Open Forum - Celebrating Matariki and the Voices of the Third Sector

The One Voice Te Reo Kotahi (OVTRK) Organising Group would like to invite you to join us at our 2017 open Forum:

Celebrating Matariki and the Voices of the Third Sector

6.30-9pm on Thursday 29 June
at Ara Institute, Coventry St, Te Puna Wanaka Whare Kai
Bus routes at metroinfo.co.nz. Parking map here.

Please bring a plate of kai to share

An opportunity to reflect together on our combined successes and challenges in achieving the links between the four wellbeings (economic, social, environmental and cultural).

After sharing kai, as a starter for the evening conversation, we've invited a speaker from each of these four wellbeings to summarise some themes they see emerging from the Third Sector. They'll be drawing from the voices they hear in the sector, including yours.

If you wish to contribute to the summary, please send your thoughts for environmental to Colleen Philip: colleenphilip@paradise.net.nz, social to Sharon Torstonson: Sharon@sewn.org.nz, cultural to Maria Fresia: maria.fresia@interpret.org.nz, economic to Margaret Jefferies: Margaret@lyttelton.net.nz.

Then we can decide together what next…..

OVTRK aims to ensure that Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) are valued in the creation of positive plans for the future of Greater Christchurch. Our current focus is

• advocating for the value of TSOs - see the Valuing TSOs Project.
• promoting an ecological, Tiriti o Waitangi-based multicultural future
• creating meaningful communication conduits for Third Sector voices so that they shall be heard, including in the earthquake Regeneration phase

Many of us have been referring to the research developed by Chrys Horn (et al) – see the full Report here. That Report identified some priorities on pages 29&30 which we considered at our 2016 Matariki Forum and at the 23 May 2017 Forum organised by SEWN on resourcing the Third Sector. We welcome feedback - see Sector Report & Actions for that received since the 2016 Forum.

…. from Max Harris THE NEW ZEALAND PROJECT Bridget Williams Books (2017):

Today, perhaps projecting a little based on my own experience [open heart surgery], I think a different kind of heart needs repairing: the heart of the country. This repair is about all of us. We’ve stumbled and fallen. Our heart’s connective tissue has been weakened. And we need the pulse of our social conscience to start beating harder again. So ……. What are we waiting for?

Do help us get the message out – here is a link to a simplified publicity flier for your noticeboard!

More information is available from the OVTRK Team - email <tsovoices@gmail.com>

What would help your group or organisation?

Keeping a non-profit or third sector organisation ticking over and carrying out its mahi can be a challenge. We've all got ideas of what might help. Perhaps you'd like to see funders and/or central and local government:

• Think about sector capacity and find ways to communicate this.
• Give full consideration to concerns regarding under-resourcing of the sector relative to the demands made of it.
• Increase the length of funding periods and recognise the opportunity these present for groups to take a more strategic approach to their work.
• Fund more positions and fewer projects, to allow greater flexibility for organisations to meet changing community needs
• Continue to support the Leadership in Communities initiative run by the Leadership Lab.
• Recognise the importance of providing affordable accommodation to ensure Third Sector Organisations can meet current and future needs
• Make space available in libraries, or schools for Third Sector groups to hot desk or timeshare, and meet in libraries.
• Provide access to services and support such as photocopying, broadband, computers, meeting rooms, graphics assistance, or financial and legal assistance for community groups and individuals working to set groups up, building on support already provided.
• Ensure indoor community meeting space is required in all new housing developments.
• Facilitate governance conversations with local community groups around local developments to give groups and local government more capacity to prepare and adapt.
• Are these actions feasible? What are funders and government already doing that reflect these actions? How can the sector, funders and central and local government work together to achieve these to the full extent possible?

Come along and join SEWN at a forum to discuss these questions with Christchurch City Council, Rata Foundation, Wayne Francis Trust, and Dept Internal Affairs. We hope that by the end of the forum we'll all have a better idea of what's already happening, what's possible, and how we can get there.

Tuesday 23 May, 12 noon - 3pm,
Oxford Tce Baptist Church Lounge,
286 Oxford Tce, Christchurch.

There will be finger food and refreshments available throughout the meeting, RSVP to Carmel, admin@sewn.org.nz (Remember to let us know if you have any special dietary or other requirements.)

Many thanks to the speakers from Rata, CCC, Wayne Francis and DIA for being willing to come along and give us perspectives from the funding and government sectors.

The action points above are taken from "Third Sector/Not-for-Profit Sector Recovery in Post-Earthquake Christchurch", commissioned by CERA and researched and written by Dr Chrys Horn, Sarah Wylie, and Jane Mountier. Hard copies are available from Christchurch Community House, or you can find it on the SEWN website - http://ccoss.org.nz/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Third-Sector-Recovery-Report-2016.pdf

We look forward to seeing you on Tues 23rd!

Sharon Torstonson
Kaituiora

Social Equity & Wellbeing Network (SEWN)
Ph 366 2050

OVTRK Update + Any update from your TSO before 15 February?

This update to TSOs on the OVTRK Register is to alert your TSO to the opportunity to send your OVTRK Organising Group any update from you for 15 February - see below?

It also highlights some recent developments in the Third Sector

• ECO Canterbury Regional Hub - for environment and conservation interested organisations. Discussion forum afternoon of Saturday 18 February 2017 Venue WEA, 59 Gloucester St, Christchurch

Fill in the Doodle poll "ECO Cant Regional Hub - discussion forum" if you can or cannot attend. Please fill your name and response and don't forget to "save". The link to the poll is: http://doodle.com/poll/y5qbvqyk6bfahhqz

    PROPOSED AGENDA Saturday for mid - late afternoon 18 February 2017
   1. Hub activities
    (i) Calendar of Environmental Activities: the format and action on this?
    (ii) Need for a physical Environment Centre?
    (iii) Research: needs for this or what is being done
    (iv)What do we want from the local government "network offer"
    2. Opportunity for Networking Action -
    Seven Rivers Seven Weeks - Walk for the Planet
    https://www.facebook.com/walk4theplanet/
    3. Panel discussion
     (i) Democratic Consultation and representation...there is strong concern of how organisations are being manipulated in so-called consultations Democracy is being lost...there is corruption of the democratic process.
    (ii) Urban and Red Zone issues What is really happening with Regenerate Christchurch and environment conservation organisation issues? And other urban issues.
    (iii) Ecologic economics - we need a systems change - we cannot go on the way we are.
    (iv) Water issues in Canterbury - overview/update

Open Forum - Celebrating Matariki and the Voices of the Third Sector

Kia ora koutou

The One Voice Te Reo Kotahi (OVTRK) Organising Group would like to invite you to join us in another open Forum with the Sector

Celebrating Matariki and the Voices of the Third Sector

7.30pm on Thursday 7 July 

at the WEA Centre 59 Gloucester St. 

Please bring a plate of kai to share

If you can RSVP that's helpful so we have an idea who's coming! 

KEEP THIS DATE for the Workshop for the TSO Sector on the CCC Annual Plan and amended Long Term Plan

This workshop will be on Tuesday 10 May, 9.30 - 11.30am at The Atrium - Christchurch Netball Centre, Hagley Avenue. There is a separate one for Business organisations.
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/the-council/plans-strategies-policies-and-bylaws/plans/long-term-plan-and-annual-plans/

NGO Networking Party - 25 November, 7:30pm

Keep this date!

7.30pm Wednesday 25 November

NGO NETWORKING PARTY 

BYO drinks and small plate

at the WEA Centre 59 Gloucester St 

UPDATE :  We are pleased to let you know that our invitation to the statutory partners involved in the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy has been accepted by Waimakariri Mayor David Ayers, Selwyn Mayor Kelvin Coe, Christchurch City Councillor Phil Clearwater and ECAN Commissioner David Caygill. We are awaiting confirmation from Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu CEO as to who will attend.

We look forward to hearing from Dr Chrys Horn, who has been researching our Sector who will join us and share some findings that have emerged as a result of the Sector workshops.  She will also share some things that perhaps the Sector can drive.

Let's enjoy each other's company and share ideas about how we can best support next steps together as a Sector. 

Invitation to Direct our Recovery Five years on - a forum

Kia ora koutou

In our series of OVTRK Forums we are pleased to welcome Dr Chrys Horn and Sarah Wylie to present: 

An opportunity to direct our recovery, five years on.

Wednesday 14 October 7.30pm 

at the Fern Room in The Atrium, Hagley Avenue 

If you have special needs  of any variety and would like to attend this meeting, please get in touch with Chrys Horn (Text or ph 0272 86 86 530) to see if we can assist. 

RSVP for catering purposes to chrys.horn@xtra.co.nz

 (RSVP is not essential, but helps a lot with planning) 

Details of the Next Forum 15 October

Wednesday 15 October 7.30pm
Christchurch Polytechnic CPIT Whare Wanaka (corner of Coventry and Williams St. 
Note that buses stop right outside the campus. Street parking at that time is free and $2 on CPIT campus

Those involved in NGOs are invited to share their contributions to keeping the COMMUNITY IN MIND in the light of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) released Strategy for rebuilding health and well-being in greater Christchurch:   a copy of the policy document can be downloaded from the CERA site here.

Next Forum on 15 October

The next open OVTRK Forum will be on 15 October at 7.30pm
CPIT Wharenui cnr Coventry St and Williams St

This open Forum will provide an opportunity for those involved with NGOs to share feedback on the recently released Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) Strategy for rebuilding health and wellbeing in greater Christchurch:

Community in Mind

Hei Puawai Waitaha - a flourishing Waitaha
a copy of the policy document can be downloaded from the CERA site here.

More details about the Forum and for the Programme For Action will be available after the election on 20 September.