Community and Voluntary Sector Policy Summary

Read the full Community and Voluntary Sector Policy

Key Principles

• Government recognises and respects the Tangata Whenua, Community and Voluntary sector
• All Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations related to the Sector are honoured
• A best practice model for funding and accountability relationships is enacted
• The tax regime assists the sector to thrive while reducing compliance costs

Specific Policy Points

Encouraging Government support

• Strengthen the role of the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector
• Reduce the functions of the Charities Commission so that it focuses on registration and associated tax issues

Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations

• Recognise cultural differences around concepts of 'volunteering'
• Support hapu and iwi based initiatives through COGS and Lotteries

Creating and enacting a best practice model for funding and accountability

• Fund a sector-led review with Government of all funding and contracting relationships with the sector, with a view to developing a Code of Practice endorsed by the sector and Government.
• Increase Community Organisations Grants Scheme (COGS) funding to $34m per annum
• Have a limit on tax-deductible donations to registered charities, initially to be set at $20,000

Recognising the independence of the Community and Voluntary sector

• Require all Government departments and agencies to independence of NGOs without prejudice in regards to funding, contracting or tax status

Supporting research, education and training

• Substantially increase Government investment in research about and for the sector
• Support quality education and training programmes which increase sector capacity

Recognising and supporting the role and worth of volunteers

• Ensure Government recognizes the contribution of volunteers, and foster a culture which promotes and supports volunteering as a key part of community life
• Ensure that voluntary work is not used to replace paid work
• Oppose compulsory work schemes as these are counter-productive and destroy real jobs

Reducing the sector dependence on gambling

• Remove pokies from our communities by working towards getting rid of all pub non casino gaming machines
• Establish a special fund of $150 million to mitigate the impact of ending pub pokie grants to community and voluntary sector organizations

Supporting community economic development

• Create and maintain an enabling environment for community banks and credit unions
• Support the development of local currency and time banking schemes
• Support local community development and transition town initiatives aimed at dealing with the impacts of climate change and peak oil
• Support the maintenance and development of local markets including crafts and farmers' markets.