the New Zealand National Report, which will summarise the results of the research and compare it with over 30 other countries. The National Report will be published in late July 2008. Detailed history and policy papers will be published on the internet later in 2008.

For further information, including research already published from the project can be found at

If you have an event, conference or meeting related to community or voluntary issues, you are welcome to send a brief description of the event to us for inclusion in our email updates.

In February, the government announced changes in funding for community organisations providing essential services for families, children and young people. Worth $446 million over the next four years, the Pathway to Partnership package provides full funding for contracted community-based social services.

Government currently provides $203m to the services for families, children and young people that will receive the additional funding. An extra $52m will be spent in 2008/09. This is made up of the $37.5m announced on 12 February, as well as $15m already allocated as part of Pathway to Partnership in the 2007 Budget.

Organisations that provide services that meet the criteria of essential services will, over a two to four year phase-in period, be funded for the full cost of delivering those services. Funding changes will be progressively implemented from July 2008. Over the next couple of months, the Ministry of Social Development will provide more information, including how this funding package may affect your organisation.

Read more in the special edition of Funding News or see the media release, or read reaction from COmVOiceS.

.The Survey of Government Funding of Non-profit Organisations gives a broad view of central government’s funding of non-profit organisations (NPOs).

In June 2006, a questionnaire was sent to government departments seeking information on the size of government funding flows to NPOs.
The results of the survey provide a broad overview of central government’s funding of non-profit organisations.
The survey has highlighted that in 2005/06:

• the largest amounts of departmental payments are made to NPOs in the social services, education and health activity sectors
• contract payments for services dominate over grant funding
• there are some classification and methodological matters that should be considered if any future surveys are undertaken
• there are difficulties tracking payment and funding arrangements through more than one agency to NPOs.
  
• the survey provided limited information about payments made by Crown entities to NPOs.
• some government payments to NPOs occur indirectly through a second tier of agencies such as Crown entities and local authorities. Departments noted difficulties tracking these types of payments because their information sources are geared to report on departmental funds rather than on the use of departmental funds allocated to Crown entities
• there are two distinct streams of funding:
  • payments of $1.25 billion to NPOs from departments
  • payments of at least $141 million to NPOs from Crown entities 
    (Note: Previous estimates of Crown entity payments to NPOs suggest this figure is likely to be significantly under-reported.
    For example, last year it was estimated that payments in the order of $2 billion were
    provided to NPOs for health and disability services from district health boards and other
    Crown entities in Vote: Health. This estimate could not be substantiated from the survey.)

This was the first time that a comprehensive survey has tested information about government payments to this sector.  Although exploratory, the survey has provided useful benchmark information about the Government’s interactions with the non-profit sector.Together with Statistics NZ’s Non-profit Institutions Satellite Account: 2004, and Philanthropy NZ’s Giving NZ 2006 report on philanthropic funding, we are beginning to build a clearer picture how the community and voluntary sector is resourced in New Zealand.

.In preparation for the 2007 report Non-profit Institutions Satellite Account: 2004, Statistics NZ used three primary business registers to identify the number of NPIs. These included Statistics NZ’s Business Frame and registers maintained by Inland Revenue and the Companies Office.

It was recognised, however, that there are institutions not registered or not recognised in such a way as to appear on the primary registers, so Statistics NZ conducted a case study in Masterton to determine the extent that the three registers cover the full range of NPIs. Of the 990 NPIs identified from local sources in the Masterton Territorial Local Authority, 92% were also on the primary registers.

» The Masterton case study report is online.

Statistics NZ has also released QuickStats about Unpaid Work based on findings from the 2006 NZ Census - see QuickStats about Unpaid Work for more details.

New legislation for KiwiSaver was passed in December and included two major changes that will affect all employers, including those in the non-profit sector. 

From 1 April this year, all employers are required to contribute to their employee’s KiwiSaver scheme or complying fund starting at 1% of an employee’s gross salary or wage. This will increase by 1% every year until 4% is reached in 2011.

To help offset the cost of making both voluntary and compulsory employer contributions, an employer tax credit of up to $20 a week per member will be available even if no tax is paid. All contributing employers are entitled to claim the tax credit, including charities and non-profit organisations. 

Compulsory employer contributions and the employer tax credit are covered in more detail in the revised KiwiSaver employer guide (KS 4) sent to all employers in February.

This Bill provides for the establishment of new legal entities by tribal groups or Māori associations, which may be structured to meet the organisational needs of tribal groups and other Māori associations that manage communal assets.

It had its first reading in Parliament in December 2007, and has been referred to the Māori Affairs Committee. Submissions are due by 28 March 2008.

• Transforming the State Services: resources and tools for the Development Goals flier is on the Public Sector Intranet.
  » Read more about the Development Goals.
• State Servants, Political Parties and Elections: Guidance for the 2008 Election Period.
• Factors for Successful Coordination - A Framework to Help State Agencies Coordinate Effectively.
  The framework groups nine success factors according to the three dimensions of mandate, systems and behaviours. Ensuring these factors are in place over time will help agencies coordinate more effectively and achieve success together.

The queue of applications is growing. So, it’s important to apply now to have your application processed before the tax laws change on 1 July.

If you know of any charitable organisations who haven't yet applied, and who are likely to be eligible, please encourage them to apply as soon as possible, so they don’t risk missing out on charitable-purpose tax exemptions after 1 July 2008.

YouthLaw’s website contains 58 legal information sheets on all aspects of the law, over 25 articles and submissions on the law, links to related agencies and organisations, and free community resources.  There is also a special section on promoting participation by children and young people.

» See www.youthlaw.co.nz/default.aspx?_z=59.

With funding from the Digital Strategy Community Partnership Fund, Youthlaw has developed a free online training programme for youth workers to develop the practical skills to advocate for children and young people in their own localities. YouthLaw also recently won the ymedia challenge, which aimed to improve the relationship between NGO's and ygen (under 30's).

» Read more about the challenge  or access the information sheets at www.youthlaw.co.nz.

• 3-4 April: Leaders in Sport conference 2008 – Auckland.
  » Read more at www.leadersinsport.com/.
• 7-11 April: Disability Mentoring Week.
  » Read more at: www.ssc.govt.nz/display/document.asp?docid=6353.
• 14-15 April: Keeping Kids Safe Presbyterian Support Northern Conference 2008 – Manuakau.
  » Read more at www.ps.org.nz/Site/Northern/News/KEEPING_KIDS_SAFE_2008/Keeping_Kids_Safe_Conference_.aspx.
• 18-20 April: Treaty Educators Professional Development Conference - Tamaki Makaurau.
  » Read more at: www.treatyeducators.org.nz
• 22 April: Engage Your Community Conference: Using blogs, YouTube and other cool tools to achieve your group’s goals – Waikato Management School, University of Waikato, Hamilton.
  » Read more at http://webguide.net.nz/engage-your-community/.
• April–June (various dates): Sponsorship & Beyond and Fundraising for Good workshops – Foresee Communications Ltd - Christchurch, Wellington & Auckland.
  » Read more at: www.foresee.co.nz
• 28 April-1 May: Community Engagement in Policy Development 2008 Conference – Brisbane, Australia.
  » Read more at www.iqpcevents.com/ShowEvent.aspx?id=45714&details=58954.
• 13-14 May: Planning for Effective Public Participation – IAP2 Training – Auckland.
  » Read more at www.twyford.com.au.
• 23 May: How to Attract More Sponsors one-day workshop – Auckland.
  » Read more at www.richardwoodward.com.au/rwa_content_public_programs.htm.
• 25-27 May: FINZ South Pacific Conference 2008: The New Face of Fundraising, Auckland.
  » Read more at www.finz.org.nz/conference.
• 5 June: NZ hosting World Environment Day for the first time. The theme for this year’s World Environment Day is ‘kick the carbon habit’. The Ministry for the Environment (MfE)is encouraging councils, businesses, communities, interest groups and schools to organise and participate in regional and local events. Limited, contestable funding is available to groups interested in organising their own activities in recognition of World Environment Day. MfE has a range of electronic, downloadable resources for communities, schools and businesses planning a World Environment Day event. Visit www.world.environment.govt.nz for more details.
• 15-21 June: Volunteer Awareness Week. The theme chosen by Volunteer Centres is “Achieving your potential through volunteering”.
  » Read more at www.ocvs.govt.nz/news-updates/volunteer-awareness-week.html.
• 18-21 June: CIvicus 8th World Assembly – Glasgow, Scotland.
  » Read more at: www.civicusassembly.org/.
• 23-25 June: What's Working in Community Development? conference – Nova Scotia, Canada.
  » Read more at www.iacdglobal.org/events.asp.
• 2-4 July: Public Health Association of NZ Conference – Waitangi.
  » Read more at www.pha.org.nz/phaconference.html
• 2-4 July: INVOLVE 08 Relate Conference: Quality relationships and young people – Wellington.
  » Read more at: www.involve.org.nz.
• 9-12 July: International Society for Third Sector Research 8th International Conference – Barcelona, Spain.
  » Read more at: www.istr.org/conferences/barcelona/index.htm.

Each week public servants can receive news, events and content alerts from the Public Sector Intranet in their Inbox. For example, the latest Cabinet and Cabinet Committees timetable, HR and Policy community updates, Statistics New Zealand seminars and new material on the PSI Sustainability community.

» Go to the home page of the PSI to subscribe or click on this link - https://psi.govt.nz/home/alerts.aspx.

• Invercargill District Local Services Mapping report released in January. 
  See it online at www.familyservices.govt.nz/our-work/community-development/local-services-mapping/index.html.
• Tax and volunteering: empirical evidence to support recommendations to solve the current problems surrounding the tax treatment of volunteers’ reimbursements and honoraria in New Zealand – Working paper 58 by Letisha Tan now online at: www.victoria.ac.nz/sacl/CAGTR/CAGTRworkingpapers.aspx.
• The Fabric of Welfare: Voluntary Organisations, Government and Welfare in New Zealand, 1840–2005, by Prof Margaret Tennant (Massey University) – order online at www.bwb.co.nz/store/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=10&idproduct=237.
• NZ Unleashed, by Steve Carden, paints a vivid picture of where New Zealand has been, where it could go, and what sort of people will get it there. Pages 247-250, in particular, highlight the importance of growing civic participation.
  Order online at www.thenile.co.nz/books/Steven-Carden/New-Zealand-Unleashed/9781869418588/.
• Creating better communities: a study of social capital creation in four communities – released by the Benevolent Society, Australia.
  See www.bensoc.org.au/uploads/documents/creating-better-communities-nov2007.pdf.
• BDO Australasian Not-for-Profit Fraud Survey 2008 – see the key findings or download the report online at
  www.bdo.com.au/services/forensic-accounting/resources/not-for-profit_fraud_survey_2008.
• How reality television is playing a part in the popularity of philanthropy – See www.onphilanthropy.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7323&news_iv_ctrl=0.
• To increase charitable donations, appeal to the heart, not the head. – See www.upenn.edu/researchatpenn/article.php?1259&bus.
• UK Giving 2007 report online at www.cafonline.org/default.aspx?Page=12182.
• From the Joseph Rountree Foundation: Local Links- developing active networks in local communities.
  Findings are at: www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/2184.asp.
  Main report (88p) at: www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/2168-networks-local-communities.pdf.

In February, ANZ National celebrated reaching a total of $1 million in community grants from its Staff Foundation payroll giving programme. Staff members contribute a regular amount from their salary or wages, and ANZ National matches staff contributions dollar for dollar.

Over the past seven years, the ANZ National Staff Foundation has given a million dollars in grants to more than 300 community organisations throughout New Zealand. More than 1,100 employees are members of the Foundation, which supports a wide range of projects delivering benefits across the community. Staff involvement goes beyond regular contributions and they are actively involved in identifying projects and organisations to fund, supporting applications, and presenting grants.

A one-day workshop for community organisation employers is being held in Porirua on Friday, 28 March at Pember House. Hosted by the Porirua Council of Social Services (PCOSS), and organised by the Workplace Wellbeing project group in conjunction with input from the Department of Labour Mediation Service, this workshop will discuss key issues relating to employment matters in community organisations.

To register (at a cost of only $20), please contact PCOSS directly on 235 5218 or email coordinator@pcoss.org.nz.

MSS Professional is part of Methodist Social Services in Palmerston North. Facilitated by Tim Burns (American Educational Consultant and Author) all the following workshops are suitable for all teachers,  Nga Kaiako of pre-schoolers, community educators, RTLB’s, counsellors, social workers, health practitioners and interested parents.

• Brain Basics and Beyond! (14 May) blends research and practical application within a framework of brain based childhood development linking brain, body and heart interaction and integration.
• The Next Step (15 May) uses a resiliency and protective factor approach to enhanced child well-being and school success that will help participants become more resourceful in developing the best possible environment for healthy development and learning.
• It’s about Balance! (16 May) focuses on stress management, renewal and resiliency for educators and beyond, looking at research, problem solving, and improving personal well-being.

» Contact Helen or Vicki on education@methodistsocialservices.org.nz, or ph: 06 357 3277 for more information, prices and enrolments.

ASB Community Trust has launched an initiative to lift education outcomes for Maori and Pasifika in Auckland and Northland. They are keen to fund community groups with innovative interventions that will challenge the status quo. A series of hui are already underway to explain the initiative. 

Expressions of interest are due by 14 April 2008. If you have any questions, or need more details about the initiative, please visit www.Initiative.org.nz.

If you do not want to receive any further email updates from the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector, please reply to this email with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line, or e-mail ocvs@msd.govt.nz.

If you wish to be added to the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector distribution list for this e-newsletter and other regular communications, send an email to ocvs@msd.govt.nz with your name and postal address.

The Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector exists to inspire co-operation and superb relationships between the government and the community and voluntary sector. You can find out more about the OCVS on our website: www.ocvs.govt.nz, by email at: ocvs@msd.govt.nz, phone: 04 918 9555, or by fax: 04 913 3080.