New Zealand Association of

Citizens Advice Bureaux Inc

Ngä Pokapü Whakahoki Pätai mai i te Iwi Whänui

Media Release

Governor - General Joins New Zealand Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux in Celebrating Success at National Conference

His Excellency The Governor –General of New Zealand, The Honourable Anand Satyanand, PCNZM will join over two hundred Citizens Advice Bureaux delegates as they celebrate their exceptional achievements at their annual conference in Nelson over the weekend of October 27-29.

In the 2005/2006 year the Association recorded the highest number of enquiries ever with 598,331 clients seeking advice on issues ranging from immigration, health and housing to taxation, budgeting and employment. This equates to one enquiry every twelve seconds.

As well as celebrating a bumper year, the Association is keen to share the spectacular results of the Colmar Brunton Client Satisfaction Survey which found that clients have an overall 95% satisfaction rate with Bureaux. This is one of the highest satisfaction scores that Colmar Brunton has ever measured. The service was so effective that 98% of clients born in New Zealand would recommend it. Thirty-six percent of Bureaux clients are migrants and 96% said they would recommend the service to others.

Chief Executive, Kerry Dalton says the results of the Colmar Brunton Client Satisfaction Survey will put smiles on the faces of the 2,600 volunteers who give on average, twenty-one hours a month to the CAB. It proves the value of the work they do. The results strongly affirm the quality systems in place that ensure every volunteer receives thorough training and every client the best possible service. They also demonstrate that the organisation has responded successfully to the changing needs of New Zealanders.

For over thirty years Citizens Advice Bureaux have been providing free, confidential information to members of the public in 85 locations from the Far North to Invercargill.

The New Zealand Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux aims to empower individuals by ensuring they have access to information and services. It also has a role in influencing social policy and services, both at a local and national level.

The work of the Association feeds strongly into the Government Priorities of Economic Transformation, Families Young and Old and National Identity.

His Excellency The Governor- General, will open the conference on Friday October 27 and give the keynote address. He will be accompanied by his wife, Mrs Susan Satyanand, who was a Citizens Advice Bureaux volunteer for nine years.

Organisers hope that the weekend’s interactive approach will provide an opportunity for delegates to make a significant contribution to the strategic direction of the organisation.

ENDS

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