What's happening in government

The Core Competencies project re-titled "Real Skills"  began in 2006. The project concentrated on a set of generic skills for the mental health and addiction workforce.

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.

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.

Platform will continue to work with the government agencies to support the participation of NGOs in emergency response planning for Flu Pandemic.

Te Tahuhu - The 2nd mental health plan 2005-2015 introducing ten leading challenges