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Transition Times Newsletter #2

May 25, 2012 5:44 am ⋅

PLEASE FIND AS FOLLOWS TWO MESSAGES FROM ROS RICE, CEO, NZCOSS regarding Transition Times newsletter #2 and update from Minister Bennett on green paper for vulnerable children submissions.

1. Kia ora Everyone,

Here in Transition times #2 we get a little more into the nitty gritty.  You may have heard of Better Public Services.  Here we try to explain what they are, and who is responsible for implementing them.

Also an update on the legislation currently before Government to change the Crown Entity –  The Charites Commission to enable it to become part of the structure of the Department of Internal Affairs.

TRANSITION TIMES

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

(NZCOSS is not offering opinion or critique on the information that we are providing in this mailout.)

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS TO ALL YOUR MEMBERS

Date: 21.5.2012
BETTER PUBLIC SERVICES, WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
CharitiHow the Public Service could deliver better results and improved services for New Zealanders.

  • government agencies working more closely together and organising themselves around results that make a difference to New Zealand.
  • sharing functions and services, purchasing goods and services and developing systems together.
  • greater use of technology and a shift to digital channels, so New Zealanders can more easily access government services.
  • agencies improving how they measure and report on performance.
  • greater responsiveness within the public sector to the needs and expectations of New Zealanders and a commitment to continuous improvement.

As part of the focus on results, the Government has set ten key priority results. Leadership roles for these
results areas have been assigned to five Chief Executives who are working with Ministers and contributing agencies to drive the delivery of results and give account for cross-agency performance.

Reducing long-term welfare dependency                 Supporting vulnerable children

Boosting skills and employment                                 Reducing crime

Improving interaction with government

“Welfare reform is also a major priority for Government over coming years, and we’ll be introducing legislation to Parliament shortly to enact some of our welfare changes.” John Key 27.01.2012

CHARITIES COMMISSION UPDATE: CROWN ENTITIES REFORM BILL:  Charities Commission Section

The Bill disestablishes the Charities Commission and re-assigns functions and duties under the Charities Act 2005 to a new Board (which will be composed of three persons appointed by the Minister and which will be responsible for deciding matters involving the registration or de-registration of charitable entities) and the Chief Executive of the Department of Internal Affairs (who will be responsible for functions formerly performed by the Charities Commission other than deciding whether an entity should be registered or deregistered).

The Board and Chief Executive are given powers (carried over from Section 10(2) of the Charities Act 2005) to perform certain functions in relation to a charity regardless of whether the charity is registered as a charitable entity. The Charities Act 2005 is also amended to provide that its purpose corresponds to:

the promotion of public trust and confidence in the charitable sector;
the encouragement and promotion of the effective use of charitable resources; the recognition of the role of the Chief Executive of the Department of Internal Affairs.

This bill is before the house 22 May 2012 for its second reading; however, we hear there is a real possibility that the House may go into urgency and try to have the 2nd reading, the debate and the 3rd reading at the one House sitting. 
Ros Rice, Executive Officer NZCOSS

The ten public service results set for the next three to five years

(specific and measurable targets will be agreed in the next few months):

www.national.org.nz

Reducing long-term welfare dependency

1. Reduce the number of people who have been on a working age benefit for more than 12 months.

(Lead Minister: Paula Bennett and Lead CE: Ministry of Social Development Chief Executive Brendan Boyle)

Supporting vulnerable children

2. Increase participation in early childhood education.

3. Increase infant immunisation rates and reduce the incidence of rheumatic fever.

4. Reduce the number of serious assaults on children.

(Lead Minister: Tony Ryall and Lead CE: Ministry of Social Development Chief Executive Brendan Boyle)

Boosting skills and employment

5. Increase the proportion of 18 year olds with NCEA Level 2 or equivalent qualification.

(Lead Minister: Hekia Parata and Lead CE: Ministry of Education Chief Executive Lesley Longstone)

6. Increase the proportion of 25-34 year olds with advanced trade qualifications, diplomas and degrees.

(Lead Minister: Steven Joyce and Lead CE: Ministry of Education Chief Executive Lesley Longstone)

Reducing crime

7. Reduce the rates of total crime, violent crime and youth crime.

8. Reduce reoffending.

(Lead Minister: Judith Collins and Lead CE: Ministry of Justice Chief Executive Andrew Bridgeman)

Improving interaction with government

9. New Zealand businesses have a one-stop online shop for all government advice and support they need to run and grow their business.

(Lead Minister: Steven Joyce and Lead CE: Ministry of Economic Development Chief Executive David Smol until the formation of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment)

10. New Zealanders can complete their transactions with the Government easily in a digital environment.

(Lead Minister: Amy Adams and Lead CE: Department of Internal Affairs Acting Chief Executive Peter Mersi until new Chief Executive Colin McDonald commences his role on 16 April 2012)

Please note:Public Service Results, taken directly from National Party website and dates maybe different.
2. Subject: Green paper submissions

Dear all,

I have been given permission by Minister Bennett, to give you the reason that she is unable to release the Green Paper submissions publically.  Rather than try to paraphrase her, I have directly copied her words.

“Unfortunately we are unable to release submissions as we do not have express permission and as you can imagine some people have put very personal and private information in them. It is really important to me that I treat people’s submissions with the respect they deserve and with more than 9000 I don’t have the resources to contact everyone to get their permission or to make a judgement on what can and can’t be released.”

With thanks to the Minister.  I appreciate her contacting me to clarify this, and I am glad to forward her response to you.

Best regards

Ros Rice, Executive Officer, New ZealandCouncil of Social Services

Te Kaunihera Ratonga Tauwhiro O Aotearoa

 

“A Collective Voice Supporting Local Communities”

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Transition Times from NZCOSS – Tracking Government Changes to Social Service Sector

May 18, 2012 3:18 am ⋅

 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”

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