Engage Aotearoa

Category Archives: Community Participation

Opportunities to participate in your community.

Update on Cuts to Community Law Centres

July 23, 2012 8:31 am ⋅

Less than two weeks to go!

The Ministry of Justice has said that it will stop consulting with Community Law Centres by 1 August.  That makes the next two weeks a really important time to explain to the Ministry exactly why we need direct specialist legal services.

Here’s what you can do to help:

Come to the “Save Disability Law” public meeting

  • 1pm – 3pm on Monday 30th July 2012
  • Western Springs Community Garden Hall, 956 Great North Road

RSVP by phone 09 257 5140 or email info@adl.org.nz

Venue is wheelchair accessible and NZ Sign Language interpreters have been booked.  Please tell us if you have any other access or dietary requirements.

Please tell your whanau, friends and workmates to come along too.

Check out the media coverage

It’s not too late to sign the open letter to Justice Minister Judith Collins

How to sign:

Email your name to info@adl.org.nz and they will add you as an email signatory to our list.  If your organisation has not yet signed, ask them to support ADL.

If you are signing on behalf of an organisation, please include your logo.

Post it to Auckland Disability Law, PO Box 43 201, Mangere, Auckland

Fax it back to ADL on 09 275 4693 or scan it and email to info@adl.org.nz

Finally, you can print it out and post it directly to Minister of Justice, Judith Collins http://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/judith-collins

What else you can do

You can write your own letter to Minister of Justice Judith Collins or to the Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Tariana Turia.

Lobby your local MP, Councillor or Local Board

 

Write to the newspapers, or put out your own press release

Contact ADL for further information

Follow on Facebook

Search and click the ‘like’ button on the Auckland Disability Law Facebook page

Huge thanks to the more than one hundred individuals and all these groups and organisations that have signed so far:

  • Altus Enterprises
  • Auckland Action Against Poverty
  • Auckland Branch of the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand
  • Auckland Disability Providers network
  • CCS Disability Action
  • Chair, Homeworks Trust
  • Citizens Against Privatisation
  • Community Law Canterbury
  • DPA Dunedin
  • DSAG Disability Strategic Advisory Group – Auckland Council
  • Employment Dispute Solutions
  • Engage Aotearoa
  • Green Party of New Zealand
  • Justice Action Group
  • Kaitaia Community House
  • Mana Tangata Turi O Aotearoa
  • Mangere Community Law Centre
  • National Secretary behal of New Zealand Public Serrvices Association
  • Niu Ola Trust
  • People First
  • PHAB Pasifika
  • PSA Deaf and Disabled Members
  • Pukenga Consultancy
  • Rotorua District Community Law Centre
  • Service and Food Workers Union
  • Socialist Aotearoa
  • Tamaki Ngati Kapo inc
  • Taranaki Community Law
  • Te Roopu Waiora Trust
  • The Asian Network Inc.
  • The Auckland Deaf Christian Fellowship
  • Unite Union
  • Youthlaw

Previous media coverage:

 

Further Information

If you require any further information or you are able to help the campaign in any way, please contact us:

Nicola Owen

Development Manager

Auckland Disability Law

 

Posted in: Community Participation, Disability Issues, Human Rights and Legal Issues, News, Politics and Policy, Service-User Movement ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Acclaim Otago Launches Independent ACC survey

July 23, 2012 6:55 am ⋅

As a support group for injured people, Acclaim Otago is concerned that there is very little in the way of current and independent data available that accurately describes aspects of an injured person’s experience with ACC.

Acclaim Otago’s president, Dr Denise Powell says, “This is especially obvious when talking about rehabilitation and Vocational Independence. We are hearing anecdotally, that people are being exited from ACC without first receiving meaningful rehabilitation”.

ACC has recently said that “rehabilitation always comes first” but Dr Powell says “We have no simple way of finding out if this is correct or not. ACC does not currently keep data that identifies what happens once a person exits the scheme and we believe that is a huge gap. This survey aims to find out what happens to people who are clients of ACC.”

“We hope to use the survey results to make recommendations that will substantially improve the experience of injured people in New Zealand. We believe any improvements we can identify to the scheme will benefit not just the ACC and their clients, but potentially generations of New Zealanders to come” Dr Powell states.

The survey can be found at

Posted in: Community Participation, Disability Issues, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, People with Disabilities, Research, Trauma, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , ,

Auckland Disability Law Still Needs YOU

July 13, 2012 3:15 am ⋅

Public Launch of Open Letter

The Public Launch of Auckland Disability Law’s open letter to Minister Judith Collins held on Thursday 5th July 2012 at Trades Hall was a positive success.

A crowd of over 30 people attended.  Many of them signed as individuals and on behalf of their organisations.

As a result of this hui, the Herald featured a story about disability law, featuring Steering Group Chair Person, Martine Abel,

Click link below for the article

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10817730

You can also listen to Nicola being interviewed on Checkpoint last week: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2524294/auckland-disability-law-fights-against-closure

A week ago, Auckland Disability Law released and launched their campaign, Save Disability Law.

Since the launch, over 100 individuals have signed up to support Disability Law, and we have received support from these organisations (in alphabetical order):

  • Auckland Action Against Poverty
  • CCS Disability Action
  • DPA Dunedin
  • Green Party of New Zealand
  • Homeworks Trust
  • Kaitaia Community House
  • National Secretary on behalf of New Zealand Public Services Association (PSA)
  • People First
  • PSA Deaf and Disabled Members Network
  • Pukenga Consultancy
  • Service and Food Workers Union SFWU
  • Tamaki Ngati Kapo Inc
  • Te Roopu Waiora Trust
  • The Asian Network Inc.
  • Unite union
  • Youthlaw

It’s not too late to sign!

How to sign

Email your name to info@adl.org.nz and they will add you as an email signatory to our list.

If you are signing on behalf of an organisation, be sure to include your logo.

If your organisation has not yet signed, ask them if they would like to support the cause.

You can also save and print a copy of the Open Letter yourself and send it directly to Minister of Justice Judith Collins http://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/judith-collins

What else you can do

You can write your own letter to Minister of Justice Judith Collins.

You can lobby, write to or talk to your Local MP.  Click link for list of MPs http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/ Don’t forget to let Auckland Disability Law know how your communications with them were received.

Write to the newspapers, or put out your own press release

Contact Auckland Disability Law for further information

Follow on Facebook

Search and click the ‘like’ button on the Auckland Disability Law Facebook page

Come to the “Save Disability Law” public meeting

  • Monday 30th July 2012
  • Time 1pm – 3pm
  • Western Springs Community Garden Hall, 956 Great North Road, Western Springs, Auckland

Further Information

If you require any further information or you are able to help the campaign in any way, please contact us:

Nicola Owen, Development Manager, Auckland Disability Law

Posted in: Accessibility / Transport, Community Participation, Human Rights and Legal Issues, People with Disabilities, Politics and Policy, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Ministry of Justice Proposes Cutting Disability Law Services

July 7, 2012 1:49 am ⋅

Help Save Disability Law

The Ministry of Justice is proposing to withdraw funding for direct specialist legal services for the disability community from June 2013.

This will mean that there will no longer be a community law centre specialising in the complex legal needs of disabled people.  There will be no Auckland Disability Law.

Auckland Disability Law is calling for the Ministry of Justice to rethink this proposal.

At Engage Aotearoa, we think there should be specialist disability law services available to disabled people throughout New Zealand, including Auckland Disability Law. We frequently refer people to this service.

Your Help is Needed!

Key Things You Can Do:

Sign the Open Letter to Judith Collins, the Minister of Justice as an individual or on behalf of your organisation (attached (right click the link to save the document) and available on Auckland Disability Law’s Facebook page or by email from info@adl.org.nz).  Email to sign the letter and send your organisation’s logo.

Come to the “Save Disability Law” Community Hui

Send a message to the government that we are serious about saving disability law through the continued funding of Auckland Disability Law and extending specialist legal services nationally for disabled people.

  • When:  Monday 30th July 2012, 1pm till 3pm
  • Where:   Western Springs Garden Community Hall, 956 Great North Road
  • Invited speakers: Mojo Mathers, Sue Bradford, Clive Lansink

Other Things That You Can Do to Help

Write your own letter to Justice Minister Judith Collins

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/judith-collins

Write to the newspapers, or put out your own press release

Contact Auckland Disability Law for further information

Follow Auckland Disability Law on Facebook

Search and click the ‘like’ button on the Auckland Disability Law Facebook page

Further Information

If you require any further information or you are able to help the campaign in any way, please contact, Auckland Disability Law:

Nicola Owen, Development Manager, Auckland Disability Law

Posted in: Accessibility / Transport, Addiction/Substance Abuse, Community Participation, Disability Issues, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, News, Parents and Parenting, People with Disabilities, Service-User Movement, Social Change, Support ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Research on Psychosis Seeks Family-Member Participants

June 21, 2012 7:51 am ⋅

WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE OF PSYCHOSIS/SCHIZOPHRENIA?

HELP NEEDED FOR PAID RESEARCH

Research into Psychosis / Schizophrenia

Family members and caregivers of people who are treated for psychosis or schizophrenia are sought to participate in a friendly research discussion about these conditions – if you live with or have a friend or family member of someone who has psychosis or schizophrenia you may be just the kind of person the researchers would like to talk with.

All enquiries to: Jonathan Dodd Research Director    jonathan.dodd@ipsos.com ph 021 538 634    09 538 0509

Posted in: Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Research ⋅ Tagged: ,

Have Your Say on the Gambling Harm Reduction Amendment Bill

June 15, 2012 4:57 am ⋅

A new gambling bill is currently before Parliament. The Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill is a private member’s bill in the name of Te Ururoa Flavell.

Have your say in creating better gambling laws by making a written submission or make an online submission here – www.haveyoursayonpokies.co.nz/ to the Select Committee. This can be as short or as long as you like. You can submit for or against parts of the bill or the entire bill. If you make a written submission, you can also make an oral presentation. You can be as creative as you like. This is your chance to tell your story about the impact of gambling on you, your family and your community and to tell politicians about the changes that you want to see.

p.s. Some info, current editorial from the Herald

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10812126

Current facts on gambling

www.pgfnz.org.nz/Fact-Sheets-/0,2731,13132,00.html

Is gambling a concern in NZ?

http://choicenotchance.org.nz/gambling-in-nz/is-gambling-really-a-problem-new-zealand

5 year distribution of Pokie funds under the current system in Auckland– see PDF attached (as requested by some local organisations)

Posted in: Addiction/Substance Abuse, Asian Communities, Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Maori Communities, News, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, Pasifika Communities, People with Disabilities, Politics and Policy, Refugees / Migrants, Social Change, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Study Looks at Experiences with Antidepressants in NZ

June 15, 2012 4:27 am ⋅

Have your say on your experience of taking antidepressants

Have you been prescribed an antidepressant in the past five years?

A team of university researchers is keen to see what you have to say about a number of things related to your experiences with these types of medications.

The researchers, from The University of Auckland’s Department of Psychology, are for the first time surveying New Zealanders on their antidepressant use.

Anyone who has been prescribed antidepressant medication in the last five years is eligible to take part in the survey, even if they are no longer taking them. And, if you have been prescribed antidepressants but decided not to take them, you are also encouraged to take part.

The research team hopes that at least 1,000 people will take part in the anonymous online survey, which they have called: Views and Experiences of Antidepressants in New Zealand

A parallel survey of GPs is being conducted by a PhD student associated with the research team, seeking doctors’ views about depression and antidepressants.

Posted in: Community Participation, Research, Service-User Movement ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Regional Settlement Support Newsletter June 2012

June 9, 2012 2:57 am ⋅

In the latest edition of the Regional Settlement Support Newsletter is a mapping of new information initiatives and support programmes developed by service providers over the past six months. (www.arms-mrc.org.nz/Doc/Publication/News_Regional201202.pdf)

They have also highlighted some challenges faced by Auckland’s newcomers.

They are also working on a media workshop for service providers. If you would like to attend the workshop, or have any feedback on the newsletter, please email them to shomap@arms-mrc.org.nz

Posted in: Community Participation, Refugees / Migrants ⋅ Tagged: , ,

Like Minds Website Evaluation

June 1, 2012 11:15 pm ⋅

This survey is for all users of the Like Minds website and will be compared to previous survey results to evaluate how effective the site is and what needs to be updated.

Please take a moment to fill it out.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VGDD7TQ

Posted in: Community Participation, Research, Service-User Movement ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Update on the Living Wage Campaign

June 1, 2012 11:05 pm ⋅

LIVING WAGE AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND LAUNCHED IN AUCKLAND

On Wednesday 23 May an exciting new movement of community, faith-based groups and unions united around a common goal to address poverty and inequality in New Zealand was launched.

Around 200 people attended the launch of Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand in St Stephen’s church hall in Jervois Road, Ponsonby, Auckland. The event was a positive and affirming celebration.

A big thanks to all the community organisations, faith-based groups, unions and others who made this launch a huge success!

The launch

Our MC, Rev Mua Strickson Pua, did a wonderful job, even inviting speaker Uesefili Unasa to join him for a hiphop version of the song She Works Hard For Her Money.

Uesefili spoke of the importance of a living wage for the Pacific community. Other speakers included: Darryl Evans from Mangere Budgeting and Family Support Services, Rev Margaret Mayman from St Andrews on the Terrace, NZ Council of Trade Unions President, Helen Kelly, and Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota President Barbara Wyeth and National Secretary John Ryall.

Those speeches will be published on the new Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand website http://www.livingwagenz.org.nz/ when they are available.

The winner and runner up of the SFWU Living Wage song competition, Kane Hogan performed his song. Listen here. http://soundcloud.com/living-wage-aotearoa-nz/kane-hogan-more-for-all-need-a.

But the highlight was the official sign-on by community organisations, church groups and unions to a giant poster of the Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand statement:

“A living wage is the income necessary to provide workers and their families with the basic necessities of life. A living wage will enable workers to live in dignity and to participate as active citizens in society. We call upon the Government, employers and society as a whole, to strive for a living wage for all households as a necessary and important step in the reduction of poverty in New Zealand.”

Afterwards, community, church people and unions joined for a lunch.

Supporting organisations

The list of supporting organisations is growing daily. For a list of all organisations (to 23 May) click here. www.livingwagenz.org.nz/support.php

Follow up

On the day of the launch a website and facebook page went live. Hundreds of people have signed on to receive regular campaign updates and have volunteered to get involved and donate their skills to the on-going campaign.

Media coverage

The launch attracted huge media coverage. To view go to: www.livingwagenz.org.nz/news.php

Next steps

Wellington Meeting

Wellington groups are invited to a meeting to plan the next steps on Wednesday 4 July 1pm – 3pm, at Epworth House, behind Methodist Church, 75 Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington.

For information email: lyndy.mcintyre@sfwu.org.nz

Auckland Meeting

Auckland groups are meeting to establish an Auckland coalition on Thursday 5 July, 2pm – 4pm at St Stephen’s Church Hall, 65 Jervois Road, Ponsonby.

For information email fala.haulangi@sfwu.org.nz

Advance Pasifika

March for our future. Gather at Albert Park, Auckland at 9am 16 June to march for a better future for Pacific people.

For information: 021 024 58674 or email advance.pasifika@gmail.com

Meanwhile, sign up to the Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand facebook page: www.facebook.com/LivingWageAotearoaNewZealand

 

Posted in: Addiction/Substance Abuse, Asian Communities, Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Maori Communities, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, Pasifika Communities, People with Disabilities, Politics and Policy, Refugees / Migrants, Social Change, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: ,