10 November 2005

Community Sector Taskforce National Forum Focuses On Strengthening The Sector

Nearly 200 Tangata Whenua, and community and voluntary organisations will meet in Wellington tomorrow at a Community Sector Taskforce National Forum to discuss key issues facing the sector.

The Forum is being held at Wellington’s Brentwood Hotel, 16 Kemp St, Kilbirnie, from 9.30am on Friday, 11 November to 4 pm on Saturday, 12 November 2005.

Taskforce co-chair Peter Glensor said the Forum would look at ways to strengthen the sector for the future.

“The community and voluntary sector organisations and Tangata Whenua are make an enormous contribution to all parts of New Zealand society including arts, culture and heritage; sport and recreation; environment and conservation; education and employment; faith communities; social services and housing; law, advocacy and human rights; philanthropy; international development; health, disability; professional associations; Pacific and other ethnic communities.”

“The focus of the speakers, workshops and caucusing at the Forum will be on building knowledge and skills for the future so that the Sector can continue to be sustainable in providing a huge range of services to our communities,” he said.

Community and voluntary sector organisations and Tangata Whenua includes everything from the larger social services and advocacy organisations, to community organisations like play centres and kohanga reo, advisory organisations, like Citizens Advice Bureaux, cultural organisations, as well as local sport and recreation clubs.

Co-chair Tony Spelman said issues likely to be discussed were funding and sustainability, the independence of the Sector and recognising the value of the sector to New Zealand society. Tangata Whenua have a Treaty partnership involvement in the work of the Taskforce and are in a very good position to make a substantial contribution to the whole sector and to New Zealand society.

“The forum is a chance for the Sector to get together to share knowledge and experience for the benefit of all. There are going to be some really meaty discussions going on,” he said.

The entire forum will be run under the Two-House model, with Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti working in parallel caucuses then meeting as one group to develop agreed outcomes that are satisfactory to both houses.

The Community Sector Taskforce was set up in 2004 as a result of work by the Community-Government Relationship Steering Group. This group recommended two community-based groups be set up to develop projects to ensure the community and voluntary sector is informed, connected and able to do its work.

ENDS

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