What's happening in government

Good Intentions Tariana Turia Minister of the Community and Voluntary sector has received the ANGOA report Good Intentions a review or the Governments Statement of Intent for an Improved relationship with the sector. ANGOAs website has a summary and PDF download of the key points of this important document and a copy of the Ministers speech.

New fund to support critical social services during the recession The Minister of Social Development and Employment Paula Bennett has announced the Government’s intention to establish a new fund to support critical social services for New Zealanders during the economic downturn. It is expected to be up $40 million in the first year will be made available to the Community Response Fund to support community and voluntary sector organisations.

Advice for Managing in the Recession

Office of the Community and Voluntary Sector have been collecting ideas.

Treasury Guidelines

Some Government agencies are now heavily dependent on NGOs for the provision of services, and NGOs can be important sources of innovation, information, and useful policy and operational advice. Where these relationships exist, the Government agency concerned needs to see contract management in terms of supporting the wider relationship with the NGO sector. ''The Treasury Guidelines" spell out what Treasury considers the principles of good contracts between the Government and NGOs.

Charities Commission 

In 2005 the Government passed the Charities Act with the purpose to establish a registration and monitoring system for charitable organisations in New Zealand. Organisations can apply for registration anytime after 1 February 2007 and will have until 1 July 2008 to complete registration if they wish to retain the taxation benefits which accompany charitable status.

Te Tahuhu - Strategic Direction for Mental Health

This key Ministry of Health plan for Mental Health and Addiction is the framework that all servcies should be based on. It introduces the following ten leading challenges for mental health and addiction.

Promotion and prevention
Building mental health services
Responsiveness
Workforce and culture for recovery
Māori mental health
Primary health care
Addiction
Funding mechanisms for recovery
Transparency and trust
Working together