News and Some Blogs
The latest news and information from the social sector.
Tales from the Trenches
“Tales from the trenches: The realities of housing in New Zealand” is the latest report from The Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit released today. This report shows seven stories from whanau and individuals we walk along side and the challenges...
Hooray for pay equity for social workers supporting those most disadvantaged
By Liz Davies, General Manager SociaLink We seem to get a relentless stream of bad news, so it is heartening to finally hear good news. An historical decision was made by the Government late last month to pay social workers working in community and iwi organisations...
Extension of Pay Equity Settlement
On 24 November 2022 the Government announced an extension of the pay equity settlement for social workers and those in social work roles. The information provided is relevant for community and iwi organisations, funding agencies and the workers who are covered by the...
Packed crowd, lively discussion on Treaty
A packed theatre enjoyed a lively discussion last night at Baycourt on the history of the Treaty of Waitangi and how it influences today’s issues of co-governance, Three Waters and the redevelopment of Tauranga’s city centre . Te Kohinga, a Tauranga-based...
High interest in co-governance discussion
Interest is high in next week’s discussion at Baycourt on understanding co-governance, Three Waters and Tauranga city’s redevelopment.Te Kohinga, a Tauranga-based reconciliation network, has organised the free event at Baycourt - Three Voices at the Treaty Table - on...
Volunteering Bay of Plenty hands over local services to SociaLink
After 17 years of dedicated service to the volunteering sector and local communities, Volunteering Bay of Plenty (Volbop) has passed the baton to SociaLink, acting Chair Berenice Langson said. “I am pleased to announce that SociaLink, the umbrella organisation for the...
Three Voices at the Treaty Table: Understanding Co-governance, Three Waters and city redevelopment
How does Te Tiriti o Waitangi influence co-governance, Three Waters and the redevelopment of Tauranga’s city centre? Te Kohinga, a Tauranga-based reconciliation network is organising a free event at Baycourt next month to help improve public understanding of Te Tiriti...
Collaboration in action – the importance of community
By Charlotte Van Doorn (Collaborative Practice Coordinator, SociaLink) As we all know, the last two and a half years of living and working with a pandemic in our midst has been challenging in many ways.Change is never easy and when change is ongoing it takes its toll....
Volunteer Bay of Plenty to close its doors
After 17 years of dedicated service to the volunteering sector and local communities, Volunteering Bay of Plenty will be closing as a registered non-profit charity, acting Chair Berenice Langson said. “Unfortunately, Covid has made its impact in various ways, and it...
Democracy and co-governance are not mutually exclusive – Liz Davies
One of the main concerns people seem to have about Three Waters and health system reforms is a perception that democracy is denied in co-governance with Māori. Concerns seem to be driven by what some of us think we might lose, rather than what we might gain. It seems...
TECT funding boost for Community Insights
TECT funding will allow SociaLink’s Community Insights to support Western Bay of Plenty community organisations with useful data for another two years. The website, www.communityinsights.org.nz, provides Western Bay of Plenty community organisations with up-to-date...
What is fuelling the racist backlash?
The introduction of co-governance as part of the Three Waters reform and the establishment of a new national Māori Health Authority seems to have created a noticeable racial backlash, whether it’s due to opposition to co-governance or, at its worst, expressed as...