Community group voice not heard?

A democratic deficit is constraining what people in the tangata whenua, community and voluntary sector speak up about.

Research by Victoria University researchers Dr Sandra Grey and Dr Charles Sedgewick found that political control and influence in New Zealand is not just about the party in government.

One in three respondents indicated that public debate had been stifled under both Labour-led and National-led governments over the decade 1999-2009.

The research findings, based on survey data collected in 2009, was released in April.

Learn more

Full report: Fears, constraints, and contracts: The democratic reality for New Zealand’s community and voluntary sector

“University report highlights ‘democracy deficit’ in NZ” press release 27 March 2013

Interview with Sandra Grey on Sunday Monring, Radio New Zealand, 5 May 2013

Collaborative Voices interview from May 2013

News from the Whānau Ora Research Website

Tips for researchers at Te Anga Mua - now on YouTube

Participants at Te Anga Mua seminar last November were asked to share research tips. A collection of tips has been compiled and is now available on YouTube. The video is just over three minutes long.

If you cannot see the video below view it here: http://youtu.be/nruoh0IlD7s

TPK: Whānau Ora is transformative

Action researchers working with Whānau Ora collectives are gathering tangible evidence of transformation following whānau planning and engagement, a new report from Te Puni Kōkiri shows.

Read the full news story

Learning by doing in communities

"Learning by doing" is a new publication that offers insights, stories and resources for people working together to create and achieve locally owned visions and goals.

The Inspiring Communities publication is based on research undertaken in community-led development projects they have been involved in around the country.

The guide was launched in April 2013 in Wellington. A free preview chapter is available on the Inspiring Communities website, with a second due in September. Copies of the book can be purcahsed from Inspiring Communities.

New research in our kete

Over 20 new research reports have been added to the website in the past two months (see the full list).

Here are links to some of the new items: 

The Hidden Abuse of Disabled People Residing in the Community: An Exploratory Study 

Identifying the non-structural impacts of the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence on the Hurunui District

The effectiveness of services delivered by DOVE Hawkes Bay Inc (May 2013): Summary Report

New delivery model for non-profit organisations: Shared computing services

Whatever happened to Tuatapere?

Report on changes impacting referrals to Man Alive Stopping Violence Programmes between Jan 2009 and Jun 2012

Community Waitakere: A community development assessment of strengths, aspirations, needs and opportunities of the community sector of Waitakere
 

Dates for your diary

Evaluation ‘at large’ – Local, national and global influences - ANZEA 2013 conference

22–24 July 2013, Alexandra Park, Auckland

Australasian Evaluation Society annual conference

4-6 September 2013, Brisbane

19th Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference

10-11 September 2013, Sheffield Hallam University, UK

Just action 2013: rebuilding justince together

Organised by The Salvation Army

18-19 September 2013, Manakau

Volunteering New Zealand Annual Conference

Theme: Partnership and Impact

19-20 November 2013, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington

New premises - pop by for a cuppa

If you're visiting Wellington and would like to talk all things community and/ or research, you're welcome drop in for a cuppa at our new premises.

On 5 June we moved into a highrise office space shared with Volunteering New Zealand, ANGOA, and, our former landlords, Social Development Partners. We're subletting from Rainey Collins Lawyers. 

Our new contact details

Other news

Te Kupenga net is cast

Last month Statistics New Zealand started carrying out the department's first survey of Māori well-being.

Called Te Kupenga, Statistics New Zealand will collect information on a wide range of topics giving an overall picture of the social, cultural, and economic well-being of Māori in New Zealand. The survey also provides important information about the health of the Māori language and culture.

Results from the survey of 5,000 plus people of Māori ethnicity and/or Māori descent from around the country are expected in mid 2014.

Constitutional conversation - deadline extended to 31 July

New Zealanders have an extra month to answer the big questions posed by Te Ranga Kaupapa Ture, The Constitutional Advisory Panel.

As a Treaty-based organisation, we are particularly interested in promoting feedback on the place of New Zealand's Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the constitution. Questions to focus on include:

• Thinking of the future, what role do you think the Treaty of Waitangi could have in our constitution?
• Do you think that the Treaty should be made a formal part of the constitution?

Background papers and submission forms: www.ourconstitution.org.nz

Photo credits:  dcharny, Jon S

Founded in 2008, Community Research promotes research capacity in the Tangata Whenua, Community and Voluntary Sector. Because communities who learn better, do better.
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