Advocacy can be a key tool for change, although in New Zealand it mostly means action on behalf of an individual rather than a community.

Some successful campaigns have involved advocacy for a large number of people on the same issue. On US sites, you will find "advocacy" used to mean organising or campaigning on a wide scale.

Your help in developing this guide is essential.  If you come across websites, resources, case studies or news, please email details to information@community.net.nz

Karen Davis, the editor of this guide, has been active in a number of campaigns against poverty and unemployment in New Zealand with the Auckland Unemployed Workers Rights Centre.  She is now a trustee for Kotare Research and Education for Social Change, an organisation which uses popular education methods to support and strengthen the work of community activists- see the Kotare website for more information: www.kotare.org.nz.

Note: Views expressed in these guides reflect those of the authors, not those of CommunityNet or the Department. Links and references are provided for your convenience, and do not imply endorsement. See Disclaimer.

News   (Go to full list of 5 items)

• Qualifications for Campaigners

  The first UK qualification for campaigners has been launched recently and will run from October 2006 to November 2007. Unfortunately for New Zealanders, you have to be able to attend some modules in person, so it's not yet a distance learning qualification.
  Date added: 28 August 2006

• News

  News about Campaigns can be hard to find in the mainstream media. You are more likely to find news items on the Aotearoa Independent Media Centre website (http://indymedia.org.nz) - which is also a good place to post your own news of successful campaigns.
  Date added: 6 June 2003

• Open Door Documentaries

  Do you, or a group that you’re involved with, have something to say to the people of New Zealand? Morningside Productions offers you the opportunity to make a documentary for television.
  Date added: 6 November 2007

Full List

Publications / Resources   (Go to full list of 22 items)

• Government resources

  Sometimes change can only be done at the government level. Here are some resources that help you find out where you can make change at a national level through existing government processes.
  Date updated: 19 September 2008

• Good Practice Participate

  The Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector website on good practice and participation is set up to assist Government departments involve communities in decisionmaking. However, it includes a range of techniques for encouraging participation that many community organisations will find useful. These include Open Space Technology, Future Search, Participatory Appraisal, as well as the more common submission writing, questionnaires, interviews etc.
  Date updated: 15 December 2005

• Community Toolbox

  The Community Toolbox website has been developed for community health practitioners in the United States, but it has a wide range of tools and resources that are applicable to campaigns and advocacy situations in New Zealand. The following is a selection of the resources available.
  Date updated: 4 December 2004

Full List

Templates

• SWOT analysis

  A SWOT analysis is an exercise which can help identify strategies for your campaign.
  Date updated: 19 September 2008

• The Change Agency

  The Change Agency is an Australian community organisation which provides training and resources for environmental and social change campaigners.
  Date updated: 21 February 2006

• Recognising Allies Templates

  Knowing who your allies are can make your campaign stronger. Three templates from the Community Toolbox website can be used to learn to recognise allies, assess their relative strengths and any possible risks.
  Date updated: 2 December 2004

Case Studies   (Go to full list of 7 items)

• Māori Activism

  Some of the longest running campaigns in New Zealand have been led by Māori, campaigning against injustices from breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. Note that these sites and books are selected from my pakeha perspective as being useful case studies of Māori campaigns. I am sure there are other sites that I have neglected to mention and I welcome your suggestions.
  Date updated: 26 June 2008

• Australian Case Studies

  The best website I've found for campaign case studies is The Change Agency from Australia. These are environmental campaigns in the broadest sense from nature conservation to transport and food campaigns. This link takes you to the list of case studies (all PDF files) and you can also find out more about The Change Agency from here: The Change Agency Case Study Index Page.
  Date updated: 30 July 2006

• Poverty and Advocacy: The Gisborne Impact Story

  An action research report on Te Tairawhiti Special Benefit “Impact” October 2003, by Catherine Delahunty of Kotare Research and Education for Social Change Trust.
  Date updated: 10 January 2006

Full List

Websites   (Go to full list of 9 items)

• Churches' Agency on Social Issues

  Methodist, Presbyterian, Churches of Christ, Quaker churches working for justice, peace and the integrity of creation.
  Date added: 14 December 2004

• Disability Sector Groups

  The Office for Disability Issues has links to consumer and advocacy groups from the disability sector on its website.
  Date added: 13 December 2004

• ECPAT New Zealand

  ECPAT NZ campaigns to end the sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography, child sex traffic and trafficking of children. The site contains current news and ...
  Date added: 13 December 2004

Full List