CHA News - 30 June 2011
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Kia kaha, kia toa, kia manawanui!
Tomorrow, 1 July 2011, is a historic day for changes happening in the wider social housing sector - both in terms of the way that Housing New Zealand will be operating in the future and changes on the horizon for the way that our sector is funded via a new Social Housing Unit now being set up and located at the Department of Building and Housing.
This has all been repeatedly signalled by the Minister of Housing Phil Heatley in the build up to these changes, and tracked closely by Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) .
In particular the last week has seen a new round of media coverage about what will be happening to State housing, the delivery of a speech to the Christchurch Housing Forum yesterday by the Minister of Housing and the release of more details on the Housing New Zealand website. To link through to all the coverage and official releases please go to our Information Links heading below.
It has been noticeable that the media regularly call CHA for media commentary and that CHA is one of their 'go to' contacts now for housing issues. Our challenge now is to ensure that we make the most of our opportunities in the media and, in a reverse sense, that we continue to 'educate' every journalist we make contact with about how community housing organisations contribute to creating a better housing future across the many areas and the multiple associated sectors that CHA members operate in, including Māori, Pacific, Mental health, Disabilities, Emergency housing, Housing for older people and many more.
Advocacy activity
With forthcoming newsletters we will be doing more to draw attention to the wide range of CHA advocacy activity and events that raise not just awareness or profile, but understanding about the issues facing all of us in the community housing field and interested parties. Within the last fortnight CHA has:
- as part of a gradual website revamp, added a page of information links on the topic of Papakainga to the CHA website - see the new Papakainga webpage (additions welcomed!)
- we have also instituted a sharper focus on the Quality Assurance platform that CHA is providing with a new section on the website that will grow and develop in coming weeks and months
- supported Auckland's Spotlight On Housing week with a media release and the 'world premiere' of a collaborative DVD project - see Spotlight On Housing on Scoop
- supported Volunteering New Zealand in their promotion of this year's Volunteer Week by adapting a Thank You notice provided by Volunteering New Zealand and circulating it to CHA members. It's never too late to thank the volunteers without whom all shapes and sizes of community development and social work just couldn't happen.
- supported International Refugees Day by preparing a joint media release with CHA member Refugee Services Aotearoa. See our Media Releases page.
- attended the 'closing down' function for the Centre for Housing Research (CHRANZ)
- In liaison with Monte Cecilia Housing Trust we made a submission to the Social Services Select Committee for its inquiry into Boarding Houses.
- provided discussion material for the latest meeting of Te Matapihi, held in Auckland on Monday 27 June, with facilitation from the Māori Caucus of the CHA Council
- given implications for all community housing organisations, we are currently galvanising a response to the High Court judgement about the charitable status of the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust
Submissions work is one of the ways that CHA is able to make an impression on and influence policy thinking. Recently CHA's submission to the Building Competitive Cities consultation run by the Ministry for the Environment was amongst those highlighted in the summary of submissions.
Another submission process that is just commencing is the new Productivity Commission's call for submissions on its Housing Affordability issues paper - see www.productivity.govt.nz Please let us know if you would like to contribute to this process. As in the past we will survey members on these issues.
We are also tracking progress on the Office of the Auditor General's much-awaited report on Māori housing, which will not be delivered to Parliament before August.
Increased activity overall
The amount of activity that CHA's small executive team - myself and our part-time staff Stephen and Jane - are engaged in has been steadily increasing, with one of our many priorities being the current 2011-2012 Membership Drive. Haven't received your membership form? - email Jane at support@communityhousing.org.nz or see JOIN CHA NOW
In addition to the invaluable input and support of the CHA Council we are grateful for a growing number of people who have put up their hand to volunteer time and labour to the Community Housing 'cause'. People like Sonia Dolan, who is assisting us on local government research we are doing, and policy advisor John Pritchard, formerly of Shelter Cymru the people and homes charity in Wales. If you know of anyone in Wellington who might have time to volunteer towards assisting CHA please let us know.
Sincerely, David McCartney
CHA Executive Officer
- email me at director@communityhousing.org.nz - I always respond.
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Upcoming events for spreading the message!
- Next week is Māori Language Week 2011.Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (The Māori Language Commission) have chosen “Manaakitanga” as the theme for the week. Read more about Māori Language Week 2011.
- From 10-13 July, Community Housing Aotearoa will have a stand at the annual conference of Local Government New Zealand Conference being held this year in Wellington. We welcome material from all CHA members to display on the stand. Please send to CHA before Friday 8 July to CHA, PO Box 11543, Wellington 6142
- On 19 July the CHA Council will have an opportunity to meet the Minister for Housing at Parliament and to discuss all of the changes happening as a result of the shift in the policy direction for housing. Please send us questions you would like us to put to the Minister.
- Later in July we hope to join with members of the Christchurch Housing Forum in co-hosting a forum for heightening the focus on the city's housing challenges.
- What events would you like CHA to know about and promote?
Information Links
Media coverage of announcements about 1 July changes (cut and paste links into your browser)
- Minister talks to Guyon Espiner, Q+A current affairs programme, Sunday 26 June
Video LINK: http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/housing-minister-phil-heatley-15-11-video-4262345
Transcript LINK: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1106/S00320/qa-interview-with-phil-heatley.htm
- Panel discussion on Phil Heatley Interview
Video LINK: http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/panel-discussion-phil-heatley-interview-7-15-video-4262358
Transcript LINK: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1106/S00323/qa-panel-discussions.htm
- TVNZ – Breakfast morning show, Monday 27 June
CHA chairperson Alan Johnson
Video LINK: http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/state-housing-shake-up-5-11-video-4263918
Housing New Zealand media release about 1 July changes
Minister of Housing announcements, media releases and speeches
- 29 June - Growing social housing - speech GO TO LINK
- 29 June - New rules - media release GO TO LINK
- 20 June - Unit Titles Act 2010 becomes law GO TO LINK
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