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Welcome to our free monthly e-newsletter, full of news and ideas for people involved with community groups.
Nau mai ki tā mātou ī-pānui ā-marama koreutu, kī tonu i te rongo kōrero me ētahi whakaaro mō ngā tāngata e whai wāhi ana ki ngā rōpū hapori.
The CommunityNet Aotearoa monthly newsletter.
"News and views on community networking throughout Aotearoa."
Get Pānui delivered each month to your mail-box! Subscribe online here.
Prime Minister John Key has launched the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal, a global fundraiser for the recovery effort in the city and the Canterbury region. Mr Key said he was encouraging New Zealanders to give generously to Christchurch. "Every little bit helps - every donation, no matter how small, will be welcomed." Donations can be made at: http://www.christchurchearthquakeappeal.govt.nz . Telecom, Vodafone and 2 Degrees mobile customers can text chch to 933 to make an automatic $3 donation. Donations can also be made via internet banking, or at any branch of New Zealand's retail banks, by depositing into account number 03-0251-0039807-00. To find out more, go to: http://www.facebook.com/ChristchurchEarthquakeAppeal .
Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Tariana Turia has welcomed the move of the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector into the Department of Internal Affairs. The Community and Voluntary Sector portfolio has previously been split between Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Social Development. "This move aims to simplify access to government for the relevant community groups and provide a clear point of contact," says Mrs Turia. "The move will also improve transparency and further strengthen policy advice in relation to the sector and its relationship with Government. We start 2011 with a new structure – a single government home for community and voluntary sector portfolio matters and a new ministerial role in the form of Hon Hekia Parata, Associate Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector," says Mrs Turia.
/communitycentre/news/national/ocvsmove.htm
Strategic Project Grants are about thinking strategically and working collaboratively. They have been developed to support projects with long-term outcomes that benefit museums, galleries, iwi groups, their taonga, and their communities. The Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa welcomes applications from organisations of all sizes and stages of development, as well as collaborative applications from groups of organisations. There are two funding rounds each year - April and October. The next closing date is 20 April 2011. For more information visit: http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/NationalServices/HowWeHelp/Pages/StrategicProjectGrants.aspx .
/communitycentre/news/national/tepapagrants.htm
The Making a Difference Fund supports communities to take action that will contribute to the vision of the campaign to improve attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people. Applications for the first funding round for community projects are due by 28 February 2011. The fund prioritises projects that are collaborative, have support from across the community, and have a well-thought-out plan to effect local change. The maximum grant available is $20,000 (GST excl). Full details are available on the Office for Disability Issues website: http://www.odi.govt.nz/what-we-do/improving-attitudes-and-behaviours/index.html .
/communitycentre/news/national/makingadifference.htm
There are 37 COGS Local Distribution Committees (LDC) throughout New Zealand. They are made up of volunteers who consider and make decisions about funding applications from organisations within their local communities. Now is the time for community organisations to nominate a candidate or register their community organisation to vote in the Local Distribution Committee Election 2011. Nominations and registrations open on 1 February and close at noon on Friday 18 March 2011. COGS Public Meetings will be held in communities throughout New Zealand from 28 March – 30 April 2011. Postal Ballot closes at noon on Monday 2 May 2011. For further information phone 0800 824 824 between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
/communitycentre/news/national/cogselection.htm
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson has welcomed a new report of the Cultural Philanthropy Taskforce, which makes six key recommendations to increase charitable giving to the cultural sector. "The taskforce spent fifteen months investigating best practice in philanthropy around the world, consulted within New Zealand with organisations and individuals, and drew on the extensive experience and expertise of the taskforce members to produce this excellent report," Mr Finlayson said. The report, titled Growing the Pie, makes six recommendations across a range of areas including capability building for the cultural sector, greater recognition of donors and boosting the current tax incentive regime through gift aid and cultural gifting. To read the full Growing the Pie report, visit: http://www.mch.govt.nz/research-publications/publications/ministry-reports/cultural-philanthrophy .
/communitycentre/news/national/growthepie.htm
The Boards of the Association of Supported Employment NZ (ASENZ) and the NZ Federation of Vocational and Support Services (VASS) announced that the two organisations have formed a strategic partnership. Jointly, the organisations represent approximately 120 providers involved in the provision of employment and community support services for disabled people. The announcement follows on-going discussion between the two organisations for the past two years and a strong mandate from their memberships to explore ways to work together. The Strategic Partnership will focus on identifying areas for potential collaboration and action in the immediate future, including sharing resources and holding combined events. "This is an exciting development for our organisations and one which will add value to our work and have benefits for our members," says Kervin Farr, Chair of ASENZ.
/communitycentre/news/national/asenzvass.htm
New Zealand Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Commission has announced two new types of grants for people affected by the 4 September quake. Financial support for small business grants are for people who have suffered a significant reduction in household income due to the forced closure of a small business. One-off grants of up to $2,000 will be made to people who meet conditions including having a small business that is no longer viable because of the disaster. Relocation grants are for people who have to move from their homes while repairs to their houses or land are made, or are already in temporary accommodation because their home is uninhabitable and they are waiting for repairs. Owners or tenants can apply for grants of up to $2,750 by showing they need to stay in alternative accommodation. Full details of all the grants are available at: http://www.redcross.org.nz/earthquakegrant or by phoning 0800 754 726. It is intended that applications for Relocation Grants will be open for most of 2011.
/communitycentre/news/national/redcrossquake.htm
You are invited to participate in a survey conducted by the New Zealand Broadcasting Access Council about program captioning. The New Zealand Broadcasting Access Council was formed as an independent group to work with all the existing Deaf/hearing loss related organisations to campaign for improved captioning access on television. The information we gather here will help to explain why improved access to captions is necessary. To complete the survey online visit: http://www.mbdata.com.au/J101103/J101103login.html . The survey should take around 8 to 10 minutes to complete.
/communitycentre/news/sophielliottfoundation.htm
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has unveiled the Government’s new cyber contract mapping tool. Contract Mapping details community providers’ locations and the Government funding they receive around the country, on a publicly accessible website. "Using technology to provide this level of detail is a first and reflects this Government’s focus on transparency and accountability," says Ms Bennett. "Finding out exactly what services are funded and by how much, anywhere in the country, is now a few clicks away," she says. The site has Ministry of Social Development contracts mapped now, with contracts held by the Ministeries of Justice, Health, Education and Te Puni Kokiri to be added soon. To learn more about Contract Mapping visit: http://www.contractmapping.govt.nz .
/communitycentre/news/national/contractmap.htm
Poverty, entrenched inequality and discrimination are critical human rights issues in New Zealand according to a major report card Human Rights in New Zealand 2010 released by the Human Rights Commission. Chief Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan says: "The 30 priority areas for action over the next five years will strengthen human rights protections and better ensure the equality and security of everyone in New Zealand." The priority areas involve a major focus on economic, social and cultural rights, covering health, education, equal employment opportunities, social security and housing. They include strengthening New Zealand’s constitutional and legal framework, tackling entrenched inequalities and systemic structural discrimination, and explicitly and effectively implementing civil and political and economic, social and cultural rights. A key recommendation in Human Rights in New Zealand 2010 is for Parliament to establish a Human Rights Select Committee to strengthen Parliament’s focus on protecting human rights. Other recommendations include reducing child poverty through a coordinated and integrated approach, with a specific attention to Māori children, Pacific and disabled children; increasing the supply and diversity of social housing; and reviewing and addressing the adequacy of core benefit rates.
/communitycentre/news/national/humanrightsnz.htm
The Human Rights Commission has welcomed the release of the Convention Coalition disabled people’s organisations’ collaborative report addressing the rights of disabled people in New Zealand. The report, Disability Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand 2010, is based on interviews with 98 disabled people from around New Zealand, as part of monitoring towards realising the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). "This is a significant and important report, especially given the research was conducted by disabled people for disabled people," says acting Disability Commissioner Judy McGregor. The most pressing issue highlighted by participants in the project was social participation, with many of them noting experiences of segregation and isolation. Participants also reported that a major barrier was bureaucratic structures that hindered rather than helped, and mentioned instances of "institutionalized disablism". Among the recommendations in the report is the development of a disability awareness campaign and disability training for government departments. To download the full report, visit: http://www.hrc.co.nz/home/hrc/newsandissues/commissionwelcomesdisabilityreport.php .
/communitycentre/news/national/disabilityrights.htm
The Inspiring Communities team is thrilled to announce the publication of 'What we are Learning about Community-led Development in Aotearoa New Zealand'. The document shares the thoughts and stories of over 40 individuals and communities actively involved in community-led initiatives throughout Aotearoa. The document also offers a summary of the bigger-picture thinking and approaches to societal change and innovation that currently influence Inspiring Communities' work. ‘What We Are Learning’ 2010 contains practical tips, lessons and examples about four aspects of community-led development: community building, leading in and leaderful communities, working together in place, and creating and sustaining momentum. To download the document, What We Are Learning 2010, visit: http://www.inspiringcommunities.org.nz/learning-centre/learning-a-sharing .
/communitycentre/news/national/whatwearelearning.htm
The foundation of support for most community organisations in New Zealand comes from people giving and volunteering. For the second time in New Zealand, the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector (OCVS) has released a short quarterly report investigating this essential source of support. The OCVS, in association with the Generosity Hub, commissions Nielsen Media Research to collect (via the Panorama survey) quarterly data on giving and volunteering in New Zealand. This data collection not only promotes understanding about generosity, but also monitors, in a timely way, the levels of support that people provide to community organisations. The latest report found that overall, giving and volunteering remained stable between the March 2010 and June 2010 quarters. For more details or to download the report, visit: http://www.ocvs.govt.nz/work-programme/building-knowledge/giving-research/qgi-june-2010.html .
/communitycentre/news/national/qgijune.htm
The Charities Commission released two new research studies in December 2010. The UMR survey measures levels of public trust and confidence in charities, and the Empathy Insight report looks at why people trust and feel confident in charities and how that affects their attitudes towards giving. The Commission has made the research available to registered charities, and is encouraging them to use the findings to support their ongoing relationships with donors and supporters. The Commission undertook the UMR trust and confidence in charities survey – its second – as part of its role in promoting research into public confidence in the charitable sector and matters relating to charities. The survey found that a majority of respondents (55%) reported high levels of trust and confidence in charities, but this figure had slipped slightly from 58% in November 2008, and there is some evidence that the public are now viewing charities more critically. The Empathy Insight report shows that the reasons behind people’s trust and confidence in charities tend to remain the same, regardless of whether they have a low, medium or high level of trust in the charitable sector overall. The research found that even if a person has a lower level of trust in the charitable sector overall, they may still trust individual charities. However, they don’t necessarily give to charities they do trust, and may in fact give to some charities they don’t particularly trust or have confidence in. To access the reports visit: http://www.charities.govt.nz/AboutUs/PublicReports/tabid/268/Default.aspx .
/communitycentre/news/national/charityconfidence.htm
Latest community news, events, jobs and ads are online at:www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news.
Ngā rongo kōrero tino hōu, ngā whakahaerenga, ngā mahi me ngā pānuitanga kei te wātea ā-ipurangi i:www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/news.
Giving for Good is a hub where people can gather and share information about generosity and giving. You can offer your stories, feedback, knowledge, experience, expertise and support. The website also houses a learning centre packed with material from here and overseas, and there are links to the many organisations working in the generosity space.
http://issues.co.nz/givingforgood/
Community Waitakere is committed to supporting a sustainable Waitakere with thriving, connected communities. Community Waitakere strengthens the links between community groups, organisations, individuals, businesses and government bodies by promoting and modelling collaboration and partnering, enhancing networking and communication, developing projects and helping to foster collective visions of positive change.
http://www.communitywaitakere.org.nz
Business Professional Services Limited is a social enterprise, helping non-profits with the business side of what they do. The BPS website features news articles and FAQs about the management of non-profit organisations.
http://http://www.bpsl.co.nz/
NZ Association Resource Centre is a charitable trust which provides support to NGO collective organisations. We support vocational, special interest and charitable institutions and provide connections between these organisations.
http://www.associations.org.nz
AbilityTrip is a centralised resource for accessible travel information – a travel guide – for the community of disabled travelers and their companions. The site provides information on the current state of accessibility by destination including logistics, accommodations, activities, restaurants, and emergency services. AbilityTrip also provides consulting services to destinations seeking to increase their utility and attractiveness to the disabled community.
http://www.abilitytrip.com/
Contract Mapping gives you easy access to information about the social services that the government funds in your community. Open and transparent provision of funding will improve government accountability and help communities make decisions about the services they need.
http://www.contractmapping.govt.nz/
Napier Family Centre is one of the largest NGO provider for social services in Napier, offering an extensive range of family and individual support services.
http://www.napierfamilycentre.org.nz/
ACDA is an alliance of Auckland region community organisations and communities, formed in the context of the new governance arrangements in Auckland. ACDA’s long term goal is to contribute to the creation of a strong, equitable and well connected Auckland with healthier, informed, empowered, resilient and active communities.
http://www.acda.org.nz/
Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand aims to promote public awareness of the importance of reading and literature for all children; ensure children in New Zealand have access to high quality literature; and support writers and illustrators of literature for children in New Zealand.
http://www.storylines.org.nz/
Energy Options is a community-owned, not-for-profit organisation offering free non-biased advice on insulation, heating solutions, solar water heating and energy efficiency tips.
http://www.energyoptions.org.nz/
Equine-assisted learning programmes aimed at youth and the wider community. Horses have an innate ability to teach us how to further develop our social and leadership qualities in a non-judgmental way. The centre specialises in Horse/People Programs, Group Learning Programs, Therapy Programs and Business Programs that all use the power of the horse as your coach.
http://www.northriver.co.nz
Guillain Barré Syndrome Support Group Trust provides a contact point for newly diagnosed patients and provides information on GBS and its associated syndromes.
http://www.gbsnz.org.nz/
The Lymphoedema NZ website provides a wealth of information about Lymphoedema services, support and resources in NZ, as well as links to reputable international Lymphoedema information.
http://www.lymphoedemanz.org.nz/
Information about Northland’s favourite subtropical town, including local news and events, history, and visitor information.
http://www.kerikeri.co.nz
The Buy This Satellite campaign aims to raise funds to buy a communication satellite so it can be moved over a country (or continent) that could use internet access.
http://buythissatellite.org/
You'll find these and more links at:www.community.net.nz/links.
Ka kitea ēnei i runga nei me ētahi atu hononga i: www.community.net.nz/links.
These Events are happening in the coming weeks. Find details at: www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/events.
Ka puta ēnei whakahaerenga ā ngā wiki ruarua e tū mai. Rapaina ngā taipitopito Whakahaerenga i: www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/events.
These Training events are happening in the coming weeks. Find details at: www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/training.
Ka puta ēnei whakahaerenga Whakangungu ā ngā wiki ruarua e tū mai. Rapaina ngā taipitopito Whakangungu i: www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/training.
I spent several happy days over the summer holidays lying on the couch reading Kindle books on my iPad. They were mainly detective novels by various authors.
Some were set in Arizona. When I came across a word I wasn't familiar with, such as chaparral or manzanita, I loved being able to tap the screen and see a definition.
I also loved being able to change the size of the text to make it easier to read the book without my glasses on. When it grew dark I was very pleased that the iPad's backlight came on so I could read the text with ease.
When I had to stop reading I'd tap the top right corner of the page to create a bookmark.
Sometimes I'd select some text and highlight it for later reference, or add a short text note for myself.
It was a bit of a shock when I went back to reading a printed book on paper and was suddenly unable to work within the books. I had come to take bookmarking, looking up words, making notes and highlights, and changing text size for granted.
Previous borrowers of the library book had been discourteous enough to take it upon themselves to write 'corrections' on the printed book itself.
You don't need an iPad though to enjoy a Kindle ebook.
Devices for reading ebooks have suddenly become very popular. Although it may be better to say they've suddenly become available. They've caught on very quickly.
The software's free too, so you can read Kindle ebooks on iPads, iPhones and iPods, and also on Mac or Windows laptops, and Windows, Android or Blackberry phones.
Search on Amazon and find a Kindle book that you might like to read. Then click a link to have that book downloaded instantly to a suitable device, such as an iPad. The download uses WhisperNet, Amazon's own wireless network.
It takes only a moment or two for the sample chapter to be available on the device. If you don't enjoy the sample then you can just delete it. If you do want to buy the book it's very simple to do so.
There are some Kindle books that are free, while many others cost less than US$1. Search for a topic or genre and sort the results by price, low to high.
If you haven't yet tried an ebook download the free Kindle software, find yourself a free or cheap book, and give it a whirl. If you have a handheld device you'll probably enjoy the reading more than on a computer.
What do you think of Kindle books? Do you enjoy them?
In the last 3 months of 2010 Apple sold 7.3 million iPads. Meanwhile Amazon claim the Kindle is now the best selling product in all of their history. Some books are selling more digital copies through Amazon Kindle than hard copies.
Devices to read ebooks are reasonably low cost, easy to obtain, and widespread.
You could load a Kindle with books, charge it up, go away on holiday for a month and never run out of something to read, or the ability to read it. All on a device that weighs only a couple of hundred grams.
If you already have an iPad, iPhone, Blackberry or Android phone then you can add ebooks to it with ease and in moments.
There's no doubt that ebooks, especially Kindle books, are becoming very popular. But it's not just big powerful publishers who are making their books available in the Kindle format.
Amazon make it easy for anyone to publish material for the Kindle. Take a look at their publishers page.
If you already have documents available as HTML files, in Word format or as a PDF then you're well along the path to publishing them as Kindle books. See this information page.
Amazon also provide plenty of help for the process. For example see the Help page.
We all know that publishing hardcopies of material is time-consuming and and very expensive. Of course there are plenty of people who still prefer or need actual paper books.
But since it's easy to make a Kindle ebook why not add them into your repertoire too? It could make your resources available to a much wider audience, and maybe bring you some extra income.
You may choose to attach an ISBN number to your book. In New Zealand ISBN numbers are free and very easy to obtain. See this page at the National library website.
How about it? Do you think your organisation holds resources that could usefully be made available as Kindle books? Take a look through your files and have a think about it.
And if you do create any Kindle books please remember to tell us about it. We'd like to see what you do, and would like to tell others about it too.
It's 2011. Publishing means so much more than paper.
Panui tips contributed by Miraz Jordan, http://knowit.co.nz . Need help or advice about the Internet? Contact Miraz.
Past Website tips are all available on CommunityNet Aotearoa. Miraz also writes the Tech Universe column for the NZ Herald - it's published online every weekday at http://bit.ly/bGX7UY .
Nā Miraz Jordan i takoha ēnei Kupu Tohutohu, http://knowit.co.nz . Kei te pīrangi āwhina, tohutohu mō te Ipurangi? Whakapā ki a Miraz.
E wātea ana ngā kupu tohutohu i CommunityNet Aotearoa i: /links/monthlysite/ . He kaituhi hoki a Miraz i te wāhanga Tech Universe ō te NZ Herald -Â kei te tā ipurangitia ia rā mahi i http://bit.ly/bGX7UY .
In January, there were 55,443 visits (December 54,533).
I Kohi-tātea 2010 e 55,443 ngā manuhiri (Hakihea e 54,533).
Last month, 39 new community items were published:
I tērā marama, e 39 ngā take hapori i whakaputaina:
Send in your free community notice or advertisement at:www.community.net.nz/about/submit.
Tukua mai tō pānui hapori, pānuitanga koreutu rānei i:www.community.net.nz/about/submit.
There were 7,103 files downloaded in January (December 8,169). The most popular file download in January was the Sample Board Policies from the Governance and Management How-to Guide (971 downloads). In December this was also the Sample Board Policies from the Governance and Management How-to Guide (1,089 downloads).
I tikiaketia ētahi 7,103 kōnae i Kohi-tātea (Hakihea 2010 8,169). Ko te kōnae tikiake tino kaingākau ko te wāhanga Tauira Kaupapa Here mō ngā Poari o te Kia-pēhea Aratohu Tikanga mō te Kāwana me te Whakahaere (971 ngā tikiake). I te marama o Hakihea koia anō ko te wāhanga Tauira Kaupapa Here mō ngā Poari o te Kia-pēhea Aratohu Tikanga mō te Kāwana me te Whakahaere (1,060 ngā tikiake).
Find quarterly CommunityNet statistics at:www.community.net.nz/about/website/statistics.htm.
Kitea ngā tauanga CommunityNet toru marama i: www.community.net.nz/about/website/statistics.htm.
Remember: please forward the complete Panui to others who'll find it useful. Tukua whakamua te Pānui katoa ki ētahi atu ka whiwhi painga i ana kōrero.
Nick Stanley, Web Content Writer.Nā Nick Stanley, Kaituhi Ihirangi Paetukutuku.
Subscribe (or unsubscribe) to CommunityNet Panui at: www.community.net.nz/panui.
Whakauru, whakakorea te whakaurunga rānei ki te Pānui CommunityNet i: www.community.net.nz/panui.
Select one or more of:
Whiriwhiria kia kotahi neke atu rānei o:
Or email information@community.net.nz with the following details:
īmēra rānei:me ngā taipitopito e whai ake nei:
CommunityNet Aotearoa RSS Feed is available at: lists.community.net.nz/cna/wp-rdf.php.
E wātea ana te CommunityNet Aotearoa Whāngai RSS i: lists.community.net.nz/cna/wp-rdf.php.
Publish your news, jobs, events, training and adverts free at: www.community.net.nz/about/submit.
Pānuitia koreututia ō rongo kōrero, mahi, whakahaerenga, whakangungu me ō pānuitanga i: www.community.net.nz/about/submit.
Send Panui articles and ideas with Subject "Panui contribution" to: information@community.net.nz.
Tukua ngā tuhinga me ngā whakaaro mō Panui me te Upoko "Takoha mō Pānui" ki: information@community.net.nz.
You are welcome to reproduce material from this Panui provided you acknowledge the source, like this: "Reproduced from CommunityNet Aotearoa Panui, February 2011, www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/panui".
E pai ana mātou kia tukuruatia e koe he rauemi o tēnei Pānui ki te mea ka whakaaetia e koe te mātāpuna, pēnei: "Reproduced from CommunityNet Aotearoa Panui, February 2011, www.community.net.nz/communitycentre/panui".
Editorial policy for Panui and CommunityNet Aotearoa is guided by an Advisory Group drawn from community organisations. Panui and CommunityNet Aotearoa are published by Department of Internal Affairs, PO Box 805, Wellington 6140. Phone: 04 4957200. Email: information@community.net.nz.
Kei te whakahaeretia te kaupapa here whakatikatika mō Panui me CommunityNet Aotearoa e tētahi Rōpū Kaitohutohu i kūmea mai i ngā whakahaere hapori. Kei te whakaputaina te Panui me te CommunityNet Aotearoa e te Tari Taiwhenua, Pouaka Poutāpeta 805, Te Whanganui-a-Tara 6140. Waea: 04 4957200. īmēra: information@community.net.nz.
While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication, the publishers accept no liability for any errors and omissions. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors, not the publishers.
Ahakoa te tino whakauaua ki te tirotiro kei te tika ngā pārongo i tēnei whakaputanga, e kore ngā kaiwhakaputa e whakaae ki tētahi taunaha mō tētahi hē, aweretanga rānei. Ko ngā kōrero me ngā whakaaro kua whakapuakina, nā ngā kaituhi, ehara nā ngā kaiwhakaputa.