“See with the eyes of love and a thing becomes beautiful. See with the eyes of hate and things are ugly.” Joy Cowley, Starbright and the Dream Eater Welcome to the latest Policy Watch e-letter highlighting the latest news, research and policy developments relevant to NZCCSS’ core mission to work for a just and compassionate society…
Text supplied by IRD Over the last couple of months, we’ve told you about some of the upcoming changes to income tax via our ‘Changing for You’ campaign. In March 2019, Parliament passed legislation to make the income tax process for most individuals more straightforward. These changes will apply from 1 April 2019 and to…
MEDIA RELEASE: Wednesday 3 April The Statistics New Zealand release of the baseline statistics of child poverty in New Zealand is welcomed by the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS). This will provide for the measuring of future progress in the reduction of poverty for our children and their families and whānau. Relentless,…
Tuhia ki te rangi Tuhia ki te whenua Tuhia ki te ngākau o ngā tāngata Ko te mea nui ko te aroha Write it in the sky, write in the earth, write it in the heart of the people, the greatest thing is love. The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) is deeply…
“Ki a koutou katoa kua tae mai, ahakoa ko wai, ahakoa nō hea, nau mai ki tēnei hāhi, ki tēnei karakia, hei whakanui te tau rima tekau o NZCCSS To all of you have come today, no matter who you are or where you come from, welcome to this Church, to this service, to commemorate…
MEDIA RELEASE: Monday 25th February 2019 This is the right thing to do and the right time to do it, says NZ Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) Policy Advisor Paul Barber, in response to the new Healthy Homes Standards just released. This is about saving lives of young children and older people especially, who…
“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…
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…
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…
“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…
“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…
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…
Some ideas for first steps towards better taxing income on capital were a feature of the interim report of the Tax Working Group (TWG) released on 19th September. The TWG is asking for feedback over the next few weeks on two options as it prepares it final report, as well as the other interim findings….
Social Security Re-write to become law A modern, clear, and accessible Social Security Act Under the previous National-led government, a complete re-write of the Social Security Act 1964 was initiated. NZCCSS was among the many people who made submissions on the resulting Social Security Rewrite Bill (see our 2016 article on this and submission). The…
Kia Pike Ake – Welfare Expert Advisory Group The Kia Pike Ake The Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) was established by the Minister for Social Development Hon Carmel Sepuloni in June 2018 to conduct a review of the social welfare system. The government describes its vision for welfare as: “A welfare system that ensures people…