Prayer for the United Nations International Day of Social Justice & the celebration for the unity on the 50th Anniversary of the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services Karakia for Social Service Agencies for the beginning of the day – Wednesday 20 February 2019 (created for use in our social service agencies – but…
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“Ultimately it is our humanity, not the absence of it, that is the true source of economic growth and a flourishing civilisation”. Nicky Hanauer, commenting on the 2018 Oxfam Report. Happy 2019 and welcome to the Policy Watch e-letter highlighting the latest news, research and policy developments relevant to the NZCCSS mission to work for…
Continue Reading → MEDIA RELEASE: Friday 25 January 2019 On February 20th, the United Nations Day of Social Justice, the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services will join together with its member churches and church social services agencies in a joint worship to focus on those who are poor and marginalised in society. Joining together in prayer is a…
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Christmas Policy Watch He mihi mō te kirihimete – Me te Tau Hou Merry Christmas and a happy New Year Tēnā koutou and welcome to the last Policy Watch e-letter for 2018! As we journey towards Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Jesus who brought such joy and hope to the world, NZCCSS…
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Community Law Centres o Aotearoa in partnership with Citizen AI has released a chatbot for people having problems with renting. “Rentbot” makes information about tenancy law more accessible to the over 2.9 million people in New Zealand who use Facebook. Rentbot is a free digital assistant to answer questions about renting, and the rights and…
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Christchurch is seeing a drop in the number of people living on the streets thanks to the work of the Housing First collective impact group down there, including Christchurch Methodist Mission, Comcare, Otautahi Community Housing Trust, Emerge Aotearoa, the Anglican City Mission and Te Whare Roimata. In other cities where Housing First is operating, Hamilton…
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The Child Poverty Reduction Bill has completed its journey through Parliament and will become law later this month when the Governor General signs off the Royal Assent. Just before this historic example of cross-party consensus is formalised as legislation, the release of the Child Poverty Monitor on 10th December gives the latest information on child…
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The Minister of Finance Grant Robertson will be releasing the annual Budget Policy Statement in the week ending 14th December. This is an opportunity for people to comment on plans for the 2019 Budget and make a submission to the Parliament Finance and Expenditure Select Committee that considers this. NZCCSS and other groups in our…
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There are many important ways that the tax and welfare systems interact, especially to support low and middle income earners and the Tax Working Group (TWG) needs to make recommendations about this in its final report. This is one of the key points raised by NZCCSS in commenting on the Interim Report of the TWG…
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Paul Barber, Policy Advisor, NZCCSS Demand for home and community support services will continue to grow over the coming decades, largely driven by population changes including an ageing population. Alongside this increasing demand is the fact that more than half of the support workers in the sector are aged 55 or over. These are some…
Continue Reading → “Today paves the way for us to confront a dark chapter of our national history by acknowledging what happened to people in state care, and in the care of faith-based institutions, and to learn the lessons for the future” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Tēnā koutou and welcome to the latest Policy Watch e-letter highlighting the…
Continue Reading → “Its one thing to hear about the effects of abuse and neglect on a child. It’s another to see it manifest in a sad, angry and lost human being standing before you”. (A quote used by Judge Jan-Marie Doogue in the 22nd Annual New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address). Tēnā koutou and welcome…
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Community Forums in October & November: Welfare Expert Advisory Group The Welfare Expert Advisory Group was established in May this year to advise the Government on options to ensure the welfare system is accessible and fair to all New Zealanders. To ensure people have an adequate income and standard of living, are treated with and…
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International Day of Older Persons 2018 Seniors who are champions for human rights are the focus of celebrations for the 2018 International Day of Older Persons. In New Zealand Minister for Seniors Hon Tracey Martin named equal pay campaigner Kristine Bartlett, 2018 New Zealander of the Year, and justice reform campaigner Kim Workman, 2018 Senior…
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Healthy Homes Guarantee Standards Consultation Another chance to help improve renting is the consultation on the rules about insulation, heating, moisture, ventilation and draught-stopping that will be set under the Healthy Homes Guarantee Act. With nearly 600,000 rental households including more than 200,000 children, it is vital that the warmth and dryness of our house…
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