TRANSITION TIMES

Tracking changes to the NZ Government’s funding and administration of social services in our communities.

NZCOSS have decided to send out a reasonably regular one page update on funding and legislation changes for the social services sector.

This mainly focuses on the Government in Wellington and NZCOSS’s decision to ensure that any change to the delivery of services will deliver the best results for the community they serve.

There are many changes coming, and this sector must be ready to step up to the challenge.

NZCOSS hope by sending this update out when they can, that everyone will be up to date with what is happening.

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS TO YOUR NETWORKS

Date: 11.5.2012 : General Picture.

We know that at the moment, everyone is nervous and unsure what is happening with massive change to the funding of community groups and to the Tangata Whenua, Community and Voluntary Sector as a whole.  We are all being asked to review what we do, and what value that gives to our communities. The Government in Wellington will decide who and what it spends its money on, as Government has a perfect right to do.  But where do we all stand in light of new ways of doing things, and how do we all look, when the spotlight of capability and relevance is turned on to us?

The non-profit sector is moving into a different era.  NZCOSS has decided to regularly circulate this non-judgemental memo called ‘Transition Times’ to update you and your members with what the current government is indicating are the kinds of services and priorities are important for them, and with how they are deciding what and who to fund.  We will bring up any issues that we think will end up affecting our members and our member’s members.

Remember that even though much of this change is generated by the Government in Wellington, it ends up affecting everyone in other cities and regional areas of New Zealand too.  We hope to hear things quickly in Wellington and by this means to share what we can with you as quickly as we can.

We will attempt to ensure that anything we tell you will be absolutely accurate.  We are also unable at times to share information we know with you.  But rest assured as soon as we are able, we will pass what we can onto you all.

There have been very clear messages both from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of finance Bill English, and also a lot of clarity from Minister Paul Bennett.  The issues and plans of this government have never been hidden from us.  Add to that the ongoing financial stresses on a global scale and everything this country spends is coming under review.  From now on, duplication of services and/or inability to provide results, will not be acceptable and in many cases, funding will be removed.  This means we all need to look around our communities and decide if our organisation is still relevant.  We need to consider if there are several services or organisations that provide similar work,.  We need to consider if  joining up our back room services is something that will work for us, and we also need to consider where we can access funding other than from government.

There is no doubt however that government wants to move out of provision of services and for the community sector to step into that gap.  For this to work we need to be smarter, more professional and well-governed, with adequate checks and balances to ensure our services are beyond reproach.

The next version of Transition Times will have information on Funding issues and the Charities Commission

Ros Rice, Executive Officer, New Zealand Council of Social Services

https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Zealand-Council-of-Social-Services/148340588547487

www.nzcoss.org.nz email: nzcoss@nzcoss.org.nz

Work: 04 4723364 Mobile: 021 178 4333 Fax: 04 4723964 PO Box 24236 Manners Street Wellington

“A Collective Voice Supporting Local Communities”