Only light pierces darkness, and light comes as we speak His Word 
Psalm 119:130

NZCCSS Senior Analyst Rachel Mackay has been digging deeper into housing here in Aotearoa.

Over the past few months the blogs have covered the Housing Continuum Model and the Problem with our Homelessness Intervention in Aotearoa. These are available to view HERE.

Read the third blog in the series: Where are the Assisted Rentals?

NZCCSS has a long whakapapa of commitment to equity and inclusion, particularly for children, families and older people.

Over the last year Council, our Policy Groups and the Secretariat have been working hard to identify where our attention is most needed, to clarify what mahi is most urgent, and seek out where we can be most useful.

Over the past few editions of Policy Watch, we’ve been sharing these focus areas with you. The final focus area that we’d like to share with you relates to our commitment to equity and inclusion with a focus on tax and the economy.

You can read more about that below.
Click HERE to view >

In case you missed our other two focus area in March and April, they are:

Older People
Click HERE to view >
Children and Families
Click HERE to view >

In July we’ll be releasing our new report Kei te kōrero te Kaumātua which explores the context of older people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Although research shows that this country can be a great place to grow older in, we know that this is not the full picture for everybody. Framed as an easy and accessible guide for anyone to read, our report will highlight what currently exists to support the holistic wellbeing of all older people in Aotearoa and what changes are required now and in the coming decades.

Here’s a summary of our policy team’s mahi over the last month, with links to the submissions.

Super and Retirement Income Amendment Bill Submission
We support the kaupapa to amend legislation to allow the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to take controlling interests in active companies, as long as investments are ethical and any law change takes Te Tiriti o Waitangi into consideration.
Read more >

Immigration Mass Migration Bill Submission
NZCCSS has significant concerns about the introduction of legislation to make arbitrary detention of asylum seekers the norm.
Read more >

Long-Term Insight Briefing – Precision Health Submission
We support the general kaupapa to make healthcare in Aotearoa more accessible and personalised, but express concern regarding the reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) with an aging population.
Read more >

Taxation Principles Reporting Bill Submission
We generally support the kaupapa of the Bill to introduce a statutory framework for the reporting of tax information based on core tax principles, and raise a few key points for consideration.
Read more >

Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective has shared a new report ‘Realising Food Secure Communities in Aotearoa: A review of locally-led reports, plans and strategies’, which includes the wisdom and efforts of 30 organisations that have produced 39 locally-led reports, plans, and strategies to realise food security.

The report highlights the important role that local communities, with the support of local and central Government, can play in realising food security across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Click HERE to read more >

Inspiring Communities created Make the Move to map the critical path required for radical change in the way the public policy system works. It is a practical resource for leaders in central and local government agencies, to help them make the shifts required to create the conditions for locally-led change.

Responses to recent flooding caused by extreme weather events and Cyclone Gabrielle have again demonstrated how, in times of crisis, it is communities who are well placed to respond to people in need when resourced to do so. However,  while the Government may be ready to adopt ideas about community-led development, change is slow and the public policy system is not well set up to enable localised approaches.

A community-led approach is practical. It allows for ‘learning while doing’ and requires flexibility to change tack when needed. This approach is hard to apply in a public policy system that has rigid rules and low tolerances for risk.

The recommendations  are from change-makers who work at the intersection of public policy and community development.

Find out more and read the report HERE >

Following research including a sector-wide online survey and in-depth interviews with representatives from a diverse community organisations across the motu, CNA recently released their Better Banking for All report.

The research, a first of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand, sheds light on the significant challenges faced by small to mid-sized Not-for-Profit organisations when dealing with banks. It explores potential strategies for improving banking services and addressing the specific needs of community organisations, allowing them to focus more on their valuable work.

Read the report HERE >

After a collaborative and sector-led process, Tūao Aotearoa have recently launched new Best Practice Guidelines | Te Anga Whaitake, for organisations who work with volunteers.

The seven practice areas cover: what volunteers need, what good practice looks like, and actions organisations can take.  Practical resources for each practice area are highlighted.

These guidelines put the volunteer at the heart of practice and show that volunteering is a continuous life-cycle. You can view the guidelines as a whole, or dip into a particular practice area you want to work on.

Find out more and read the guidelines HERE >

The Productivity Commission recently published the final report as part of their inquiry, A Fair Chance for All: Breaking the cycle of persistent disadvantage.

Implementation of the recommendations in the report would allows NZ to reimagine a public management system that ensures all individuals, families, whānau, and communities can access what they need to live better lives.

Find out more and read the report HERE >

Te Hiringa Mahara | Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, recently published two reports.

The Kaupapa Māori Services report provides an overview of investment into kaupapa Māori mental health and addiction services, sheds light on the significant disparities faced by Māori in mental health outcomes, and calls for the need for change to address these inequities.

It highlights that despite increased investment in kaupapa Māori mental health and addiction services over the last five years, the level of investment into kaupapa Māori services remains at less than 11 per cent of the total mental health and addiction expenditure.
Read the report HERE >

The Peer Support Workforce Insights report shows the critical role of the peer workforce in enabling recovery, improving hope and in transforming the landscape of mental health and addiction services and that there is huge potential for further development of the Māori lived experience workforce, to bring te ao Māori perspective, incorporating mātauranga Māori, tikanga, and kawa.
Read the report HERE > 

The Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, is undertaking research into how infrastructure is funded and priced, as well as its implications for equity and the quality of infrastructure provision.

Because infrastructure exists for generations, part of the discussion will include intergenerational equity – how financing decisions can be made today that fairly share costs over generations.

The findings from this work will help inform the next New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy and underpin the Commission’s advice to local and central government and other infrastructure decision-makers.

Find out more and get involved HERE >

Te Whatu Ora has announced changes to the Carer Support Subsidy.

From 1 July, improvements to Carer Support will include:
•    A national increase in the daily rate to at least $80.
•    Full-time carers can continue to use Carer Support as they do now but will also have the flexibility to buy items that provide them with respite
•    New purchasing guidelines have been published  to support carers with making claims.
•    Carer Support can be used to pay others in the household so the full-time carer can have a break.
•    The funding can be used all at once, or through the year – it’s up to the carer and the family member they support to choose and organise respite that works best for them.

Read about the changes HERE > 

Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs will provide support to survivors of abuse in care through the Survivor Experiences Service from July 2023, following the closure of the survivor registrations and private sessions services delivered by the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Te Tari Taiwhenua will house and support the service, which will be overseen by an independent board with strong survivor representation. In sharing their experiences, survivors may also be referred to other services.

The service will run until the introduction of a new, permanent redress system in 2025.

Read more HERE > 

Child, Youth and Wellbeing have announced a new collection of engagement reports, in order to help raise the visibility of insights and perspectives of children and young people, inform and influence the development of policies, programmes and service delivery, and/or help guide the direction of any further engagement. The collection pulls together reports of Aotearoa-based engagements undertaken by government agencies, NGOs, universities and youth-led initiatives.
Read more HERE > 

They have also released two new reports. The Child Poverty Related Indicators report shows encouraging progress being made in Aotearoa.
Read more HERE > 

The Child Poverty Budget ’23 report describes the progress made in reducing child poverty since the targets were set in 2018 and highlights Budget 2023 investments that will support families and whānau living in poverty with cost of living pressures.
Read more HERE >

The campaign aims to support households at risk of energy hardship by providing practical advice to people who may be struggling to keep their homes warm and comfortable during winter. The focus is ‘easy ways to save up to $500 on your power bill.’

There are five free, easy, and proven actions, that people are encouraged to take to reduce their annual energy costs, with a clear link between the actions and potential cost savings.

Read more HERE > 

Carers Alliance NZ have put forward a parliamentary petition to request a Minister or Commissioner for family carers, and develop protective legislation, programmes, and services to sustain carers physically, mentally, and financially. Please tautoko this important request to support our many carers across the motu.

Read more and sign the petition HERE > 

We’re proud to be one of many organisations which are part of the Fair Tax Alliance, a group calling on politicians to address the inequities in NZ’s tax system and to ensure the system gathers enough tax to enable the country to address the complex challenges we face.

Read more HERE > 

Allen + Clarke have launched a Pro Bono programme which offers complimentary consulting services to organisations that may not have the means to access such resources, helping them to accelerate their impact in their communities. Allen + Clarke is an Australasian consultancy with more than 20 years’ experience providing services to governments, not-for-profits and private organisations, including as a tier one provider to Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa | New Zealand Government.

Read more and apply HERE > 

Matariki – from now and throughout July
Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki.
Mānawa maiea te ariki o te rangi.
Mānawa maiea te Mātahi o te tau.

Celebrate the rising of Matariki.
Celebrate the rising of the lord of the sky.
Celebrate the rising of the New Year.

Click HERE to find resources to learn more about and observe Matariki.

NZCCSS will be publishing our biannual magazine-style newsletter Kete Kupu to mark new beginnings and approaches as we look to the week ahead. Look out for this in your inbox soon.

Workshop: The right to a decent home – 5 July

Te Kāhui Tika Tangata | Human Rights Commission is hosting an interactive workshop on the right to a decent home.

The workshop will facilitate learning and discussion about what the right to a decent home means in both the international and domestic context, the language around the right to a decent home, and how to use the right to a decent home to strengthen housing advocacy.

When:  Wednesday, 5 July
Time:   1:00PM – 3:30PM
Where: Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission, 41 Shortland Street, Auckland

To find out more and please email HERE

Vaka of Stories launch and malaga – 6 July
The Ministry of Pacific Peoples is launching the Vaka of Stories, a series of gatherings throughout Aotearoa to honour and gather the untold stories of those affected by the Dawn Raids. The first will be held on 6 July in Grey Lynn, Auckland before beginning its journey around the country.

Find out more and register to attend HERE

Repositioning Dementia event in Ōtautahi – 21 September
The second instalment of Alzheimers NZ’s one-day event lands in Christchurch this September. On the programme includes the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan and the launch of the 2023 World Alzheimer Report on Risk Reduction. Tickets are available to attend in person or online.

Find out more and register to attend HERE

We welcome your feedback on POLICY WATCH and other publications produced by the Council, email: [email protected]

Ngā mihi nui
From all of us in the team at NZCCSS