Below is a reminder of what we discussed at our last forum, as well as updates on action items.
Report to OVTRK Registry on follow up to the 31 August Forum(notes on that Forum already circulated to those that were on the OVTRK Register)
For any further feedback re the work of the OVTRK Organising Group please email
ngovoices [at] gmail [dot] com
The Forum on 31 August noted a number of matters that the Organising Group has since followed up:
CERA's focus on problem areasLiaison after the Forum with Matt Walters (and Denise Kidd) has led to an open invitation to contact Matt (matthew [dot] walters [at] cera [dot] govt [dot] nz) for any matters concerning NGOs. A fifth area (four were listed at the Forum) identified at 31 August Forum was assets (rather than the initial suggested topic for the Forum of hubs).
We have clarified that we are concerned about more than the now 5 "problems".
Profiling our sectorWe briefed CERA about the confusion about the use of the term "community sector". We pointed out that all 3 sectors make up the wider community and that we have decided to use the term "NGO sector" as a shorthand for what is described in the OVTRK kaupapa statement. This sector stands alongside the Commercial and Government (whether local, regional or central) sectors. All can work collaboratively in the wider community.
We also noted that our sector needs a turangawaewae (standing place) for the rebuild The Forum planned for 9 October 2012 (details already circulated) is called to achieve recognition of this amongst the statutory organisations identified in the CER Act.
AssetsWe have clarified that the CERA community assets project is looking at physical infrastructure of community facilities - buildings and spaces. This includes assets owned by either community-based entities, central or local government. CERA is wanting to facilitate managers of these assets to think about the current and future needs of the community, rather than to simply replace what was there before. Mapping of these that is being done by CCC will contribute to the CERA project.
We noted that
- it is important to be clear about what we mean by ‘community owned’. Some buildings for community use are owned by central or local government, others are owned by NGOs
- schools are community assets too, and recent government actions does not demonstrate a commitment to considering the current and future needs of the community
- a number of residential homes have been allowed by government to be lost to the inner city east by being let to some of our sector agencies who have become the new colonisers in a vulnerable and fragile community
- the CCDU has no reference to NGO assets e.g. Community House
- the focus on physical assets only is manifested in the denial of funding for social assets and asked that this view of assets be expanded.
Wellbeing SurveyCERA is just beginning this process in order to be able to identify emerging social trends and thus enable agencies to respond. A 6-monthly survey of a representative sample of 2500 residents of greater Christchurch, aged 18yrs+ will seek responses either by a postal questionnaire or on-line. Results will be online by March 2013. A website where people can choose to participate will be analysed separately as it will not be representative, and so the data could capture bias. It will inform the other sample. The website and link will be available in a couple of weeks’ time.
CanCERN dataBrian Parker has followed up on the Data Workshop held on 18 September to look at how communities can collect good data to allow them to lead their own recovery.
