I produced this one-off publication after attending the three days of this combined conference event as an 'official scribe and photographer'.

1. Social Services for
Government funding more flexibility in
the “how” of what they do.
At the same time she pulled no punches
New Zealand’s Future
in saying that her Ministry will only
be paying for social services that
deliver results that can be measured in
milestones. Good intentions alone won’t
count, and hard calls will be made on
Community based social service be expected within an already stretched
which deliverers to continue to fund.
agencies are on the cusp of a time of social services sector needs to be carefully
great change and challenge, a theme staged - in everyone’s interests. For her own part Minister Bennett will be
that was explored from many different judging her time as Minister on the basis
Just as a guiding principle of working
angles at the Future Wellbeing social of the agenda to be set via the soon to
with clients is to provide some assurance
services conference run in Auckland on be published White Paper on facing up,
and safeguard against “further harm”, it
18-19 April 2012. first and foremost, to the vulnerability of
would be important to ensure essential
children and young people in our society.
This theme was continued at the services are not compromised when
inaugural Auckland Social Futures significant changes to the sector occur. In a wide ranging, free and frank manner
conference on Friday 20 April, also held Rod said that change processes would the Minister talked about the “mammoth
at the University of Auckland. need to be deliberately managed, in the beast” of a portfolio she oversees. She
hope that what emerges does not result asked people to consider what it is they
As Dr Rod Watts, chief executive of stand proud of, and whether society
in inefficient short-term contracts that
Presbyterian Support Northern (and in New Zealand can somehow reach
competitively pit one service against
the current chair beyond consisting simply of the ‘haves’
another for relatively small amounts of
of conference and ‘have nots’ through seeking to adjust
money (a prevalent risk). The implications
convenors the NZ the picture so that no child is “born into
of short-term thinking carry into things
Council of Christian welfare”.
like short-term recruitment, said Rod,
Social Services),
making it more difficult to “employ the
reminded the 200+ How exactly the changes ahead are
best to do their best”.
people present, going to change or reshape the world of
these coupled If the driver for deciding priorities is social services remained a looming issue
events were not just to produce evidence of the timely and for those in the room, most of whom, in
about the contribution made by social targeted benefit that funded services reality, physically operate separately – and
services agencies in the common cause deliver, then government services should as the conference touched on – even
of wellbeing for New Zealanders, but not be exempt from transparent scrutiny competitively to each other.
also about the wellbeing of the agencies either, be that central or local government
For those aware that their workplaces
themselves. (see back page).
might not be as ready for the soup of
By gathering together a cross-section of Social Development Minister Paula challenges they are about to face as they
agency and sector representatives at a Bennett, speaking on could be, another backdrop provided
village-like level, some valuable space the afternoon of at this conference was the possibility
was intentionally created for taking the 19 April, reaffirmed that the tide of economy-centric policy
time for that type of reflection. A space the point of in developed countries might slowly be
particularly where becoming ‘better’ is difference the turning - with income inequality finally
not about being individually ‘better off ’, Government she dawning as too big an elephant in the
but more about being reaffirmed around belongs to is seeking room for any agglomeration of personally
the way the sector rolls – its collective to inject into a sheltered economists, politicians, policy
values, its collective knowledge and the sector she described makers or economic and business think
collective skills embedded in each other’s is fundamentally tanks to ignore.
community based activities. working well. In talking to an audience of
The engine rooms are needing to be
people from agencies who already aspire
A point raised by Rod was that change recalibrated and that can’t be done
to apply the best governance they can in
and transformation is actually at the without a higher regard for human capital
the best organisational forms they can in
core of what agencies strive to bring to in the fullest senses .
order to have people working together to
people in the community who seek and Speaker Tim Hazeldine, Professor of
best effect, the Minister was adamant that
receive their services, but that the extent Economics at the University of Auckland,
policy changes she would be instituting
of turbulent structural change that can suggested there are any number of
would give agencies that receive
Community.Scoop is a new collaboration
between Scoop, New Zealand’s Independent
News site, and ComVoices. This 4-page report
was designed and authored by Stephen Olsen,
a Community.Scoop rapporteur. Stephen was
sponsored to attend and cover the conference
by NZCCSS. His views are not those of NZCCSS.
Sign up now at www.nzccss.org.nz
1 FINAL DRAFT

2. options, some as radically difficult as Through sharing about his own life probably consist of fewer and larger
stepping back from and resisting “forced experience and organisations.
globalization”, if a growing call to seriously leading roles he
A former chief executive of Barnardos
rethink the responses to the ongoing has played in
in New Zealand, Murray now sits at
repercussions of the global financial crisis organisations
the nexus of decisions on funding and
is ever going to be heeded. such as
changes in policy direction as the new
Australia’s
Tim’s starting point was that orthodox head of Family and Community Services
Brothers of Saint
thinking about paths to redistribution at the Ministry of Social Development.
Laurence, Nic
of wealth or laughable ideas of trickle- Given that position and his message
contextualised
down effects are as depleted as our fossil that the sector is “about to go on an
a direct and
fuels, that trading our way into wealth is interesting journey”, the general advice he
pointed set of
just a persistent illusion and that elected offered was closely listened to.
problem-solving
governments need to consider what
lessons. After beginning with three questions –
economic and social sufficiency for their
what are you passionate about doing?
own citizens would look like – with the From being
what drives your resource engine? what
hopeful note being that with some pain awarded an
are you best in the world at? – Murray
might come greater happiness. MBE for services to charity after an
encouraged everyone in the room to
earlier career in stockbroking in the UK
In a similar “think about doing even better”, because
through to his work in Australia and
review of “doing what we’ve always done won’t be
global projects of social enterprise, a key
policy trends acceptable”.
realisation Nic had made in his own career
Australian social
shifts was about acquiring a healthy “I suspect we’ll be the difference (in the
policy academic
disregard for money; that in the scheme changes ahead), but are we good enough,
Professor Paul
of things an ambitious shoot-for-the-99% collectively. Are we prepared?”
Smyth outlined
idea, if scaled and planned and pursued
a growing In the workshop’s question and answer
passionately into a compelling business
number of session Murray agreed that while there
proposition, will be followed with money.
situations is a perception that the government and
under which If it’s not being spent to do the wrong social service organisations are joined at
opportunities to “rule social policy in” and things in the wrong place, don’t be the hip, what matters most is what occurs
to gain traction for different forms of a frightened by money, he urged. in local communities and at the level of
renewed social contract for societies in everyday life experienced by families.
Using his own story as a case in point,
the 21st century, have grown. “There is a real risk that we confuse the
Nic contrasted the risk taking potential
community with the community sector –
In particular he advocated getting offered by fast moving models of social
they’re not the same thing”.
the maximum leverage from words enterprise with the weighty structural
like “investment”, terms like “social forms of many established not-for-profit Whanau Ora Minister, Tariana Turia, spoke
infrastructure” and platforms like organisations, noting that it can often be to the conference about whanau ora as a
“inclusive growth” – especially given better to start out as a for profit enterprise “lens to see the world with” and a way to
the fact that developed economies before evolving into a charity. “Learn the re-bond families together.
are increasingly turning to an game, be in it… give it all a go”.
Minister Turia affirmed the conference
acknowledgement that old recipes for
In the case of the Brothers of Saint theme that this is indeed a time of
success, most notoriously the idea of
Laurence he said he had found it useful to change, and a time for doing things
trickle down, have no currency left and
bring to mind the risks that the founder, differently. In addition to Whanau Ora
are only adding to inequality and poverty.
Anglican Father Gerard Tucker, had the Minister is committed to more
Talking of what can be put on the table taken at the outset of “working out” that interconnectedness across portfolios
for creating a new narrative, Professor organisation. and views intersectoral co-operation as a
Smyth suggested it would be a missed critical success factor. The “hardest part”
In Nic’s worldview the easiest path is the
opportunity to passively accept push- of implementing the Whanau Ora way
one that constantly weighs up which
backs on funding of social services based of doing things has been implementing
calculated risk or innovation to take next.
on the line that the “cupboard is bare”, collaboration between providers.
He favours the dynamic of constantly
when more productively speaking this
interrogating motives, and suggested The Rt. Hon. Bill English began his address
is a time to reframe the bigger picture of
all social services organisations would to the conference with a recognition of
what the “cupboard” actually is.
benefit from regularly questioning the the consistently constructive and gritty
“There is a realisation (across developed policy and advocacy direction their discussion afforded the government by
economies) that what is actually needed agency, or for that matter their whole Church leaders and the NZ Council of
above all are strong societies and well sector, is taking. Christian Social Services over many years,
educated workforces,” he said. That, particularly from the angle of “what we
He expressed his strong personal belief
he suggested, is a reason for the social can do together”.
that the greater good of serving the
services sector to capitalise on the worth
community is a privilege not to be As a Finance Minister who spends 95%
of more investment, not less.
wasted. “If anything gets in the way (of of his time focused on the economy, he
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHT that) for a second I have no time for it”. then left no one in any doubt about the
chastened economic times we are living
A highlight of day one of the conference One of the conference’s workshop leaders
in, times in which we are “borrowing from
was the mix of humour and humanity Murray Edridge expressed confidence
the future to cushion ourselves from the
brought by keynote social change agent that the community services sector “can
sharp edge of the present”.
and Cool nrg founder Nic Frances. do better”, but that in the future it will
2

3. He used examples such as the known direction, Minister English said it would
scale of youth offending as a reason not be wrong to jump to conclusions about
to repeatedly over-analyse certain areas there being a single model.
of social breakdown, in favour of taking
On the aspect of what capacity is required
a more empowering, more humanising
to ensure a cohesive sector however,
“one person at a time” approach along
he suggested a parallel between social
with an “uncompromising commitment
infrastructure and roading infrastructure
to what works” of the kind taken by his
would not be inappropriate, referring to
Cabinet colleague Paula Bennett.
the capacity a company such as Fulton
The government will be looking to Hogan needs for its part in tendering for
the public service – judged to have the mending of “potholes in roads” as a
become “too self-satisfied” – to increase helpful way to consider not just how that
Jane Drumm of Shine, in an animated its capacity to learn through, for market operates but the key components
discussion with Finance Minister Bill English. instance, a range of initial trials focused of capacity.
on youth, along with an expectation
Answering questions after his talk Minister English noted that on the face of
that communities will take on more
the Minister made it clear that the it some communities must be confused
responsibility for making their own
government has, through an actuarial by the sheer number of social services
decisions.
evaluation, crunched the numbers, so agencies in their midst, a point also made
that it knows, for instance, that the “thick The Minister was critical of some policy by the Hon. Tariana Turia, adding “(we
end” of its liability over a lifetime of those making in the past which had, he have) no process or legitimacy or well-
currently in the welfare system is in the said, held “too much sway”; leading to informed way for helping to sort that out”.
order of $40 billion. programmes that lacked effectiveness
Minister English concluded his time at
measures, within an operating
Mr English reminded the audience of the the conference with the statement that
environment that was admittedly not
“10 challenging results” that PM John Key “every week we delay reorganising we
geared for the speed needed to take
has put forward to be achieved - eight lose another life”.
proactive actions in real time. “Changing
of which are related to welfare, health, the way things are done is inevitable, and
education and justice issues. you are absolutely critical (to that)”. SPEECHES
• Speeches, workshop presentations and
In Minister English’s view the community Jane Drumm, the executive director further reports will be made available via www.
sector remains “part of the ecosystem of Shine (Safer homes in New Zealand nzccss.org.nz - including those delivered by
created by government spending”. The everyday) alerted the Minister to the keynote speakers Manu Caddie (see manu.org.
biggest proportion of attention, and the experience of changes made to create
nz), Kate Frykberg, chair of Philanthropy NZ
motivation behind that attention, needs and Ray Lind, chief executive of Careerforce.
her organisation, an amalgamation of
to be about “what’s at stake”. • Copies of speeches by Ministers Paula
Preventing Violence in the Home and Bennett and Tariana Turia are available at
“Human misery (fragmented Safer Families Foundation, that had posed www.beehive.govt.nz
communities, directionless youth, roadblocks to success. She explained
CONFERENCE SPONSORS
vulnerable children) costs a lot of money. there had been no financial incentives
• The NZCCSS Social Services Conference
We will balance our books when we’ve to merge and a quantum of funding had was sponsored by the Families Commission,
got our community in good shape … (We been lost even though the formation of Ministry of Social Development, Careerforce
all need to) roll out of bed determined to the new organisation ennabled more and Presbyterian Support.
make changes that change the headlines”. needs to be met. NZCCSS PUBLICATIONS
The Minister stated that the ethos for In response Minister English said the • Regular NZCCSS publications available at
the sector will need to shift from one example of Shine was an example of why www.nzccss.org.nz include Kete Kupu, Policy
Watch and the Vulnerability Report.
perceived to be based on demonstrations change is needed, so that organisations
of care and sensitivity and awareness with “serious intent” could be identified
raising (good intentions), to a greater and incentivised.
emphasis on responsibility and the role of The Minister indicated that this period of
holding and exercising that responsibility change should be seen as an opportunity
to produce concrete results. for community based social services
At the same time he referred to the agencies to get to know their business, to
supporting importance of there being benchmark administration costs and to
moral frameworks that can be seen focus on areas where real change can be
to be operating in neighbourhoods made to the life course of individual lives.
through the work of faith-based Christian In the absence of major adaptation within
organisations, even in such a secular the sector the Minister’s message was
society as New Zealand’s. “Those are blunt; contracts will stop, organizations
things that can’t be rebuilt with money”. will adapt or disappear. “Read the signs…
In a small country such as New Zealand if it doesn’t work, we’ll stop (funding) it”.
there isn’t just a name behind every The message of doing more with less and
number, there is a much stronger sense of gaining savings at the margins, was
of knowing who we are: our community, equally prominent.
our iwi, our relatives. For that reason the On a question about what the scale
Minister expressed confidence that our and nature of the social services sector
“human misery” isn’t 100% intractable. might look like after a decade of such a
3

4. Co-creating Auckland Social Futures
The call put out by the Auckland Services Group of the NZ The workshops, with facilitators in brackets, covered:
Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) to attend
• Social services and vulnerable people (Peter Sykes, Mangere
a one-day Auckland Social Futures Conference was East Family Service Centre, and Mike O’Brien of the Child
extremely well responded to on 20 April. Poverty Action Group)
As promoted beforehand this was an event tailormade for • Community development (Puamiria Maaka of Te Waipuna
focusing on how the social services sector, along with Auckland Puawai)
Council and Government, can work off the platform now • Social housing (Lisa Woolley of Vision West, and David
provided by the Auckland Plan (adopted in March 2012) to Zussman of Monte Cecilia Housing Trust).
co-create “a social future where all Aucklanders are valued and
included”. Council staff contributors to the workshops included Catherine
Fitzsimons, Tina Abbey and Anne-Marie Mujica.
Penny Hulse, Deputy Mayor of Auckland, delivered the day’s
opening address and began with an acknowledgement that Catherine was instrumental in ensuring input from children and
the inaugural Auckland Plan was by no means perfect, but that young people to the Auckland Plan - noting that their messages
it points to ways to “shore up the future (in preparation) for sometimes differed from “the experts”. Tina urged people to
future ‘shocks’”. She also acknowledged that Auckland Council, think of the Southern Initiative proposition as a rallying point.
a sponsor of the event, would need to continue to talk more “We need your input to operationalise it”.
and more and more with community representatives, while also David Zussman said the biggest relief in the Auckland Plan
working hard internally to overcome its own silo-like structures. was seeing the word “crisis” used in relation to housing needs,
Her advice to everyone present, Auckland Council staff included, supply and demand. “With Housing New Zealand backing off
was not to be “boggled by the size of Auckland”, adding that in social housing at a rate of knots, I am concerned that we need
her view housing affordability should be kept at the heart of much clearer targets”. Participants in the workshop heard that
future planning. the Council is considering how best to settle on a target for
increasing its own housing stock (currently sitting at 1500 units).
Next up was
Ree Anderson, At the end of the day a panel was drawn together to summarise
Council Regional main points from the group discussions of each workshop.
Strategy Manager, A consensus that emerged from the housing workshop was that
who particularly the implementation of actions on housing, and retaining a focus
highlighted two on community housing, would be a critical success factor for the
aspects of the Auckland Plan as a whole.
Auckland Plan: the NZCCSS chair Rod Watts returned to the theme of the
Southern Initiative immediately preceding Future Wellbeing Conference held on
proposed in the 18-19 April, that the community sector’s operating environment
plan, and work nationally and locally is entering a period of major realignment
that will be done and transformational change required by shifts in policy
on formulating a direction. He drew attention to the importance of having a
Strategic Housing healthy community sector - “the more robust we are the better
Action Plan. we can weather the pressures”. He then described a set of
This provided a dilemmas, often ethical in nature. What if, for instance, the sector
good basis for experiences pressures to move towards commercialised supply
the interactive, chains? “What are the implications? ... Should we change what
community-led we do? ... Do we expand or shrink ... ?”
workshops held In his closing whaikorero Trevor McGlinchey, NZCCSS executive
Lisa Woolley of VisionWest leads a discussion throughout the officer, described this Auckland-focused event as the “beginning
at the housing workshop held during the remainder of the of a process” whereby networks are strengthened for the future.
Auckland Social Futures Conference on 20 April day.
4