A view from our Executive Director, Tina Reid
We’re keen to support increased interest and practice of social enterprise in New Zealand. We see it as a key element to ensure that community organisations are resilient and independent in the face of changing funding regimes. We attended the first community Economic Development conference in New Zealand in 2010, and are looking forward to being at the second when this issue goes to print. So, what’s the buzz about? (more…)
A view from our President, Tony Mayow.
This New Dialogue issue is one outcomes of the incredibly successful Community Economic Development Conference held in Waitakere in February this year. Some 300 people came together to share experience and debate the concepts of social enterprise and community economic development, in an atmosphere of excitement, innovation and collegial support.
By common agreement, it was one of the ‘buzziest’ conferences ever, marked by intensive informal networking, and highly informative and entertaining presentations from a wide array of guest speakers—both NZ and International.
Jade Tang is the Art Director and Connector for the yMedia Challenge.
yMedia is a social enterprise that works to connect students, industry and not-for-profit organisations to develop and implement new media initiatives for collective growth.
Now in its fourth year of development, yMedia has established an eight week challenge, which provides not-for-profit organisations the opportunity to increase their knowledge and use of information communication technology, with tertiary students implementing live new media projects, allowing them to gain tangible experience, while being supported by an industry professional.
It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. Alan Cohen.
This is both my first time writing the Executive Director’s view and my last. My four months acting in the role draw to a close now and after handing the baton back to Tina and briefing her on what is current, I will be leaving NZFVWO for new pastures. But more of that later.
Social enterprise is alive and well in New Zealand, and I was amazed with what some organisations were doing when I heard them speak at the Community Economic development Conference in February. It may not be for everyone, but it does offer the likes of the Federation and other national umbrella organisations a chance to move out of the box and to look at ways of earning income without the constraints of a government contract, or the uncertainties of ongoing philanthropic funding.
Justine Munro is the Chief Executive for the Centre for Social Innovation. Justine is one of New Zealand’s leading thinkers in the rapidly growing field of social innovation, and has strong links internationally.
When Wally Stone and some of Kati Kuri’s elders dreamed up whale-watching tours, Kaikoura was a town in decline, with Maori hit hard. Now, Whale Watch, owned and operated by Kati Kuri, is one of NZ’s leading tourist attractions and Kaikoura is thriving. When Michael Jones reached the top of his game in rugby, he reached back to his roots and the “village” that got him there, starting the Village Trust to provide communities of support for at-risk Maori and Pacific kids and families. Ray Avery, New Zealander of the Year in 2010, is a former street kid who has invented medical devices which have saved the sight and lives of millions of the world’s poor, building a sustainable innovation engine through his charity, Medicine Mondiale. (more…)
There is a growing interest in the use of social lending tools in New Zealand and, thanks to the Ian Axford (New Zealand) Public Policy Fellowship, an American social lending practitioner is here. Laura Benedict, a 2010 Axford Fellow, heads up the commercial lending department at the US’s largest non-profit community development financial institution: Self-Help.
Social lending covers a broad swath—loans to non-profits, affordable housing, anti-loan shark programmes, and small business development for minorities and women. This article focuses on ways social lending can be relevant to your organisation.
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Aidan Pia is Director of Senscot, the Scottish network of social enterprise networks. Aidan was a speaker at the recent Community Economic Development Conference in Auckland. He joined Senscot in 2002 and is responsible for co-ordinating Senscot’s activities on a day to day basis. Senscot believes that social entrepreneurs and their enterprises have the potential to transform society for the better.
Senscot has now been `on the go` for ten years. We set up in 1999 to recognise and promote the contribution of individual leaders working in poor communities across Scotland, and to support them and their endeavours. We call these leaders ‘social entrepreneurs’—individuals who are committed to something which brings benefit to their community. These people often work in isolation, and Senscot was founded by a small group of such people who realised that their work would benefit from being connected up with others doing similar things.
Reflections from Di Jennings and Lindsay Jeffs, CED Conference Organisers.
At the Community Economic Development (CED) Conference held in Waitakere, Auckland in February this year, leading practitioners from Scotland, England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand made presentations on social enterprise development, social lending, community banking, asset development and creative approaches to community building. The conference catch cry was “people, place and prosperity”.
John Stansfield is one of New Zealand’s leading practising academics in the field of community organisation management. John was co-founder of the Graduate Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management at Auckland’s Unitec. He is also the founding director of Clean Stream Waiheke Ltd, which is responsible for refuse and recycling collection and management there.
John Stansfield is one of New Zealand’s leading practising academics in the field of community organisation management. John was co-founder of the Graduate Diploma in Not-For-Profit Management at Auckland’s Unitec. He is also the founding director of Clean Stream Waiheke Ltd, which is responsible for refuse and recycling collection and management there.
In a recession-prone land of increasing government restraint, in our sector at least, social enterprise is being trumpeted as a possible solution to community need. (more…)