
Sector Developments
Open Government Partnership
Hui E! has been coordinating work among the community sector to draw up a list of commitments that we want to see included in the NZ Government’s Plan of Action.
We’ve posted our list onto our website and will be talking with the State Services Commission about it – they are charged with coordinating the Action Plan for Government. The core elements of our input is to strengthen and make more visible a partnership relationship between the Government and the Sector – with regular formal meetings, an action plan for building the relationship, and a number of practical actions that demonstrate our mutual commitment to work together.
Charities Amendment Act
Hui E! has been part of growing activity to oppose the proposed changes to the Charities Act. Our main concern is that the Amendment takes away current rights that charities have to appeal decisions of the Chief Executive of Charities Services. Along with a number of others, we believe there is no justification for taking away these rights, even though we know that an appeal to the High Court is an expensive and difficult process. At a time when many charities are under great pressure we argue that this is a very bad time for the government to be taking even small steps to make life more difficult. We’ll let you know what happens – but we aren’t holding our breath!
Sector Leadership Project
Hui E! has initiated dialogue among a number of sector groups about better coordination of our work to offer leadership of the sector, and to strengthen the sector. If there are sector groups who want to be part of that conversation, let us know – peter.glensor@huie.org.nz, because we want this project to be transparent and open.
ComVoices and Blogs
Hui E! is a strong partner in ComVoices – a voluntary network of Wellington-based groups, aiming to provide a strong positive voice in support of the community sector. One contribution is that ComVoices people contribute regular blogs on the Community Scoop website – one of the most-read pages of Scoop. The latest blog is by Josie Pagani – CEO of the Council for International Development – and well worth reading!
Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand will host the next World Conference on Health Promotion
Congratulations to Runanga Whakapiki Ake i te Hauora o Aotearoa in its successful bid to host the next World Conference on Health Promotion. This will be the first time New Zealand hosts the conference and will showcase the country’s leadership in health promotion: particularly indigenous wellbeing. The Rt Hon Helen Clark, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator and Dr Colin Tukuitonga, Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) have both dedicated their organisations’ support of the conference. Sir Mason Durie, Prof John Raeburn and Dame Tariana Turia have all agreed to be part of the conference’s Advisory Group.
Funding available for collaboration in 2016
If you are developing or considering a collaborative project or merger, see how the Working Together More Fund (WTMF) might assist. Download the brochure or check out the website for criteria and case studies. The WTMF has supported collaborative initiatives and mergers since 2009. In August 2016, 45 applications were received with 13 grants distributed totalling over $156,000.00. Details about the Fund including recent grants can be found here. The close off date for submitting applications for the final round in 2016 is 5pm, Friday, 21 October 2016. For further information contact Bede Martin – bedemartin@xtra.co.nz or 021 230 2908.
Former Prime Minister calls for new constitution
Former Prime Minister and Victoria University of Wellington Distinguished Fellow Sir Geoffrey Palmer is calling for a modern written constitution in New Zealand to boost public confidence in government. Sir Geoffrey and constitutional expert Dr Andrew Butler have been working on a proposed new constitution and will soon publish a book, A Constitution for Aotearoa New Zealand, setting out their ideas and seeking public comment on them. They say New Zealand’s Constitution should be modernised to make it more easily accessible. A Constitution for Aotearoa New Zealand, published by Victoria University Press, will be launched at Parliament on 21 September. Read the full press statement on Scoop.
Expressions of Interest: Komiti Whakahaere for New Zealand Coalition to End Homelessness
The NZCEH is inviting expressions of interest from people to become a member of their Komiti Whakahaere. NZCEH is working to end homelessness in Aotearoa by 2020. Applications close 5pm, 30 September. Download the info pack or contact Iris Pahau for more information.
ACNC Moves on Single Charity Definition
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission has proposed a new model to deliver a single definition of charity across all states and jurisdictions in Australia. The ACNC has prepared a discussion paper on the implications of moving to a new model of a single charity definition in which it would take on the role of determining an organisation’s charitable status. ACNC assistant commissioner David Locke said the new model of regulation would have significant benefits to the charity sector. “At present there is no single definition of charity across Australia. In addition to the common law definitions, the terms ‘charity’, ‘charitable purpose’ and ‘charitable status’ occur in 172 pieces of Commonwealth, state and territory legislation, of these acts, 45 of them define these terms,” Locke said.
NGOs are taking over commercial contracts. Are you ready to take the plunge?
NGOs are taking over commercial contracts. Are you ready to take the plunge? Commercial contracting in international development has previously been the preserve of the private sector. But NGOs are quickly learning the rules of the game and how best to play it but on their terms. The private sector should be very worried, says Haniya Dar-Tobin, the facilitator of Bond’s course on Commercial contracting with DFID. Read more
Call for Public Consultation as Europe Establishes Guidelines to Ensure Meaningful Civic Participation in Political Decision-Making
The European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) in cooperation with the Conference of International Non-Governmental Organizations is preparing new guidelines to ensure meaningful civil participation in political decision-making. The guidelines will be addressed to the authorities in Council of Europe member states and will seek to promote sustainable mechanisms for dialogue, consultation and cooperation between them and civil society. In accordance with the CDDG’s decision, a wide public consultation on the draft guidelines is being organized during the summer period before finalizing the guidelines. Civil society and public authorities at all levels are invited to send their comments (in English or in French) on the draft to the CDDG Secretariat by September 4th, 2016. Find out more. From the newsletter of Tusev, Hui E!’s sister organisation in Turkey.
Civil Society has questions for UN Secretary General Candidates
As part of the UN General Assembly commitment to increase transparency in the process to select and appoint the next UN Secretary-General, civil society has been able to contribute questions to the candidates via a process facilitated by UN Non-Government Liaison Service (NLGS).
More than 1,500 questions were submitted from nearly 100 countries. From among these, each candidate was asked 2-3 unique questions during their UN General Assembly dialogue, two were used during the 12 July debate with 10 candidates in UN General Assembly Hall, and the President of the General Assembly posted 10 of the questions on his web site, requesting all candidates to respond to them.
The civil society questions asked during the UN General Assembly dialogues with individual candidates, along with the candidates’ responses, may be viewed here. The two civil society questions used during the 12 July debate in UN General Assembly Hall (broadcast live by Al Jazeera and UN Web TV) along with candidate responses, may be viewed here and here. The 10 questions for all candidates posted on the President of the General Assembly’s website may be viewed here along with responses from 4 of the candidates so far. To view all questions received, and learn more about the process, including how the questions were selected, click here. You may also be interested to read this blog post by Human Condition, who provided technical and design support to UN-NGLS for the process. To keep updated check out UN-NGLS’s Facebook, Twitter or YouTube feeds. |
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