UPDATED forum location and other announcements

We've just sent an update to those on the registry.  As you know (we hope!), OVTRK is a no-cost opportunity to register NGOs as being interested in working with other NGOs in greater Christchurch according to our kaupapa.  Our (approximately) bi-monthly open Forums give us the opportunity to report and to plan for the future. 

 

We have several announcements as well as a bit of reading - but firstly and most importantly, please note the change of venue for the next open NGO forum from 9-11am on Monday 11 March. The venue will NOT be the EPIC Centre, but instead the YMCA at 12 Hereford Street. The YMCA has good bike racks, is accessible by bus and has off-street parking accessed off Cashel St - for which you need to sign in at reception with your number plate. Details of this Forum (previously sent to you) are at http://onevoicetereokotahi.blogspot.co.nz.

 

The other announcements are to make you aware of several other NGO events coming up, and then to share with you the documentation outlining how the CERA Community Wellbeing Planning Group sees its work.

 

Upcoming events that may be of interest to you are:

• Ministry of Health NGO workshop: 12 March, 9.30am-4.30p
• "Let's Get Together" NGO networking start-of-year kick-off with MHERC: 15-March, 11:30am (please RSVP by Monday 11-March) **Note that this announcment was received after we sent out our update, so it won't be in the email registrants received
• Ministry of Social Development NGO Forum: 5 April, 9:15-11.30am
• Healthy Christchurch NGO signatories hui: 12 April

Finally, if you are interested in reading the document the CERA Community Wellbeing Planning Group has assembled, this has been sent to our registrants.  If you are interested in this document, please register your NGO and let us know that you would like to receive a copy.  Your feedback is welcome.

 

Thank you for your time today - and see you at the YMCA on the 11th.

pan-NGO delegate announcement + next forum date

This message has just been sent to our registry...

We hope your 2013 has been off to a positive start.  We have two important announcements about the panNGO Delegate appointments and about our next panNGO forum.

Firstly, two people have been appointed to fill the role of panNGO Delegate to the CERA Community Wellbeing Planning Group as announced in a press release we linked to in our blog last week.  Reflecting Treaty relationships, the position will be filled by Wendy Dallas-Katoa (tangata whenua) and Sara Epperson (tangata Tiriti).  Their contact details are below.

      Wendy Dallas-Katoa: dallaskatoa [at] clear [dot] net [dot] nz    *phone number available on request 

      Sara Epperson: sepperson [at] pgfnz [dot] org [dot] nz     *phone number available on reques

If you have not yet met Wendy or Sara, you will have the opportunity to do so at our next NGO Sector Open Forum on Monday 11-March from 9am - 11am at the EPIC Centre (which is on Manchester Street between Tuam and St Asaph -- more info about the building at the EPIC website).  UPDATE: This event is now being held at the YMCA on Hereford Street; see the next blog post for more information about the updated location.  Please mark your calendar.  We look forward to discussing the issues facing our sector.

Kia kaha,

The One Voice Te Reo Kotahi organising group

PS: If you know of any NGOs who would benefit from being on the OVTRK registry, or of any potential pan-NGO delegate applicants who would benefit from being on the OVTRK registry, please send them to http://bit.ly/1voicetereokotahi-reg

In the (online) news...

Morena!  We've been "Scooped". Check it out! 

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1302/S00227/ngo-sector-has-formal-voice.htm

More updates coming soon!

Pan-NGO delegate applications open today.

Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou...

and happy 12:12 12/12/12, everyone.  We've just sent an email to the organisations on our registry to let them know that this is likely to be the last message you will receive from us this year, and it is to announce that pan-NGO delegate applications have opened.

As you have heard from us before, following CERA’s invitation to identify a delegate from the NGO sector to join their Community Wellbeing Planning Team, OVTRK has worked with COSS and SSPA to develop the information about the role and the process our sector will use to appoint and support a delegate.  Relevant documents and information about our timeline are now available.  You are welcome to share this with potential applicants.

Click the link on the far right of the menu bar, or just click here to access the page.

Have a safe and happy holiday, everyone.  We look forward to receiving your applications and working together again in 2013.

Applications for Pan-NGO representative open tomorrow

Great to see some of you at the meeting today.  We had some helpful discussions about the role of the upcoming pan-NGO representative and the processes and priorities associated with that role.

We'll put up the latest information about the role and how you can apply for it when applications open tomorrow.  In the meantime, our group agreed that this letter to The Press on Saturday was worth reading.

THE PRESS, Christchurch

Saturday, December 8, 2012 page A21 

I had to understand

I know the time is coming when my five children, all under 10, will ask me, "Dad, why did you let these things happen in Canterbury?" and I will say, "I had to understand that our water had to be shared with Fonterra so they could make money for our country and that ECan needed controlling by the Government to make this happen.

"I had to understand schools needed closing to make education more effective and that children did not need a school in their local community.

"I had to understand that forcing land sales in our central business district and later selling it to a few wealthy people was the just thing to do,

"I had to understand that the Government leaving many homeowners to the mercy of insurance companies and EQC, with no one to advocate for them, was the only way to treat these people.

"I had to understand the old dungers, the heritage buildings plus our cathedral, had to be demolished to make way for tilt-slab boxes because Cera could not wait for their restoration and because the Government had their city plan for us."

My children will reply, "But Dad, why did you let John Key, Gerry Brownlee and Roger Sutton bully you?"

I will say, "Some of us protested, but most didn't. Many were just too tired from so many earthquakes and having to understand what was best for us."

"Dad, we understand, and now that we are bigger we will stand up for you."

And I will put my head in my hands and try not to cry.

PAUL COLEMAN 

Addington