One Voice Te Reo Kotahi: speaking from, not for, the Third Sector.

 One Voice Te Reo Kotahi (OVTRK) is an independent network providing opportunities for the voices of Non-government, Not-for-profit and Civil Society Organisations – Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) – to be heard. 

We stand, as tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti, providing expertise and experience of and in the Third Sector.

Our goal is for the Third Sector to build relationships of trust between TSOs and with Government and Commerce.

OVTRK provides:

• Open access to a depository of resources that highlight the value of TSOs – here.
• A registry of TSOs (currently 120 organisations) – join here.
• An opportunity for people involved in TSOs on the register to gather at the OVTRK Organising Group (OG) – which meets 6 weekly to discuss Third Sector news and to further the network – to join email: tsovoices@gmail.com 

March 2023 Update from the OVTRK Organising Group

In December several organisations on the OVTRK register met and celebrated the close of 2022. Attendees shared a
Highlight of the year and a Hope for 2023.

These showcase the breadth and depth of the mahi of these TSOs here in Ōtautahi with themes that paint a picture of hard working high achieving organisations working together and of plentiful positive communication and successful collaborations.

2023 is set to be an exciting year. You can read each organisations highlights and hopes here.

The OVTRK Organising Group continues to meet 6 weekly working across our Sector in Greater Christchurch to promote the value of Profiling the Third Sector We're different - here's how!

We hope you took the opportunity to add your voices to others residents and their organisations in Greater Christchurch by completing the survey we emailed to you: www.greaterchristchurch.org.nz.

Kia kaha koutou

OVTRK team <tsovoices@gmail.com>

November 2022 Update from the OVTRK Organising Group

 

Since our previous update in May 2021 the OVTRK Organising Group (OG) has continued to refer queries to relevant organisations in our Sector and to meet 6 weekly as an OG to share and discuss where to next - see about OVTRK. Our OVTRK focus is on how our Sector can contribute to leadership, strategy and policy in planning the future of Greater Christchurch and beyond. We have been involved with several initiatives yet due to the effects of Covid and of Government reviews things have been in a state of flux and there have been no firm conclusions to report.
So do come along to this opportunity to reflect, connect and celebrate together.....

An open invitation to Organisations in our Third Sector to

Reflect, connect and celebrate
The kettle will be on….

Thursday 8 December 2022 1–2.30pm
at Aldersgate Centre
Durham Street

Please bring:

a positive story in 2022 & a hope for 2023
about your Third Sector mahi

RSVP (if possible) by emailing tsovoices@gmail.com

In support of the Ngāi Tahu whakataukī Mō tātou ā mō kā uri ā muri ake nei For us and our children after us, One Voice Te Reo Kotahi (OVTRK) continues to highlight the value of the work you are all doing and emphasises the expertise of organisations in our Sector when developing strategy and policy – see Profiling the Third Sector We're different - here's how!

Do keep in touch!

May 2021 Update from the OVTRK Organising Group

 We continue to highlight the value of the work you are all doing in our Sector.

All the Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) who have put themselves on the OVTRK register are doing amazing work - holding up more than half the sky!

This mailout is to draw to your attention a summary we are using in our work - see

Profiling the Third Sector - We're different - here's how!

The purpose of this summary is to assist in clarifying the value of both

• the opportunities for people in the wider community to be heard

and

• the consideration by government - local, regional and central - of the expertise of TSOs in contributing to strategy and policy independently and alongside government, commerce, hapū and iwi and other players.

Our goal is that the contribution of TSOs with particular, relevant expertise will be sought to bring an independent view to the table when strategy and policy is being developed.

A positive example of this approach is the lead provided by CLING (Community Languages Information Network Group) in the work on the recently released Best Practice Guidelines for communicating with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities. More information is available on the CLING website.

Please do send any feedback to OVTRK <tsovoices@gmail.com> on this summary Profiling the Third Sector - We're different - here's how!

Following our November 2020 workshops, we are continuing to connect with the Project team for the VISION and PLAN for GREATER CHRISTCHURCH 2050 in support of the Ngāi Tahu whakataukī

Mō tātou ā mō kā uri ā muri ake nei
For us and our children after us

We understand that this Vision and Plan is aligned with the work of the Greater Christchurch Partnership and expect a further update soon.

Do keep in touch!

Feedback from the Greater Christchurch 2050 workshop

 

16 December 2020 Feedback

from the 16 November workshop for Third Sector Voices on the

VISION and PLAN for GREATER CHRISTCHURCH 2050:
 

Mō tātou ā mō kā uri ā muri ake nei   For us and our children after us    
Ngāi Tahu whakataukī

One Voice Te Reo Kotahi (OVTRK) has received this message from Anna Elphick, Greater Christchurch 2050 - Strategic Framework Lead

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the One Voice Te Reo Kotahi Greater Christchurch 2050 workshop. As you can see from the verbatim output the conversation was rich with some clear themes. The Greater Christchurch 2050 will be translating this workshop output into a specific paper for the Greater Christchurch Partnership Committee and are using this output as an input into the development of the strategic outcomes, measures and plan. The Greater Christchurch 2050 team will work with One Voice te Reo Kotahi and the wider third-sector in the New Year to progress this work.

OVTRK is keen to hear your comments and to further the collaboration at the 26 November 2020 workshop. Our first meeting is on 28 January 2021 at ECan.

Contact email: tsovoices@gmail.com

TSOs - Third Sector Organisations - are  not-for-profit/ NGO/ voluntary/community-initiated…... organisations

Greater Christchurch Workshop for Third Sector Voices

 

KEEP THIS DATE – Thursday 26 November 12.30 lunch 1-3pm

Workshop for *Third Sector voices
and the
VISION and PLAN for GREATER CHRISTCHURCH 2050:

*not-for-profit/ NGO/ voluntary/community-initiated…... organisations
see One Voice Te Reo Kotahi (OVTRK)

Mō tātou ā mō kā uri ā muri ake nei   For us and our children after us    
Ngāi Tahu whakataukī

The Greater Christchurch Partnership (GCP) is working together on a new vision and plan for Greater Christchurch which is focused on ensuring intergenerational wellbeing.
 
Come to a workshop to help shape the vision and plan.
 
We’ll be considering the feedback from the community surveys and conversations.
 
Date + Time:
Thursday 26 November
12.30pm – lunch
1-3pm – workshop
Venue: Oxford Terrace Baptist Church
 
For catering purposes: RSVP to  tsovoices@gmail.com

Background
Read these news articles: John McCrone; Arihia Bennett
If you want a head start, people in the community are contributing in a couple of ways:

• An online survey for individuals, which can be found here.
• A toolkit to support community and special interest groups to hold their own conversations which can be found here.
• Waka Toa Ora is also having a seminar on Thursday 22 October 2020 12.30-2pm at Tūranga

The results of these responses from the community will feed into a series of workshops in November / December to begin to build the draft vision and plan for Greater Christchurch 2050. The Third Sector workshop on 26 November is part of that series.
 
OVTRK upholds all four wellbeings - environmental, social, economic and cultural wellbeing, where the indigenous status of tangata whenua and the role of tangata Tiriti - i.e. everyone else - is understood. Consistent with the Local Government Act, the GCP has always used the four-wellbeings framework to provide context and direction for its work. Here is our opportunity to make the links!
 
The workshop series will culminate in a final Leadership workshop in early December, where representatives from across all sectors, including the third sector, will join with GCP elected members to bring together the outcome of all the workshops and the community engagement and provide direction for the project team to finalise a draft vision and begin the detailed work on the plan, which will occur in the first half of 2021.
 
Greater Christchurch is the area of Christchurch city and nearby areas within the Selwyn and Waimakariri districts, from Rolleston to Rangiora.
The Greater Christchurch Partnership (GCP) has existed since 2007 and brings together Christchurch City, Waimakariri and Selwyn District Councils, Environment Canterbury, Ngāi Tahu, Canterbury District Health Board and representatives of central government.
The Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy, produced in 2007 and updated in 2016 has provided strong collective guidance to the Partnership agencies, and was a critical foundation to enable rapid coordinated response following the earthquakes to free up land in response to the housing crisis.
Note: The earlier iteration of the GCP was referred to as the Urban Development Strategy (UDS).

Communications with CALD communities over lockdown - insights from CLING

Throughout Alert Levels 4, 3 and 2, Community Languages Information Network Group (CLING) collated COVID-19 information produced for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities on a weekly basis.

Here is the link to CLING's observations and recommendations about communicating with CALD communities during disaster - and normalcy.

Update 8 June 2020

As we move forward from lockdown here are a few things that are of likely relevance to Canterbury's third sector organisations (TSOs).

1. Online survey about how COVID-19 has impacted TSOs around Aotearoa

The survey hopes "to shine a light on the community sector’s collective contribution to community wellbeing, to take stock of what is needed, and to shape our future."

Canterbury-specific results will be available from this survey

Survey prepared by Hui E! Community Aotearoa, Volunteering New Zealand, the Centre for Social Impact, and Philanthropy New Zealand

To complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SNXLXM3

Responses close 5pm on Friday 12 June.

2. Online survey about how COVID-19 has impacted TSOs in Canterbury

Survey prepared by SEWN

SEWN can use the information to provide feedback and advocate on behalf of the sector, and determine what additional supports might be needed.

To complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WXXK3HS.

The survey deadline is now Friday 12 June.

3. Christchurch Otautahi Draft Annual Plan

The Draft Annual Plan will soon be open for consultation. The proposed Plan may have impact on TSO resourcing.

Draft Annual Plan here

CCC news with summary of info proposed in Draft Annual Plan.

Open for consultation 12 - 29 June

4. SEWN is hosting an online discussion about the future funding needs of the sector

1-2pm on Tuesday 23 June

Register via this link

5. New Zealand Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit

The Summit had been planned to take place in Christchurch in 2021; however, as the world has changed substantially since that plan was made there will be a series of online and face to face events rather than one event. Read more here.

To be put on the list for contact or for more information, contact Matt Morris, Sustainability Advisor, University of Canterbury matt.morris@canterbury.ac.nz

Report from OVTRK Forum with Hon P Williams 4 Nov 2019

OVTRK FORUM with Hon. Poto Williams - Minister for our Sector

who was invited on 4 November 2019 to address the question:

How can we treasure our Third Sector stories as measurements of wellbeing?

The One Voice Te Reo Kotahi kaupapa was supported by Shane Te Aika leading us in a mihi whakatau to open the Forum.
The topic for the evening:

Seeing the Unseen in our Sector
Building Respect and Recognition for Third Sector Organisations

was introduced with reference to the way the wider community is supported by the statutory, commercial and Third sectors with:
            ▪ provision of services
            ▪ project work
            ▪ development of strategies and policies
It is therefore confusing to refer to our Third sector as the “community” sector.

All three sectors (the legs of the stool) support the people with lived experiences
(depicted by the seat of the stool).

Without attention to these matters, respect and recognition for Third Sector Organisations, seeing the unseen in our Sector, telling our Third Sector stories in relation to achieving greater wellbeing and demonstrating how our contribution can be measured, is diminished.

OVTRK focuses on strategy and policy for our Sector and asks that when the government (local, regional and nationwide) is developing strategy and policy they involve not only mana whenua and the commercial sector but also the relevant Third Sector Organisations along with people with the lived experiences of whatever is being decided about.

Following our 1 April Forum on Decision-Making for the Wellbeing Budget and the understanding that our Third Sector contributes to all four well-beings - environmental, cultural, economic and social – this Forum was to develop ideas for strategies and policies that will get better recognition and resourcing for our contributions including our mahi in assessing wellbeing. The questions raised about the nature of the data to be collected for such assessment at that April Forum have remained with us.

Hon. Poto Williams - Minister for our Sector was therefore invited to address the question:

How can we treasure our Third Sector stories as measurements of wellbeing?

In particular we need to address how we tell our Third Sector stories in relation to achieving greater wellbeing and how those contributions can be measured?

The Minister spoke about her role in writing the current government’s policy for our Sector in the light of the need for governments to be able to trust the Third sector.
Her notes prepared for the evening are here:

She referred to her appreciation of how grass roots groups determine what is in their own best interests and how the Third sector is of equal importance to the government sector. She noted that this government’s reviews of the Public Finance Act and the State Services Act will enable government to be more responsive to Third sector initiatives.
As Minister she is prioritising support for volunteering as she believes volunteers gain wellbeing from volunteering and that this focus will advantage Third Sector Organisations. The Minister also highlighted the limitations of the current data being collected not capturing the depth of the contribution and value of the Third Sector, which goes beyond mere statistics. We noted earlier reports highlighting this evidence from our Sector which demonstrate the extent of our mahi - Mahi Aroha and the Time Use Survey Report Around the Clock. We are pleased to learn that the Minister’s Office has let us know that that these have been obtained.

In acknowledging the Minister’s focus we trust that the extent of the contributions from, and the range of motivations for involvement in, our Sector will be expanded beyond this current focus. We look forward to further updates so that the questions we posed to the Minister for this Forum can be followed through.

OVTRK Forum with Minister Poto Williams 7.30pm 4 Nov. at ECan

One Voice Te Reo Kotahi (OVTRK) open Forum

Monday 4 November 7.30 - 9pm at ECAN

********************

Seeing the Unseen in our Sector

Building Respect and Recognition for Third Sector Organisations

An evening with Hon. Poto Williams - Minister for our Sector

For us and our children after us   Mō tātou ā mō kā uri ā muri ake nei

Ngāi Tahu whakatauki

at Environment Canterbury Council Chambers

(easy access from Bus exchange, car park access off St Asaph St)

********************

The Minister has been invited to address the question:

How can we treasure our Third Sector stories as measurements of wellbeing?

Our Third Sector contributes to all four well-beings – environmental, cultural, economic and social.Bring your ideas about what strategies and policies are needed to get better recognition and resourcing for our contributions including our mahi in assessing wellbeing. We are particularly interested in

• How do we tell our Third Sector stories in relation to achieving greater wellbeing?
• How can our contribution be measured?

Background:

As you may know One Voice Te Reo Kotahi (OVTRK) speaks from, not for the Third Sector.

• OVTRK provides a Register of Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) interested in working with others in greater Christchurch according to the OVTRK Tiriti–based kaupapa and upholding environmental, cultural, social and economic wellbeing.
• These TSOs may be organised around a common interest, identity, issue or place.
• OVTRK promotes the valuing of TSOs and seeks for them to be heard in deliberations on strategy and policy, complementing statutory and commercial voices.
• OVTRK is calling for a review of administrative support to further the contribution of TSOs’ wealth of experience, collective expertise and established, ever-expanding networks.

For more information, including about previous Forums, one of which the previous Minister Hon. Peeni Henare addressed in June 2018, see below.

Report from 2019 Forum

OVTRK Forum on 1st April 2019 on

Decision-Making for the Wellbeing Budget Report

- from Adie Gray's presentation and from the four discussion groups

The One Voice Te Reo Kotahi kaupapa was supported by Mananui Ramsden leading us in a mihi whakatau to open the Forum.

Adie Gray, Statistics NZ Maori Partnership and Design Lead, then gave an overview of links between the work of Statistics NZ, Treasury's Living Standards and the capitals model of stocks and flows, which is also used by the Conference of European Statisticians. She also spoke of close links between Statistics NZ and the CDHB Wellbeing Index work noting there is a rich source of data for decision-making.

She then addressed the topic of Challenging tokenism towards Decision-Making for the Wellbeing Budget noting that wellbeing is about identity. The question was posed: Who has the right to represent others?

The cards used for feedback in the consultation by StatisticsNZ asked people to respond to the question What matters to you? Here are people's comments.

Generalising from such feedback from an individual or even a collection of individuals, each of whom has their own unique context means that aggregation of responses is at best fraught......

The importance of naming was highlighted - for example, when a child's name is changed by a teacher who is not proficient in the mother tongue of the child.

These issues gave much food for thought for the discussions which followed Adie's presentation.

Adie emphasised that she would share with OVTRK the links from the Stats NZ work to date as soon as they were available.

Those links are now available:

• the webpage and first draft suite of indicators that will populate the IANZ website in June, now signed off by the Government Statistician: https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators-and-snapshots/indicators-aotearoa-new-zealand-nga-tutohu-aotearoa/.
• the findings from the engagement report: https://www.stats.govt.nz/reports/indicators-aotearoa-new-zealand-nga-tutohu-aotearoa-key-findings-from-consultation-and-engagement

The engagement report includes some interesting insights from the Te Ao Maori reviewer and appraisers, which will drive a lot of the work and direction in the next phase on which Adie is working. We note from that Report that:

Incorporating wellbeing from te ao Māori perspectives is seen as vital for Indicators Aotearoa NZ. This will enhance the relevance and richness of the indicator set for Aotearoa New Zealand. The idea of wellbeing is an intrinsic and fundamental part of te ao Māori. A range of frameworks define wellbeing outcomes from a te ao Māori viewpoint and capture the essence of wellbeing in a holistic manner.

We understand that Stats NZ is committed to further developing the set of indicators to incorporate concepts of wellbeing from a te ao Māori perspective. This development process will be led by te ao Māori in partnership with Stats NZ.

OVTRK looks forward to getting further feedback on this development.

The 66 participants then broke into four discussion groups - economic, environment, cultural and social.

While acknowledging the connections between them, these four groups were chosen in anticipation of the Local Government Act being amended to restore those four wellbeings to the Act's primary purpose.

Here are some notes we have received from those discussion groups:

Economic - convened by Christine Dann

Environment - convened by Colleen Philip

Cultural - convened by Rina Singh

Social - convened by Liz Hawes

The verbal feedback on the night emphasised connections between the 4 wellbeings and similarities with all cultures upholding Aroha ki te Takata. Co-designing the process, not just the outcomes, the central role of mana whenua and of understanding the past as we move to the future were highlighted along with the recognition of "nothing about whanau in their environment without whanau in their environment". A paradigm shift was seen to be vital so these synergies and connections, interdependencies and relationships can be enacted.

In closing the Forum, Mananui reflected on the aroha and understanding of ecological values of participants and called on the need to feed this knowledge to the world, noting how the wisdom of minds outside the institutions leads to discussions which are really rich.

We look forward to the conversations continuing and will really appreciate any further feedback - send to <tsovoices@gmail.com>. We suggest this general topic of WELLBEING AND DECISION-MAKING deserves another local Forum...... ideas welcome!

Kia kaha!
The OVTRK team

OVTRK 2019 Forum

 

 For us and our children after us     Mō tātou ā mō kā uri ā muri ake nei

  

Ngāi Tahu whakataukī

Decision-making for the Wellbeing Budget

Monday 1 April 7 – 9pm

at Environment Canterbury
(car park access off St Asaph St)

We will gather at 7pm for light refreshments provided by koha from CCC

The Forum will start promptly at 7.30pm

New Zealand is about to implement its first Wellbeing Budget in May, leading the world.

Adie Gray will talk about the work being done by Statistics NZ. This work has links to the Treasury’s Living Standards Framework and the CDHB Canterbury Wellbeing Index.

Adie’s particular role in the project is as Māori Partnership and Design Lead, tasked with ensuring Te Ao Māori perspectives are not tokenistic and are meaningfully applied within the project.

Adie will present for around 30 minutes on Challenging tokenism toward decision-making for Wellbeing. Participants will then break into the four wellbeings (social, environmental, cultural and economic) and workshop responses - including talk about who is at the table in deciding what wellbeing looks like. Adie will be available during the discussions.

We note that these developments are alongside the impending return of a primary purpose for local government to uphold the four wellbeings and hope there will be an update on this aspect by the time of the Forum

For more background you can download your own digital copy of Wellbeing Economics: The Capabilities Approach to Prosperity, written by Paul Dalziel, Caroline Saunders, and Joe Saunders - click here.
You can also see a short video on the book’s contents  at www.sustainablewellbeing.co.nz

For further information on the Forum - email tsovoices@gmail.com

OVTRK Update October 2018

Kia ora koutou

First, we hope you find this Update to the Sector Report and Actions tab on the onevoicetereokotahi.blogspot.co.nz has a number of interesting snippets.
In particular we draw your attention to the offer from BENEFACTION about how they work with Third Sector Organisations (TSOs).
They are keen to work across the breadth of the Third Sector.

As the OVTRK Organising Group (OG) will have some of its members at the upcoming Earthquake Symposium on 29 & 30 November we have made a Summary to take with us.
YOUR feedback is welcome!

If you haven't had a look at the OVTRK Communication protocol and Ideals upheld please do.
Any feedback on these is also really appreciated.

One of the matters the OG has been discussing as we focus on where best to make input re Third Sector voices to strategy and policy developments in Greater Christchurch is the (large!) number of doorways into collaboration by statutory bodies in Greater Christchurch.

These include:

• Regenerate Christchurch and their work on Integrated Assessment Criteria Wellbeing Indicators are usually referred to as criteria with other bodies e.g:
• The Greater Christchurch Partnership (GCP) - it has a subcommittee on the "Future Development Strategy"
• Healthy Greater Christchurch - the GCP has identified HGChCh to implement their healthy communities strand of work
• The Mayoral Forum
• Safer Christchurch

In addition, Government nationwide has:

• Statistics NZ is also working on wellbeing indicators
• The Social Investment Approach (SIA)
• A new Ministry of Housing and Urban Development

Another important impending influence is that the Local Government Amendment Bill is expected to be dealt with by Parliament very soon - this will restore the statutory responsibility of local government to uphold the four (economic, environment, social and cultural) wellbeings, taking a sustainable development approach.
Urban Development is so reliant on Third Sector actions ...... the doorways for opportunities to make a space for TSO voices are many and varied. OVTRK will continue to advocate for those voices to be influential in the development of strategy and policy for Greater Christchurch.
Any corrections or comment on the above list will be appreciated!

Finally, with all the busyness at this time of year, the upcoming EQ Symposium, and the holyday season approaching, we are planning the next OVTRK Forum for around early March.....
Ideas for that are welcome too!

Report from 2018 MATARIKI FORUM on 18 June

This year the topic was:

Big    New    Ideas
for ourselves and our children after us
mō tātou ā mō kā uri ā muri ake nei

After the mihi whakatau from Kaharoa Manihera representing mana whenua, the Forum began with an address from our Third Sector Minister Hon. Peeni Henare. The Minster emphasised his openness to Big New Ideas for the Third Sector and shared some of his thinking. This was followed by a welcome opportunity for feedback by participants.

Bridget Frame then gave an overview of The Grant Making Ecosystem. This summarised her 4 year review of where grant funding to Canterbury region Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) comes from, where it goes and how it gets there. It demystified the challenges we face. If you can't open that PowerPoint presentation then here is a PDF of the slides, unfortunately without the speaking notes.

Dr Suzanne Vallance then spoke from the December 2017 Progress report which she co-authored Together: Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities which is available on the Valuing TSOs tab on the OVTRK website.

She focussed on Big New Ideas about wider resourcing approaches on how to value TSOs. These can help measure what we treasure, not only treasure what we measure.

After a short break for light refreshments participants gathered in four groups to discuss their Big New Ideas and provide Third Sector voices, on each of Environmental, Economic, Cultural and Social Wellbeing. Here are the notes from those discussions.

The statutory partners representatives from Environment Canterbury, the Christchurch City Council and Waimakariri District Council reflected on what they saw as next steps. Apologies and a request for a report from the evening were received from Selwyn District Council and the Canterbury District Health Board.

Brief feedback from each of the groups confirmed connections between the four wellbeings. A synthesis of the feedback was generously provided by one participant which we share for your interest:

• Decisions, ethics, and actions of practitioners working from the ground up should determine the governance and funding processes which empower our Third Sector to meet its full potential. An example to consider might be that much as Canterbury's Water Management Strategy enabled place-based decision making, catchment by catchment, the responsibility to allocate funding for the Sector should lie within the places it affects, in order to meet the needs there.
• Catalysed by the imperative for a healthy environment, it's the trust built from these social actions that create an accessible culture of efficacy and collaboration which informs the economic processes that support the Sector.

The evening was closed by mana whenua.

We welcome feedback from participants in the evening discussions - and any others interested.

Noho ora mai ra

The OVTRK Team
Email tsovoices@gmail.com

OVTRK Matariki 2018 Forum

 

Monday June 18 5-7pm
at Environment Canterbury - car park access off St Asaph St
light refreshments provided by koha from CCC

Our Third Sector Minister Hon. Peeni Henare
joins our kōrero

Big    New    Ideas

For us our children after us
Mō tātou ā mō kā uri ā muri ake nei
Ngāi Tahu whakataukī

Apart from hearing from Minister Henare: Bridget Frame will demystify the challenges we face with Grant Funding of our mahi, sharing her work looking at where grant funding comes from, where it goes to, and how it gets there. Dr Suzanne Vallance will update us on her research which can help us measure what we treasure, not only treasure what we measure. The main part of the time will be to hear and celebrate the Voices in the Third Sector You are encouraged to publicise the forum. Here is a flyer for your convenience.

OVTRK Update March 2018

Welcome to March 2018 – where have January and February gone?!

Since the last update we have continued to focus on promoting recognition and respect of the broad range of Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) in the development of strategy and policy for Greater Christchurch.

We have continued to collate resources on Valuing TSOs which highlight activities that rely on generosity as well as those that are not driven by a market approach. These resources are gathered to assist in increasing understanding of the imperative for a broad, Treaty-based ecological approach where the indigenous status of tangata whenua is understood. Many activities in our Sector are necessarily driven by government or commercial contracts, and broader contributions often need greater visibility in order to address difficulties around satisfactory measurement and justification. This is particularly the case when it comes to obtaining funding and other resources. The interface with Social Enterprise has provided much food for thought. In our previous Update we referred to our conversations with Dr Suzanne Vallance, whose research (described earlier) now has Ethics Committee approval to formally begin. We can remind ourselves to make a case for thinking about what would happen if our mahi was NOT done!

On 9 February we made a submission to Regenerate Christchurch on the Avon Otakaro River Corridor. This follows up previous communication with them where we highlighted their statutory responsibility to uphold environmental, social, cultural and economic wellbeing. We submitted that for them to give equal weight to 44 criteria in an assessment may risk generating confusion, energy overload and greater cost. By addressing those criteria that are of greatest importance, those involved with the assessment can then make a judgement. This then becomes an iterative process which, we suggest, can provide a greater sense of satisfaction and enhance the value of collaboration of those involved.

A few days ago we forwarded some papers to the Greater Christchurch Partnership in line with our OVTRK Working Agreement with them. These were sent in response to their proposal about Our SPACE – Settlement Pattern Review (SPR) and Greater Christchurch Outcomes. For your information our contribution was in addition to those we know are being considered – the CPH Wellbeing Monitoring Tool, Statistics NZ General Survey, Regenerate Christchurch Integrated Assessment Criteria and ECan’s Environmental Indicators.

One of the four current One Voice Te Reo Kotahi (OVTRK) priorities is to promote the need for independent and affordable shared spaces for Third Sector organisations around Greater Christchurch – including in the central city. Recently we learned Waimakariri District Council is considering a Community House and an update on the EnviroHub is available in the Sector Report and Actions update – see below. The Christchurch Co-Working Collective, has been established as a peer support for Managers and Coordinators of Co-Working Spaces (which includes organisations in the Third Sector). These Co-Working spaces include Christchurch Community House, Phillipstown Hub, Ministry of Awesome, BNZ Community 101, BiZ Dojo, Xchange Christchurch…. A contact is Camia Young 021 1125 087. The FB link if you want to join is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/162324744413204/.

Our Sector Report & Actions has been updated today!

Let’s encourage TSOs large and small to make us all visible on the Registry and let’s embrace interdependence and maximum autonomy for each of our organisations and those involved in them.

Please do help shine light on the broad Third Sector - making connections for us and our children after us!

Finally, YOUR FEEDBACK IS MOST WELCOME!