Issue 37 - 4 November 2010

Volunteer managers do an important job motivating and supporting volunteers and it is wonderful that we can show our appreciation on 5 November - International Volunteer Managers Day.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of most Kiwi communities. The managers of volunteers who make the extra effort to plan, make decisions and organise where volunteer activity is best used, contribute hugely to the many sporting, health-related and community activities that take place every week and weekend. I know that I am always amazed by the skills shown by those on the marae who, at the drop of a hat, take the lead in guiding all the hands needed to organise a tangi or wananga.

Highly effective managers in any profession, paid or otherwise, provide leadership and this is not always easy. Let's take the opportunity to thank our volunteer managers and coordinators for putting themselves forward to take on this important responsibility.

One of these responsibilities is the recruitment and retention of volunteers, which is a significant issue facing many voluntary organisations. I know that in New Zealand we are all constantly looking at training, sharing ideas, resources and local solutions to maintain our volunteer base so we can build stronger, more resilient communities.

I am pleased that in New Zealand we have committed people doing wonderful work to support our volunteers.
So I say thank you for the continuing roles you play in keeping New Zealand vibrant.

Hon. Tariana Turia
Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector

OCVS Director Alasdair Finnie has been seconded to Family and Community Services in the Ministry of Social Development to support the Deputy Chief Executive with Community Response Model contracting. In the meantime, Alison McDonald is seconded full-time from the Ministry of Social Development to be acting Director of the OCVS. 

» See more about the OCVS and our work programme

» Learn more about Family and Community Services

The Kia tutahi Standing Together Steering Group continues to work through the feedback from consultation on the draft Relationship Agreement between the Communities of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Government of New Zealand. 

Reaction to the draft Relationship Agreement was varied, so the steering group is working towards publishing a revised draft in mid-November to clarify some of the points raised. The revised version will be available on the OCVS website and from steering group members. The steering group aims to finalise the wording and make recommendations on next steps to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector by the end of 2010.  

People who registered for any of the 19 hui held in July and August, or who attended the 2009 national Community-Government Forum will be e-mailed the revised draft.  Some face-to-face discussions will also continue with a range of stakeholders.

» Watch for a revised draft Agreement on the OCVS website after 15 November

» Read notes from specific regional hui

» See the summary of feedback about the draft Agreement

The OCVS GPIA seminar on 1 December in Wellington will feature case studies from the new Code of Funding Practice. Public servants involved in managing funding relationships should attend with representatives from community agencies they fund.

Minister Turia launched the Code of Funding Practice last month to help government funders and non-profit organisations work together when using public funds to benefit communities. 

The voluntary Code of Funding Practice contains seven core code areas, each accompanied by a set of criteria, success indicators and examples of good practice. 

The Code of Funding Practice is available online at www.goodpracticefunding.govt.nz to complement official guidance from the Treasury and the Office of the Auditor-General. The Code of Funding Practice is not prescriptive, but addresses behaviours that can lead to more productive relationships - focusing on improving trust and achieving outcomes.

The Good Practice in Action seminar will provide a great opportunity for funding partners to examine their practices and consider how they can use the Code to enhance their processes.

» Places are limited, so enrol now - e-mail ocvs@msd.govt.nz
(public servants should register themselves and their community partners) 

» See more details about the seminar, including speakers

» View the Code of Funding Practice at www.goodpracticefunding.govt.nz

Earlier this year, the Generosity Hub and the OCVS produced a range of targeted information sheets explaining payroll giving, volunteer reimbursements and tax credits on donations. Many thousands of these information sheets have been distributed via the Charities Commission roadshow, the Canterbury Community Trust, the Fundraising Institute of NZ and a range of conferences and networks. Many more have been downloaded from our website too - helping to spread the word - but we still have additional printed supplies to give away. 

The information sheets include:

• 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
• 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

Please contact OCVS if you have a conference or event coming up where you could distribute this information, or if you can include this giving information in a regular mailing to your networks. Up to 400 copies of each version are available on a first come, first served basis.

» E-mail ocvs@msd.govt.nz or phone Grant Aldridge on 04 978 4185

» Download or view the specific guide that interests you

» Read about the work of the Generosity Hub

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.

Volunteering NZ has information and resources to help voluntary organisations and communities mark International Volunteer Managers Day (on 5 November) and International Volunteer Day (on 5 December). 

Both occasions provide opportunities to acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful contributions people make through a huge range of voluntary organisations and activities. The Volunteering NZ website lists a range of ideas for ways to show your appreciation on these two annual events.

As well as being an opportunity to acknowledge the work that managers of volunteers do, International Volunteer Managers Day provides a platform for enhancing the profession through training, forums and other activities.

2011 will be the 10th anniversary of the United Nation's International Year of Volunteers, which was held in 2001 and embraced by the global volunteering community. That enthusiasm helped promote new developments and partnerships in volunteering; it strengthened the status of volunteering; and it helped make IYV a truly worldwide celebration.  Here in New Zealand, it kicked off a range of both long and short term activities to support and celebrate the work of volunteers - including a government work programme of activities, which was reported on in 2008.

The 10th anniversary of IYV in 2011 will be a chance to reflect on progress made since 2001, identify future directions and re-energise efforts to recognise and support volunteer activity. 

The four objectives of IYV and IYV+10 are to enhance volunteerism in all its forms in terms of:

• Recognition: acknowledge value of volunteerism, especially in relation to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)  
• Facilitation: ensure volunteer opportunities for diverse people
• Networking: strengthen partnerships, exchange experiences
• Promotion: promote inclusive and representative volunteerism.

Many Kiwi volunteer-involving organisations are considering how they might use IYV+10 to promote or extend their voluntary activities.  2011 will also see a national volunteering conference in May and a huge volunteer effort to support Rugby World Cup 2011.

» www.worldvolunteerweb.org is the space where you can find news, background information and useful tools for IYV+10

» Read the IYV+10 Vision Statement

Earlier this year, the government announced a new approach to the way it funds social services delivered to families and communities.

The new model brings government and the community together to plan the delivery of community social services with a particular focus on those funded by Family and Community Services (part of the Ministry of Social Development). The aim is to more effectively meet the needs of families and address government priorities. The creation of 14 Community Response Forums will provide the catalyst for change and a new Quality Services Innovation Fund will explicitly fund innovation and foster collaboration.

Finding out what their communities want, need and can do for themselves will be the starting point for each of the Community Response Forums, which are expected to begin work with a series of public conversations. They will also map current provision, taking into account existing community plans, statistics and analysis. This will provide the basis for a fundamental rethink about services and support, and a platform from which to plan for the future.

The forum model builds on the recent success of the Community Response Fund where local panels allocated funding to support critical social services during the economic downturn. It also draws on local successes and international trends.

» Read more in the latest Community Connect newsletter from FACS

In October, Internal Affairs Minister, the Hon Nathan Guy, announced that the Government has adopted a set of directions and priorities for information and communication technology (ICT) management and investment across the State Services. The Directions and Priorities for Government ICT replaces the 2006 e-Government Strategy.

Mr Guy also confirmed that strategic and operational leadership for the Directions and Priorities for Government ICT, including the functions of the Government Chief Information Officer and the stewardship of the New Zealand e-GIF, will transfer to the Chief Executive of the Department of Internal Affairs.

The Directions and Priorities for Government ICT seek to align and coordinate government agencies in planning, development, procurement and delivery of ICT services to achieve a higher quality of experience for New Zealanders and reduced costs through economies of scale and reuse.

Direction 2 is to "support open and transparent government". Related priorities are to:

• improve public access to government data and information
• support the public, communities and business to contribute to policy development and performance improvement
• create market opportunities and services through the re-use of government data and information.

The officially-released Cabinet paper states that one of the changes expected over the next 18 months to two years, as a result of adopting the Directions and Priorities for Government ICT, is an increase in contributions to policy development through online channels by the public, communities and business. Other expected changes include cost savings, reduced duplication and more collaboration.

» Read more about Directions and Priorities for Government ICT

» Have your say on how government can improve online information and services (before 30 November)

» Read the State Services Guide to Online Participation: When Government Engages

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

Development Action will host a panel discussion and workshop featuring representatives from the Todd Foundation, Volunteer Wellington and the Ministry of Social Development on 12 November 2010. The workshop will explore the realities and challenges of reporting on outcomes.  

Public, private and individual funders are increasingly expecting funding to produce a measurable impact that goes beyond the creation of a physical output such as a community garden. Changes in livelihoods, attitudes and wellbeing are often unstated expectations.  Reporting on outcomes can be especially challenging for recipient organisations that need to describe the change, and determine what levels and types of change can be reasonably expected, or attributed to, a limited allotment of funding.

This Reporting on Outcomes: Exploring the Views of Donors, NGOs and Government workshop will be useful to organisations and individuals who:

• are recipients of funding for community development projects and programmes, both within Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally
• are tasked with designing a project and need to take an outcomes-focused approach to their planning and reporting
• who want to have a better understanding of current thinking regarding reporting on outcomes
• have inherited a project that wasn't designed from a "reporting on outcomes" paradigm and feel pressure to change

The workshop will take place in Wellington at St. Johns in the City and will run from 8:30am until 5:00pm. Registration fees vary: Not-for-profit $200, public sector $400, private sector $600 (GST incl).

» Visit www.developmentaction.co.nz to make a booking or email Lee Sentes lee@developmentaction.co.nz to make a query

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

People who are unhappy about a decision made by Inland Revenue can call on the Ombudsmen to inquire into the decision-making process, and review the manner in which a taxpayer's affairs are managed.  For example:

• delays in responding to correspondence
• delays in processing audits
• inadequate standard of service

IRD acts or decisions for which there is no right of review or appeal, such as:

• refusals to remit non-shortfall penalties or interest
• refusals to provide remissions or hardship relief
• deduction of money from bank accounts
• overpayment of student loan/allowance refunds

An Ombudsman cannot normally investigate:

• decisions on tax assessments
• decisions to impose tax shortfall penalties (this is because there is a right to object to a tax assessment or shortfall penalties under a disputes resolution process, and a further right of appeal to the Taxation Review Authority or a Court)
• decisions on the level of child support payments required (this is because there are rights of objection and review of child support assessments, by way of administrative review, and a further right of appeal to the Family Court).

An Ombudsman is not normally authorised to investigate Inland Revenue decisions that are subject to rights of appeal, whether or not the right of appeal has been exercised.

Approaching an Ombudsman is usually regarded as a last resort remedy.  The matter should first be raised with the IRD Complaints Management Service.  A complaint can be made by writing to:

IRD Complaints Management Service
PO Box 1072
Wellington
Ph 0800 274 138
www.ird.govt.nz

If Inland Revenue does not provide a satisfactory response, a complaint may then be made to an Ombudsman.  The Ombudsmen is a free service.  You can fill out a simple form and send it with as much information as possible, together with relevant documents to the Ombudsmen's office:

» To make a complaint or to discuss your problem, contact the Ombudsmen's office

• Freephone 0800 802 602
• E-mail complaint@ombudsmen.parliament.nz
• In person, or in writing to PO Box 10-152, Wellington 6143
• Via the online complaint form on the website.

» 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

In December 2009, the Law Commission asked both requesters and providers of information to share their main concerns with the operation of the official information legislation. In March 2010, the Commission published a summary of the main findings from this survey.

The Law Commission has looked closely at the matters people drew attention to and has published an issues paper, The Public's Right to Know: Review of the Official Information 1982 and Parts 1-6 of the Local Government and Meetings Act 1987.

This paper discusses the main areas where reform may be required and asks for comment on preliminary proposals. The paper does not suggest any change to fundamental principles, but recognises several ways in which the Acts could operate more effectively. Electronic technology has transformed the information environment worldwide, so legislation needs to reflect that transformation. The Commission also thinks legislation needs more ongoing administrative oversight and support, and asks how this might best be achieved.  Submissions are due by 10 December 2010

» Download the paper from the Law Commission's website

• National Radio programme on social lending
  Originally aired on 26 September, Ideas talks to:
  • Laura Benedict, of the $2 billion-plus US social lender Self Help
  • Glen Saunders, a director of the New Zealand-based Prometheus Finance and an advisor and former director of Europe's Triodos Bank
  • Cliff Colquhoun, general manager of Kaitaia's Community Business and Environment Centre
  • Wyn Osborne a director of Aotearoa Credit Union
  • Bruce Dyer manager of the Nelson Ethical Loan Trust.
• Auckland Community Development Charter
  The Auckland Community Development Charter communicates a vision, a set of values and guiding principles that outline the way in which community development is understood, facilitated and undertaken within Tamaki Makaurau Auckland. This Charter guides effective communication, planning, resourcing, support and participation between the Auckland Council and the communities within and across Tamaki Makaurau Auckland.
• Managing risk in non-profit, sport, and recreation organisations
  Standards New Zealand and Standards Australia have published two new risk handbooks. SAA/SNZ HB 266:2010 facilitates the effective management of risk in independent not-for-profit (NFP), non-profit, and non-government organisations, and SAA/SNZ HB 246:2010 has been written for application across the whole spectrum of sport and recreation, including related activities conducted within education institutions at all levels and government agencies at all levels. 
  NOTE: There is a charge for these official standards. 
  » For a free basic guide to risk management, see the Community Resource Kit on CommunityNet Aotearoa
• Latest data on cap on core government administration
  Released on 30 September, figures from the State Services Commission show the number of full-time equivalent staff positions in the core government administration, as at 30 June 2010, at 36,771 - around 2,100 fewer than when the cap was imposed soon after the election. The cap on core government administration was set at 38,859 full-time equivalent staff from December 2008.
• Public Policy: Why Ethics Matters edited by Jonathan Boston, Andrew Bradstock and David Eng
  This online title brings together original contributions from leading scholars and practitioners with expertise in various academic disciplines, including economics, philosophy, physics, political science, public policy and theology. The volume addresses three main issues: first, the ethical considerations that should inform the conduct of public officials and the task of policy analysis; second, the ethics of climate change; and third, ethics and economic policy. Chapters include:
  • Justice, humanity, and prudence
  • Doing ethical policy analysis
  • The public servant as analyst, adviser and advocate
  • Be careful what you wish for
  • Tackling economic inequality
• Looking back to look forward: How welfare in NZ has evolved
  While New Zealand's Welfare Working Group conducts a review of our welfare system, Maxim Institute researcher Jane Silloway Smith conducted a historical survey of New Zealand's welfare system, to help gain an understanding of how the system has evolved to its current state. The research became this working paper, which was presented at the Reviewing Welfare and Social Sector Policy & Reform Conference in June this year.
• Ethnicity, Identity and Public Policy now available online
  Published in November 2008, this book by David Bromell can now be freely downloaded from Victoria University's Institute of Policy Studies website. Questions the book explores include: Should government adopt multiculturalism as public policy? What is the role of the state in managing diversity? Are all cultures of equal value? And is ethnicity the difference that most matters? The author evaluates theory developed in other national contexts against challenges for public policy arising from ethno-cultural diversity in New Zealand. Overall, Bromell urges the cultivation of citizen participation in deliberative democracy and seeks to inform and stimulate debate about big ideas and difficult questions for public policy.
• The Social Report 2010
  The social report provides a picture of progress towards better social outcomes for New Zealanders. It uses a set of statistical indicators to monitor trends across key dimensions of people's lives at national, regional and territorial authority levels. Data is provided for the 10 domains in The Social Report 2010: Health, Knowledge and Skills, Paid Work, Economic Standard of Living, Civil and Political Rights, Cultural Identity, Leisure and Recreation, Safety, Social Connectedness and Life Satisfaction.
• National Digital Forum Conference (18-19 Oct)
  Watch presentations from this recent event held at Te Papa.
• ComVoices parliamentary breakfast volunteering speech by Martin Cowling
  In September, Martin J. Cowling, CEO of People First-Total Solutions spoke on the theme: Our million plus volunteers - do we take them for granted? He put five questions to the audience: Is New Zealand doing enough to:
  • plan for future volunteering
  • resource volunteering
  • protect volunteers
  • build good volunteer management practice
  • acknowledge volunteer efforts?
• LawScene legislation update
  Maintained by the NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations, this web page updates the community and voluntary sector about the passage of the law.
• Inclusive Communities updated
  The Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) third edition of this booklet is aimed at local authorities and DHBs. It sets out the general principles governing partnership with disabled people and their families, and describes specific action areas for removing barriers that prevent disabled people being included in society. The Office for Disability Issues helped fund the production of this booklet.
• Faiva Ora - the National Pasifika Disability Plan 2010-2013
  Launched in conjunction with Work that matters - Rewarding careers in the disability sector and Your guide to disability support services, the plan outlines priority actions for the next three years. Your Guide to Disability Support Services is printed in several Pacific languages and has information on how Pacific peoples can access support services. The booklets were produced by Le Va on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
  » For more information: www.leva.co.nz
• ASENZ Reaching Peak Potential conference presentations
  Papers from September's Association for Supported Employment in NZ national conference are now online.
• Wellbeing and learning events for carers
  If your organisation would like to work with Carers NZ to provide family carers with a special get-together next year, you can email sara@carers.net.nz, or phone 0800 777 797. Organisations that have already responded to Carers NZ's offer to co-host wellbeing and learning events around New Zealand include councils, District Health Boards, community organisations, and groups of individuals who want to get together in rural areas. Carers NZ can provide assistance with co-ordination, promotion, free copies of Family Care magazine, the helpful Guide for Carers, and new learning resources for carers (available from early 2011).
  » For more info, email sara@carers.net.nz, or phone 0800 777 797
• Apply for funding from United Way
  2011 funding applications are invited from small to medium sized community-based human welfare charities operating in either Greater Auckland, Manawatu/ Horowhenua, top of the South Island, Canterbury, Otago or Southland areas and focusing on any of the following:
  • Helping children and youth succeed
  • Strengthening and assisting families
  • Supporting the vulnerable and elderly
  • Promoting wellness, independence and self-sufficiency.
The closing date for applications is 31 December 2010.
» Application forms may be completed online at www.unitedway.org.nz
» For further information, call United Way NZ (09) 377-2544 or email jo@unitedway.org.nz    

• Resource Guide on Public Engagement
  The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD) is an active network and community of practice centred around conflict resolution and public engagement practices.The NCDD compiled this guide as a companion toa2010 series of events designed to connect practitioners, public managers and community leaders to build local capacity in quality public engagement.Showcasing NCDD's best work (like the Core Principles for Public Engagement and the Engagement Streams Framework), the guide also recognises a lot of the great work done by others in this field. The guide shares stories and resources with the dialogue and deliberation community, public managers, and anyone else with an interest in public engagement.
• Report from the Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (20-22 Sept 2010)
  The UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals concluded with the adoption of a global action plan to achieve the eight anti-poverty goals by their 2015 target date, as well as the announcement of major new commitments for women's and children's health, and other initiatives against poverty, hunger and disease.
• The business case for employer supported volunteering
  Setting up an employer supported volunteering scheme requires an investment of time and other resources. This UK guide from Volunteering England can help you put together a strong business case that will clarify why it is a good idea to set up a programme, and enable you to convince others of the benefits.
• Nonprofit Newswire: Government Support Affects Private Donations Says Study-But Why?
  An American study estimates that for every$1,000 in government money that a non-profit gets, itonly nets out to $410 (on average). The study of 8,000 US non-profits finds "73 percent of the extra money is counterbalanced by a decline in support from private donors". The researchers say the reason for this drop-off is not because people think government money alleviates the need for private gifts. Instead, they argue that when the government gives, nonprofits take that as an opportunity to cut back on fundraising, even though fundraising is highly cost-effective. The paper finds an average $5 return in gifts for every $1 spent on raising money. Neiman Journalism Lab reports that "for every $1,000 given through a government grant, nonprofits reduce their spending on fundraising by an average of $137. But that decrease leads to a drop of $772 in donor gifts". The paper found that, contrary to the fears of some, government grants encourage outside donors to give instead of discouraging them - but the impact is small, only about $45 per $1,000 in government grants. The key takeaway from the study: investing in fundraising is smart.
• Australian Federal Government establishing an Office for the Non-Profit Sector in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
  The new office will drive and coordinate a policy reform agenda supported by a new Non-Profit Sector Reform Council made up of representatives from across the sector. Proposed reforms include scoping for a national ‘one-stop-shop' regulator to remove the complex regulatory arrangements and streamline reporting arrangements, greater harmonisation and simplification between the Federal, State and Territory Governments on non-profit sector issues, and reducing red-tape. The reforms reflect recommendations from the Australian Productivity Commission.

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

• International Volunteer Managers Day (5 Nov)
• ANGOA AGM and panel discussion on community enterprise (10 Nov)
• 10th Biennial Australia NZ Third Sector Research Conference, Sydney, Australia, (15-16 Nov)
• NZCOSS Conference: Coming of Age - reaching sustainability - Dunedin (17-19 Nov)
• International Volunteer Day (5 Dec)

....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 37 ends].

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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.