News & Events

Sixth Vulnerability Report: Recession Grinds On

09/09/2010

Christchurch Earthquake “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Christchurch as they experience the huge vulnerability brought about by last Saturday’s devastating earthquake. We thank God that no lives were lost and pray for a speedy recovery for those who are injured”, said Ruby Duncan, the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) Acting President. “We know that the Methodist Mission has been badly affected by the earthquake and that their fellow Christian and other community service agencies have provided much needed support to allow them to begin to once again help the many Christchurch people who need support. Reports of an increased level of domestic violence since the earthquake are signals that underlying stress in this tight economic environment has tipped many families over the edge. The stress from a natural disaster has added to the crisis in housing and unemployment that families face and will be intensified over the coming weeks and months as people seek to rebuild lives.” read more

It's a good start but only a start - Aged Residential Care Service Review

08/09/2010

The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) has been pleased to support the Aged Residential Care Service Review. “We applaud the initiative taken by the DHBs and the aged residential care providers to spotlight the huge increase in demand for aged residential care going forward”, says Trevor McGlinchey, NZCCSS Executive Officer. “The numbers are mind boggling. We agree with the Minister, the baby boomers will not be provided for unless we act.” read more

Community Max Expansion Welcomed – More is Needed

25/06/2010

“The further expansion of the Community Max programme for four areas of high unemployment is a good start to helping these communities respond. However, there are many neighbourhoods and communities that have high levels of unemployment”, said Ruby Duncan Acting President of the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS). “Providing more Community Max programmes in all of these neighbourhoods would make a real difference for young unemployed people and their families”. read more

Fifth Vulnerability Report: Social Services Responding Magnificently

21/06/2010

“The unrelenting pressure on social services in our communities continues despite the small drop in the unemployment rate”, said Ruby Duncan, the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) Acting President. “Christian social services and other organisations providing support for families in NZ communities have responded magnificently to the impacts of the recession. They have stretched their resources, sought out additional supports and made a significant difference to families who have had their incomes reduced through one or more family members losing work”. Ruby Duncan said. “While we see many examples of families being badly affected by poverty, we also see how friends, family and communities work hard to help support each other”. read more

Budget Doesn't Address Inequality

20/05/2010

“The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) is concerned with the increasing disparity between the worst-off and the best-off within New Zealand society”, says Shaun Robinson, President NZCCSS. “We have always prided ourselves on being an egalitarian nation but for the last 20 years the differences between poor and rich New Zealanders has grown and grown. We know from international comparisons that in developed countries more equal societies almost always have happier and healthier citizens with fewer prisons and better support services. This is what we should be striving for”. read more

Whanau Ora supported but what about Mainstream?

06/05/2010

“The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) supports kaupapa Māori provision of social services and sees Whānau Ora as a necessary component of the way New Zealand families are supported” said Vaughan Milner, Convenor of the NZCCSS Child and Family Policy Group. “The Māori Party and their National Government partners are to be congratulated in developing a more holistic approach to supporting whānau. We hope that this approach is applied across the wider social services sector”. read more

"Together We Can" NZCCSS Conference 2010

21/04/2010

The NZ Council of Christian Social Services’ “Together We Can… Services for Older People” Conference takes place on Thursday and Friday, 22nd – 23rd April, at the Waipuna Conference Centre, Mt Wellington, Auckland. More than 160 participants from throughout NZ will attend the conference. Delegates will be mainly from the social service organisations of the six member church agencies (Anglican Care Network, Baptist Union of NZ, Catholic social services, the Methodist Church and the Salvation Army), as well as others involved in working in aged care and services for older people, or in policy and government. read more

Benefit Reforms Must Focus on Jobs and Children

24/03/2010

“The “Future Focus“ benefit reforms encourage misguided assumptions and beneficiary bashing. They will be an expensive exercise that achieves little unless the government changes from the language of blaming beneficiaries and focuses on real support into appropriate jobs” said Shaun Robinson, the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) President. read more

Fourth Vulnerability Report: Tax changes need to focus on children

18/03/2010

“Tax reforms must address the issue of child poverty and make low income families better off”, said Shaun Robinson, the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) President. “A reform of the tax system should focus on ensuring all New Zealand children have a reasonable start. The fact that more than 1 in 5 of our children are growing up in poverty is not only unjust but will undermine our future economic competitiveness as a nation. The children of today need to be the skilled workers of tomorrow. If 1 in 5 have had their education, health and ability to be part of our communities damaged by poverty then that is a huge issue for every New Zealander” said Mr Robinson. read more

Vulnerability Report December 2009 realeased

09/12/2009

Third Vulnerability Report: Disturbing trends starting to emerge “With the release of the third Vulnerability Report we are now beginning to see some disturbing trends including an increase in the numbers of New Zealand children living in benefit dependent households””, said Trevor McGlinchey the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) Executive Officer. “The impact on New Zealand families will be felt for many years, the long term costs for New Zealand must be considered when implementing policies to support families”. read more

NZCCSS Supports Release of NZ's Children's Social Health Monitor

24/11/2009

“When a recession hits children are often forgotten, somehow their needs are not as important as sentencing offenders or implementing new tax systems” say Trevor McGlinchey, Executive Officer, for the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS). Even during more affluent times health professionals were raising concerns about the poor health outcomes of many NZ children. NZCCSS shares this concern, particularly given the recent downturn in the economy and its likely impact on the growing numbers of low income and benefit dependent families. read more

Second Vulnerability Report highlights increasing needs

15/09/2009

"This second Vulnerability Report makes a sobering read. Our agencies are telling us that people are queuing up for food parcels at 7.30am in the morning and mothers with babies and young children are in their offices in tears because they don’t know how they are going to pay their power bill", says Trevor McGlinchey the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) Executive Officer. read more

Never Shake a Baby campaign a good start

03/09/2009

The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) is pleased that the government is introducing new initiatives to protect our most vulnerable infants. The announcement of the “Never Shake a Baby” campaign and its associated first response community based child abuse prevention trial, extra social work and multi-agency support in hospitals and advisory process on next steps to prevent abuse has been warmly received by many Christian social service providers. read more

First 'Vulnerability Report' released

09/07/2009

The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) has released the first of an ongoing series of reports that focus on the economic and social hardship faced by many New Zealanders. The reports are a mix of government data and feedback from community based organisations – both NZCCSS member agencies and others. read more

Budget 09: The Poorest & Most Vulnerable Still Waiting

28/05/2009

The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) is disappointed that this Budget has not addressed the needs of the many children who have to live on government benefits. Additional funding going towards supporting older people through improved aged care facilities and increases in respite care is welcomed. The commitment to future funding for critical family related social services is positive and additional educational support for children who have special needs is also promising. However, the Council is concerned for the many children who are being brought up in homes dependant on benefits. We will be talking to the government about addressing long term investment in New Zealand’s future via these children. read more