Not-For-Profit and Community Sector News

The Crimes Amendment Act which came into effect in March 2012 provides strengthened legal measures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse. In particular, those caring for older people are now not only responsible for providing adequate care and support, but also for protecting them from abuse (S151). This means that abuse and neglect cannot be [...]

The External Reporting Board (XRB), which is responsible for setting accounting and auditing standards in New Zealand, has received approval from the Minister of Commerce for a new New Zealand Accounting Standards Framework and roll-out strategy. The Framework proposes four different levels of report, depending on an organisation’s income and expenditure. The Charities Commission has [...]

Community Law Centres around New Zealand advise nearly quarter of a million New Zealanders every year – more than the populations of Hamilton and Dunedin combined. At the launch of the Community Law website Community Law Chief Executive Elizabeth Tennet said she expected that number to grow in the coming year. The Community Law website [...]

After reviewing its future direction, the Road Safety Trust has decided to discontinue its research and advertising programmes, and use its remaining funds to support non-government organisations to deliver high value, high quality community road safety projects. This will largely distribute the Trust’s reserves of approximately $6 million. The Trust’s revenue stream from Personalised Plates [...]

From the Otago Daily Times, 2 May 2012: The trust behind the proposed High St cable car is pleased with community support, despite few residents returning a survey on the project. Last year, 1150 households within 400m of the proposed cable car route were delivered survey forms, aimed at gauging reaction to the multimillion-dollar proposal. [...]

New Zealand Red Cross has announced online learning is now available for three of our their standard courses: comprehensive first aid, essential first aid, and revalidation first aid. Comprehensive First Aid Unit standards 6402, 6401, 6400 or 26551, 26552 and 6400. 6 hours online plus 6 hours face-to-face (consisting of practical skills and assessment). Essential [...]

SF Otago is considering hosting a mental health conference in Dunedin, which would be open to anyone who is interested. If there is enough interest, SF Otago intends to provide a conference which is relevant and financially accessible to people. Any comments or ideas to assist our planning would be greatly appreciated. Please contact SF [...]

Don Benn, Field Officer with MS Otago, is coordinating a new networking group for field workers who work with people who have a neurological condition. Any field officers working with people with neurological conditions are invited to attend to connect with other field officers and neurological support agencies. If you have any queries or would like [...]

On Wednesday 2 May 2012 from 6am to 9am, TVNZ’s Breakfast weatherman Tamati Coffey will be broadcasting from the lower Octagon. This promotion is happening as Tamati will be be hosting the show New Zealand’s Got Talent. TVNZ is on the lookout for local talent for the auditions, as well as to feature during the live crossovers [...]

Finding suitable schooling for disabled children in New Zealand is not a level playing field for parents, according to new research from CCS Disability Action. The Families Choices: Choosing Schools for Disabled Children research suggests that the choice of education for disabled children may in fact be an “illusion” for some parents. The research reveals that for the [...]

Arthritis New Zealand is offering a Living a Healthy Life course for those individuals with any ongoing medical condition. The internationally recognised course was developed at Stanford University in 1996 and the delivery and content has been adapted to New Zealand conditions. Participants can learn self management techniques which will enable them to take charge of their lives, [...]