Issue 35 - 12 August 2010

Reports from many of the Kia Tutahi hui are now publicly available so you can see what people have said about the draft Relationship Agreement between the Communities of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Government of New Zealand. 

The Kia tutahi Standing Together Steering Group has almost completed its series of 17 regional and two national hui to seek feedback on the draft Agreement. More than 550 people have participated in the hui so far and the overwhelming message from all the feedback is the desire for the Agreement to make a tangible, positive difference. The final two scheduled hui will be held in Greymouth and Manukau this week.

The 16 member steering group, which has eight people from the community and eight from government agencies, drafted the Agreement in May and June after being appointed by the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, the Hon. Tariana Turia.

The short, high-level draft Agreement sets out a vision for communities and Government to work together for a fair, inclusive and flourishing society. It is proposed as a foundation for building strong relationships between communities and the Government. 

Reaction to the draft Agreement has varied widely, and the notes from the different group discussions are being written up to help shape the final Agreement and the way forward.

Some of the areas generating the most comment and feedback include:

• the definition of one party to the Agreement as "communities" and feedback from some saying this is too broad
• a desire for more information about how the Agreement might be implemented and monitored, with some saying the draft is too high level at present
• whether local government could or should be included in some way.

You can read what different communities have had to say in the feedback from the various hui at http://bangthetable.com/document/index/227. Reports are being added online as they are completed, so check back in a few days if the one you are interested in is not there yet.

During September, the steering group will review and consider all submissions from around the country and online, in order to make solid recommendations on the next steps to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector.

» Read notes from the hui at http://bangthetable.com/document/index/227

» View answers to a range of questions about the agreement and the Steering Group

In addition to regional hui, the Kia Tutahi-Standing Together steering group is also consulting with New Zealand communities online at http://bangthetable.com/kiatutahi. 

The consultation website enables people to provide feedback and publicly share their ideas about Relationship Agreement between the Communities of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Government of New Zealand. The site also features summaries in Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Hindi, Arabic, Somali, Korean, Traditional and Simplified Chinese and English.

More than 1,100 unique visitors have looked at the online discussions, but so far relatively few have felt compelled to make an online comment.

Three discussions are currently underway.

• One about the content of the draft Agreement (eg: vision, principles, wording, etc).
• One about who the parties to the Agreement should be to ensure the agreement is put into practice.
• One about howto keep things on track - including how to promote it and ensure it is working.

Even if you don't wish to make your own statement online, you can show support (or not) for what others have said - helping to give additional weight to particular perspectives. You can choose to identify yourself online or remain anonymous in the discussion forums - it is up to you.

This is an opportunity to openly share your opinions and feedback, so join the online discussions today.

If you don't wish to comment online, you can send a written submission to.
Kia Tutahi-Standing Together Steering Group c/o OCVS, PO Box 1556, Wellington 6140.

The deadline for ALL feedback is 20 August 2010, so there is still more than a week left to comment. 

The steering group will review and consider all submissions and feedback during September before making solid recommendations on the next steps to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector.

» Join the online discussions at http://bangthetable.com/kiatutahi

Payroll giving only began in New Zealand in January this year, but already donations through the scheme have reached $170,193 for a single month, and they seem to be growing - according to new data from Inland Revenue.

Figures for June 2010, show this amount was donated by 1,135 employees in 227 workplaces.  Because the donations were made via payroll giving, the employees received IMMEDIATE tax credits totaling $56,731 - effectively making their generosity more affordable.

Since payroll giving began, 342 distinct employers have processed at least one payroll giving donation. Reasons why only 227 employers notified Inland Revenue of payments in June may be:

• some employees are using payroll giving to make one off donations
• a few employers have stopped offering it
• staff who were donating that way have moved on or not worked
• some of  the Employer Monthly Schedules had not yet been processed.

More than 35,000 staff work for the employers who have introduced payroll giving. So far, only 2.8% to 4.1% of staff are donating direct from their wages or salary in workplaces that have processed payroll giving donations. This indicates there is scope for extra promotion within these workplaces to encourage more staff to take advantage of the immediate tax benefits of payroll giving. Of course, there is also a need to encourage more employers (including donee organisations) to offer payroll giving to their employees.

Figures for the first six months of payroll giving show:

• 56 employees working for 34 employers donated $12,729 in January 2010
• 135 employees working for 69 employers donated $16,983 in February 2010
• 249 employees working for 80 employers donated $25,863 in March 2010
• 952 employees working for 174 employers donated $83,262 in April 2010
• 980 employees working for 214 employers donated $114,813 in May 2010
• 1,135 employees working for 227 employers donated $170,193 in June 2010.

That is a total of more than $423,500 donated via payroll giving in six months - so if growth continues at this rate, a total of $2 million could be donated in the first year. If more people start requesting and promoting payroll giving, then the donations to worthwhile causes will be even greater and so will the tax credits people receive!

Since payroll giving began, several payroll companies have adapted software to make administration easier for employers. Intermediaries are also gearing up to assist both employers and non-profit recipients with processing. The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has also been making its software freely available to employers who wish to introduce payroll giving in their workplaces.

» See how MSD's experience can help you introduce payroll giving in your workplace

» Learn more about payroll giving

» Read Philanthropy NZ's media release calling on Kiwis to give

Nineteen different information sets have been created to highlight the key benefits of payroll giving and offer ideas to promote payroll giving and overcome barriers to its introduction. They also explain recent changes to the tax treatment of volunteer reimbursements and honoraria, and the lifting of the cap on tax credits for charitable donations.

Information has been designed for specific audiences such as Māori, the arts, sports groups, recreation organisations, churches, schools, fundraisers, employees, corporates and small-medium businesses.

Donee organisations/charities have key roles to play in encouraging their existing supporters to consider how they want to give of their time and/or money. This might include supporters actively requesting payroll giving in their workplaces. Donee organisations that employ staff can also set an example by implementing payroll giving in their own workplaces.

Research on giving indicates that approximately 794,000 people in employment are already committed givers (ie: making regular contributions of time or money to causes that are important to them). By switching to payroll giving, many of these workers could potentially get money back that they might not have claimed from Inland Revenue in the past. This effectively makes donations more affordable, which may encourage some people to increase the amounts they give.

Check the list below and download and print the version most relevant to you. A limited number of hard copies are also available, so e-mail ocvs@msd.govt.nz if you'd like to help distribute these.

• It's now easier to give: Information for employees
• It's now easier to give: Information for small to medium enterprises
• Making it easier to give: Information for corporate companies
• Making it easier to give: Information for fundraisers
• Making it easier to give to early childhood centres
• Making it easier to give to schools
• Making it easier to give to tertiary and research institutes
• Making it easier to give to Māori organisations
• Kia māmā ake te tuku koha ki nga whakahaere Māori
• Making it easier to give to Pacific Island organisations
• Making it easier to give to arts and cultural groups
• Making it easier to give to environmental groups
• Making it easier to give to social service providers
• Making it easier to give to international aid organisations
• Making it easier to give to health organisations
• Making it easier to give to recreation and social clubs
• Making it easier to give to sporting organisations
• Making it easier to give to religious organisations
• Making it easier to give to registered charities

» Download the specific guide you require

»  Learn more about payroll giving

Donors claiming tax credits from Inland Revenue are getting more money back following changes to legislation. Individuals have been able to claim tax credits of 33.33%, up to the value of their annual income, for donations made in the 2008/2009 tax year onwards. Similarly, companies and Māori authorities have been able to claim tax deductions for donations up to the level of their net income (before taking into account the donation deduction).

Inland Revenue figures for the 2008/2009 tax year show a big leap in the amount of money credited to donors - even though the number of people making a claim dropped slightly. 

• For the year ending 31 March 2007, 393,800 donors received tax credits totalling $110.5 million
• For the year ending 31 March 2008, 401,100 donors received tax credits totalling $114.8 million
• For the year ending 31 March 2009, 377,500 donors received tax credits totalling $187.4 million

With the tax credit now equaling one third of the donation amount, this means the 2009 claims represent donations totalling at least $562.2 million.

Claims can be still be made for previous years if you have the donation receipts, but the tax credit for individuals is limited to $1,890 for donations made prior to 1 April 2008. Tax credit donation claims are processed separately from other income tax returns, so you can put in a tax credit claim without having to complete any other tax documents. If you don't want the tax credit for yourself - you can provide the bank account details of a worthy organisation and they will get the money you don't need. 

» See the rules on tax credits for donations

» Download a donation tax credit claim form from the Inland Revenue website

» See graphs of 2001-2008 tax credit data on the Inland Revenue website

» Read the Generosity Hub's Focus on Giving papers

» In response to American billionaires' Giving Pledge, Philanthropy NZ urges Kiwis to give

» Subscribe to Community-Wise - Inland Revenue's newsletter for community groups and electorate offices on child support, Working for Families Tax Credits and student loan issues

Social enterprise and social lending seem to be key topics of interest for 2010, if recent reports and events are any indication.

In late 2009, the ASB Community Trust and the Tindall Foundation published A new funding paradigm: Prospects for social lending and investment by foundations in NZ by Glen Saunders. Then in February 2010, more than 300 people attended a Community Economic Development Conference in Waitakere City featuring several overseas experts on social enterprise and social lending.  Coincidentally at that time, US expert and Ian Axford Fellow, Laura Benedict began a research project exploring ways that lending can support social goals in New Zealand.

In June, the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, the Hon. Tariana Turia hosted a conversation on social enterprise and social lending. A summary of key points from this meeting, a list of attendees and background information is available on the Good Practice Funding website.  

Laura's seven-month co-placement with the Office for the Community & Voluntary Sector (OCVS) and Philanthropy New Zealand culminates this month with completion of her report entitled Social Lending: A Tool for Grantmakers, an Opportunity for Communities. 

Laura will present her report findings at the Institute of Public Administration of New Zealand (IPANZ) in Wellington on 20 August and ComVoices Parliamentary Breakfast on 24 August. Laura is likely to be continuing to work on social lending matters in New Zealand until she returns to the USA at the end of the year.

» Read the June conversation summary on social lending and enterprise

» See highlights from the Community Economic Development Conference

» See more social lending links

» Register for the IPANZ presentation at www.ipanz.org.nz or email admin@ipanz.org.nz

» Community organisations can register for the ComVoices Parliamentary Breakfast via e-mail to rsvp@ideasshop.co.nz before 17 August

» Laura's social lending paper will be available online after 20 August at www.fulbright.org.nz/voices/axford/2010_benedict.html

» Read about the United Kingdom's Big Society initiative unleashing communities' entrepreneurial spirit

If you have news or major activities related to community and voluntary sector issues, you are welcome to send a brief description to us at ocvs@msd.govt.nz for inclusion in our email updates.

A three-way partnership between Enliven Longview Rest Home, the Society of St Vincent de Paul and St Francis Xavier School has been recognised with an Arts Access Aotearoa Big 'A' Award. The award was one of four presented at a ceremony hosted by the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage in Parliament last month. 

The winning partnership created numerous opportunities for intergenerational exchanges of ideas and creativity.  In the scheme, year six children known as Vinnies, are paired with residents who help them develop confidence and life skills. Projects have included craft-making, musical and dance performances, art wall posters, story-telling and oral histories.

Award judges said: "There were some wonderful partnerships in this category.  This was a well-presented nomination, describing a partnership and project that inspired intergenerational connections. There was ownership and strong involvement from parties, and the mutual benefits were made clear."

» See more about all the Big 'A' Award winners

» Download Cultural well-being and cultural capital by Penny Eames

 The Ombudsman has a statutory role directed at safeguarding the community in their dealings with government agencies, including ACC.

This information outlines the work of the Office of the Ombudsman in dealing with complaints about ACC.  It is designed to assist organisations and agencies in how to deal with an ACC enquiry and complaint.

Where does a client turn if something goes wrong?  An Ombudsman may investigate ACC actions that are not related to a decision on a claim.  For example:

• actions taken by ACC in seeking repayment of a debt
• delays in responding to correspondence.

An Ombudsman's investigation is one of last resort, so if the concern is about the standard of service received from ACC, a complaint may be made to the ACC Complaints Investigator under the Code of ACC Claimants' Rights. The Code provides rights such as:

• the right to be treated with dignity and respect
• the right to be treated fairly and have your views considered
• the right to a support person
• the right to effective communication.

If the Complaints Investigator does not uphold a Code complaint, there is a right to seek a review by an independent reviewer. If the independent reviewer does not uphold a Code complaint, a complaint may then be made to an Ombudsman.

Other concerns about ACC actions, which are not related to a decision made by ACC on a claim, can also be raised with the ACC Complaints Investigator in the first instance.  If the Complaints Investigator does not uphold the concern, a complaint may then be made to an Ombudsman.

An Ombudsman cannot normally investigate decisions made by ACC on a claim, such as whether to:

• accept a claim for cover
• provide treatment
• pay compensation.

This is because there is a right of review to an independent reviewer and a further right of appeal to the District Court, from any decision made by ACC on a claim.  Details of how to access these rights are provided in ACC decision letters.  

» Contact details: ACC Office of the Complaints Investigator, PO Box 242, Wellington or phone 0800 650 222, complaints@acc.co.nz, www.acc.co.nz

» More information about the Ombudsman's role is at www.ombudsmen.parliament.nz

» Visit www.complaintline.org.nz to find out who to complain to on other matters

Community organisations can refer people with unresolved complaints about electricity or gas companies to the Electricity and Gas Complaints Commissioner, who specialises in investigating and resolving these.  

Most disputes Commissioner Judi Jones looks at are about billing, customer service, meters and debt.  Other issues include marketing, switching, liability for repair of services lines, and disputes about tree trimming.

An example of a marketing complaint involved a complainant who felt her electricity retailer misled her about the benefits of switching from her previous retailer.  The case involved a telemarketer saying the switch would save about $300 a year. A month after making the switch, the complainant received a letter saying prices would increase - meaning she'd only save about $50 a year.  The Electricity Consumer Code of Practice only specifies a company must give 30-days notice before a price increase but, after the Commissioner investigated, the complainant accepted the retailer's offer to bill her at the quoted rate for six months, and apply a $100 credit as compensation.

The Commissioner and her staff use their expertise to work with complainants and companies to achieve fair, timely and cost-effective resolutions.  While the Commissioner doesn't deal with complaints about the price set for services, she can consider complaints about whether people received good information.

The Commissioner's service is available for complaints up to $20,000, or more if the company agrees.  A person does not have to be a customer to make a complaint about an electricity or gas company.

» Contact freephone 0800 22 33 40, e-mail info@egcomplaints.co.nz  or visit www.egcomplaints.co.nz

» Visit www.complaintline.org.nz to find out who to complain to on other matters

Japan's Cabinet Office Director-General for Policies on Cohesive Society invites young leaders (aged between 23 and 40 years) in non-government organisations to participate in the 2010 Young Core Leaders of Civil Society Groups Development Programme.

The programme involves a mutual exchange of young leaders taking active roles in the social activities of senior citizens, disabled people and youth in Japan with young leaders in Germany, the UK and New Zealand. Young leaders of non-government organisations in these countries are invited to Japan to develop skills and establish networks between Japan and their countries.

In October 2010, nine young leaders from Japan interested in disability issues will visit New Zealand. In February 2011, 13 leaders with a minimum of three years experience in the areas of older people, youth and disability from New Zealand will visit Japan for ten days.  Young Kiwis who want to be part of this programme should apply before 7 September 2010.

» See background on the programme

» For more information and application forms: e-mail: japan18@eoj.org.nz or odi@msd.govt.nz

Right now hundreds of thousands of people won't be able to vote in the upcoming local elections. They may have turned 18, moved house, or not enrolled yet. None of these people will be sent their local elections voting papers in the mail.

Elections NZ needs your help to make sure as many people as possible can have their say.

Easy things you can do:

• Tell them about how easy it is to enrol
• Order brochures, posters, forms
• Get someone from Elections NZ to talk to people or groups you know
• Add a link to your website to make it easy for people to enrol or check their details online
• Put to the test what you know about the local elections

As the use of social media by politicians and governments grows internationally, Twitter (the micro-blogging site) has created a government liaison position to help it understand how to better serve political candidates and policymakers.

» See the Twitter job description and purpose

» Read reaction from NZ's Department of Conservation Chief Information Officer

» See how the NZ Companies Office makes itself more accessible using social media

» See various New Zealand government case studies using online engagement methods

» See how different New Zealand community groups are going online to connect with key audiences

» Follow the business.govt.nz Twitter feed

» See a table showing New Zealand government's use of social media

» Learn basic guidance about online engagement techniques

» Check out Bang the Table's 100 ideas to engage your community online

• Reports from Parliament's Social Services Committee
  Each year, Ministers meet with the relevant parliamentary select committee to report on their respective portfolios and answer questions. Vote Community and Voluntary Sector is used to purchase the administration of grants, community advisory services, and policy advice from the Department of Internal Affairs, and includes funding for the Charities Commission. While the Department of Internal Affairs administers the vote, the Ministry of Social Development also provides support for the sector through the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector.
  » 2010/11 Estimates for Vote Community and Voluntary Sector (5 July 2010)
  » 2010/11 Estimates for Vote Social Development and Vote Youth Development (5 July 2010)
• Terms of reference for Government review of spending on policy advice
  As part of its drive to deliver better frontline public services, the Government has announced a review of spending on policy advice across its departments and agencies. The review will assess whether the level and focus of the Crown's investment in policy advice aligns with Government policy priorities, and whether there is scope to refocus and/or reduce total spending on policy advice to ensure high professional standards, cost effectiveness and strong alignment with Government policy priorities. The review will be conducted by an external team of former Treasury Secretary Graham Scott (chair), KPMG Australia partner Patricia Faulkner, and Commerce Commission member Pat Duignan. The review team has been asked to report its findings to Ministers English, Ryall and Hide by December 2010.
  » Read the joint Ministerial media announcement
  » See the media response from the Public Service Assn
• Smart government - strong communities speech
  In this 26 July speech to the Local Government NZ Annual Conference, Local Government Minister, the Hon. Rodney Hide states: ".....I want to produce next year a first-principles discussion document on the proper constitutional status of local government in New Zealand, how its proper function and structure should be evaluated and assessed, and how central and local government can better mesh both their decision-making and their work programmes to improve the service we provide in the communities we represent......I have tentatively called this project Smarter Government - Stronger Communities......"
• Welfare Working Group discussion paper - issued 9 August
  The Welfare Working Group has issued the Long-Term Benefit Dependency: The Issues discussion document exploring the issues in the New Zealand benefit system. The Welfare Working Group was established by Cabinetto undertake an expansive and fundamental review of New Zealand's welfare system. The Group's primary task is to identify how to reduce long-term welfare dependency. The Welfare Working Group will explore options and make a range of recommendations as an independent body. The Government has asked the Working Group to consider three questions:
  - Is New Zealand doing the right things to reduce long-term welfare dependency?
  - Have we got the right welfare structure in place, and the right incentives to get people into work?
  - Are we getting the outcomes that taxpayers want from the system, looking at sustainability, fairness, access and improved social outcomes?
  » See papers and presentations from the Group's June forum
• What Work Counts?
  This new report from Child Poverty Action Group asks the question - do work incentives really improve the wellbeing of sole parents and children? It finds that despite the prevailing philosophy that work is the way out of poverty, children are at risk economically because parents are dependent on a volatile labour market for sufficient income.
• Flexible work online survey
  The Department of Labour is conducting research into flexible working for people who have caring responsibilities. Carers NZ encourages people who care for anyone including children, ill, disabled, or elderly family members or friends, or who have an interest in employment, caring, and flexible work to complete the survey. According to Census 2006, more than 80% of New Zealand's 420,000+ carers are of workforce age (15 to 65). During the 2007-08 Carers' Strategy consultation, many carers talked about the challenges of remaining in paid employment, and their wish for greater flexibility to better manage work and care. Completing this survey is an opportunity for carers and organisations to have their say about flexible work.
• Bang the Table's 100 ideas to engage your community online
  This short booklet covers ten big issues: why engage online, planning to engage online, creating rich and engaging content, promoting your online consultation, consultation accessibility, anonymity in online forums, moderating online forums, facilitating online forums, qualitative and quantitative reporting, and following up with your community.
• Social marketing in a changing world presentation
  The Health Sponsorship Council hosted social marketing workshops in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in early August. These featured presentations by US expert Craig Lefebvre - an architect and designer of public health and social change programmes. Professor Craig Lefebvre's presentation is available online and will be of interest to anyone who uses a customer-focused approached to reducing the health, social and environmental challenges that face New Zealand and New Zealanders.
• Community engagement in the CDEM context
  The ability of a community to cope with an emergency is based to a large extent on the measures it takes before the emergency occurs. Getting communities to participate in actions that enhance preparedness and create resilience to disasters has proven to be a significant challenge to the civil defence emergency management sector. This Best Practice Guideline assists with this process and is aimed at local authorities, regional Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups (CDEM) and support services around the country. It is intended to be a practical, hands-on reference, drawing together best practice from New Zealand experience and overseas.
• Recent OCVS Good Engagement seminar presentations:
  - Meaningful and authentic engagement with ethnic communities - presented by the Office of Ethnic Affairs
  - Participatory leadership: The art of hosting conversations that matter - Napier report prepared by Mary Alice Arthur
• Department of Conservation engagement story report
  The Department of Conservation is using place-based planning in its review of conservation management strategies. This report tells the story of how community engagement is contributing to this approach. The project acknowledges the importance of public contribution to conservation management planning and the critical role of the Department's staff in enabling public input. It also aimed to improve the Department's decision-making ability and to build public participation capacity.
• NZ Government Open Access and Licensing framework (NZGOAL)
  NZGOAL is a significant step towards increasing the release of government held material for re-use, and more open and transparent government. It was approved by Cabinet on 5 July 2010 as government guidance for State Services agencies to follow when releasing copyright works and non-copyright material for re-use by third parties. It standardises the licensing of government copyright works for re-use using Creative Commons licences and recommends the use of ‘no-known rights' statements for non-copyright material. It is widely recognised that re-use of this material by individuals and organisations may have significant creative and economic benefit for New Zealand.
• Presentations from Data Matters: Making the most of publicly-funded research data
  The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, with the support of the National Library of NZ and the Royal Society of NZ, hosted this event in July. Its main purpose was to develop an understanding of the actions needed to transform the science sector's approach to publicly-funded research data management. Presentations are available online
• Managing mixed financing of privately-owned providers in the public interest
  This publication compares the financing of general practice (primary health care), long-term care of older people, legal aid, and early childhood education in New Zealand, Australia, and England. Each service is characterised by a different mix of public and private finance. The authors identify the criteria deemed important when assessing whether a particular mix of public and private finance produces a service that meets public goals. These criteria are then drawn together in an assessment framework that policy makers can use when deciding on their approach to mixed financing. The framework assesses mixed financing from the perspectives of the state, providers, and users. Edited by Judith Smith, Nicholas Mays, Crispin Ovenden, Jacqueline Cumming, Janet McDonald and Jonathan Boston, and is available from the Institute of Policy Studies.
• Civil society and social capital in Australia and New Zealand
  This paper is co-authored by Garth Nowland Foreman and Mark Lyons
• Recession pressures on non-profit jobs - USA
  A US survey conducted by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Civil Society Studies found that almost a third of non-profit organisations reported net reductions in their workforces between October 2009 and March 2010.The 526 non-profit organisations responding to the Listening Post survey have also been forced to take additional actions that impact workers and their ability to deliver critical programmes and services.
• Strategic Pay survey of remuneration in the not-for-profit sector (Word, 282.5KB)
  The Strategic Pay survey report is based on data from 374 New Zealand not-for-profit organisations covering 8,962 employees. The survey provides detailed analysis of 116 job categories, providing base salary, fixed and total remuneration breakdowns by location, organisation size (employee numbers) and organisation type. The executive summary is freely available at the link above, and the full report can be purchased from Strategic Pay Ltd.
• VolunteerNet is a new website (www.volunteernet.org.nz) to help connect volunteers with event-based volunteering opportunities, while at the same time providing a free online volunteer recruitment and management tool for event organisers. VolunteerNet was developed by New Zealand Major Events, which is part of the Ministry of Economic Development.
• Just the Job television series profiles volunteer rural firefighters
  This volunteer firefighting segment screened in July 2010 and features Kieran Oppatt and the team at Lake Okareka Rural Fire Force - winners of the Fire & Rescue Services ITO (SFRITO) Excellence in Training Award for 2008. Watch the video online

Check the Events calendar on CommunityNet Aotearoa to see what is happening around the country.  Forthcoming events include:

• Greymouth hui to discuss draft Relationship Agreement (12 Aug)
• Manukau hui to discuss draft Relationship Agreement (13 Aug)
• IPANZ's social lending seminar featuring Laura Benedict - Wellington (20 Aug)
• Annual NZ Diversity Forum in Christchurch (22-23 Aug)
• Institute of Policy Studies seminar - Mining in the Conservation Estate: Lasting Lessons from the Schedule Four Debate, Wellington (23 Aug)
• Laura Benedict on social lending at the ComVoices Parliamentary breakfast (24 Aug)
• Statistics NZ meetings for users of Census 2011 data in Auckland Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and maybe Dunedin (24 August to 7 Sept)
• Loud Shirt Day (17 Sept)

....and much more.

» View the full CommunityNet Aotearoa events calendar online

Reproduction: You are welcome to reprint, forward or publish stories from this e-newsletter to raise awareness of the topics covered. Acknowledgement of OCVS as the source would be appreciated. (Any queries to ocvs@msd.govt.nz or 04 978 4185)
[Issue 35 ends].

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 raises the profile of the community and voluntary sector within government to encourage co-operation and effective working relationships. You can find out more about the OCVS here on our website www.ocvs.govt.nz, by email at ocvs@msd.govt.nz, phone: 04 918 9555, or by fax 04 913 3080.

» Now that you’ve read this e-news, you may want to read some of the back issues.