What's the Community sector?
The hundreds of trusts, associations, societies, companies, organisations and agencies all have different historical roots, purpose, legal status, culture and governance structures. They all operate with various relationships to their communities of interest and with each other. The terms community, voluntary, not-for-profit, NGO, third or independent sector are often used interchangeably.
The New Zealand Non Profit Sector in Comparative perspective is a data rich source of information about the sector:
Some 97,000 organisations, over 105,000 paid staff and in excess of one million volunteers play a significant part in enhancing the well-being of New Zealanders, and together, contribute 4.9% of GDP - a net value-added $7 billion.
Since colonial times New Zealand society has been shaped by a community sector that has concerned itself with health and social services, social justice and activism. An undefined number of diverse community agencies across New Zealand still continue to provide a wide range of services to an immeasurable number of citizens.
Many of the organisations that focus on disability support may have been around for several generations however it is more likely that those in mental health and addictions were created following the closure of the large psychiatric hospitals. (p.12 NgOit 2005 Landscape Survey).
New Zealand is fortunate to have a diverse and experienced community sector that every day provides services to thousands of people whose lives are impacted by mental health and addictions field. Approximately 400 NGOs are contracted by the Crown via District Health Boards to provide services. The NGO sector accounts for approximately 30% of the national mental health expenditure
The community non-government sector in New Zealand employs more staff than the public mental health and addiction services. These community organisations range considerably in size and scope, from small-scale ventures no bigger than the average sized New Zealand business, to large, sophisticated organisations employing hundreds of staff.
