News & Events

Welfare Reforms Impacting on Young People and Families

09/04/2013

“Since the introduction of the youth focused Welfare Reforms our members are reporting an upswing in young people requesting food parcels and emergency accommodation’, says Trevor McGlinchey, Executive Officer of the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS). “It appears as though there has been a slight increase in the numbers of young people sleeping rough, in doorways or under bridges. And a large increase in teenagers who are dependent on sleeping on their friends’ couches – until the generosity runs out and they have to find another couch to surf on”. read more

Vulnerability Report Issue 14

22/01/2013

Is The Welfare Safety Net starting to Slip? We have too many people chasing too few jobs, and welfare benefits and hardship grants are getting harder to obtain. Our welfare system is failing to do the job it was intended for . Rather than enabling people to participate and belong in society, it is increasingly looking to social services and other to pick up where it is leaving off. This report covers trends experienced in government agencies and community based organisations in the third quarter of 2012. read more

The Canterbury Report released

19/12/2012

The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) has been working with Christchurch social services agency members to produce the Canterbury Report. “This Report brings together the on-the-ground experience of our Christchurch based social service agencies together with government statistics to help reveal progress and pressure points as Canterbury continues to recover from the earthquakes”, said Trevor McGlinchey, Executive Officer NZCCSS. read more

NZCCSS analysis of the White Paper for Vulnerable Children

02/11/2012

This paper provides a summary of the white paper for Vulnerable Children and a brief analysis fo the paper against NZCCSS's mission statement, Christian values and roles within its communities. read more

Child Poverty discussion is crucial, say New Zealand’s Church Leaders

28/08/2012

Proposals to reduce New Zealand’s unacceptably high child poverty rates need to be urgently debated and discussed, say the leaders of the Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Salvation Army and Assemblies of God Churches. read more

Low Income Families Continue to Pay for Economic Recovery

27/07/2012

“The slow economic recovery is really hurting many low income New Zealand families”, said New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) Executive Officer, Trevor McGlinchey. “We have been collecting and comparing data and information for the last 3 years and it is very clear that low income families, particularly whānau Māori and Pasifika families, are bearing the brunt of New Zealand’s drive to reduce the national deficit”. The Vulnerability Report shows while the median income for all New Zealanders has grown since 2008, for Māori the median income has actually dropped. read more

Threats to home-based care

31/05/2012

Rural Women New Zealand and the Council for Christian Social Services, in a joint statement, agree that The Report of the Inquiry into the Aged Care Workforce ‘Caring Counts’ by the Human Rights Commission clearly highlights the issues for both carers and the providers of the service. The indicated lack of response by Government to this Report threatens the on-going ability of NGO’s to continue to provide home based older persons services in New Zealand. It is not acceptable for Government to continually transfer the cost of providing vital older person services from District Health Boards to NGO’s. read more

Vulnerbility Report Issue 12

11/04/2012

COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS FILLING THE GAP As the welfare and housing reforms are felt in communities, it is the community based social service agencies that are put under increasing stress to fill the gaps. The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) twelfth Vulnerability Report shows housing is harder to access, benefit recipients have reduced, and the numbers of hardship grants for food and power have decreased. At the same time social service agencies are pressured as people seeking support increase. read more

Auckland Futures

27/03/2012

The Auckland Services Group of the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) invites you to attend an interactive day co-creating with Auckland Council the pathway to a more inclusive and socially just future for Auckland. read more

NZCCSS Future Wellbeing Conference

27/03/2012

The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services Future Wellbeing Social Services Conference will be held at the University of Auckland Faculty of Engineering Symonds St Auckland on the 18th and 19th of April. An exciting range of keynote speakers have been confirmed to inform and challenge you on how to assist in the development of the future wellbeing for all New Zealanders. read more

Future Wellbeing NZCCSS Social Services Conference 2012

27/03/2012

Workshop Programme The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services Future Wellbeing Social Services Conference will be held at the University of Auckland Faculty of Engineering Symonds St Auckland on the 18th and 19th of April. An exciting range of keynote speakers have been confirmed to inform and challenge you on how to assist in the development of the future wellbeing for all New Zealanders. We can now confirm that we have put together an excellent group of workshop presenters. These workshops will provide greater depth around some of the challenges, you as social service and community organisation leaders, will face in the near future as government agencies strive to implement their government’s vision. read more

NZCCSS Future Wellbeing Conference 18 - 19 April

27/03/2012

Government wants social service organisations to deliver more results from less funding. It’s time to Review, Rethink, Respond and Renew at the NZCCSS Future Wellbeing Conference. Government has signalled it will be making major changes in the way it works with vulnerable people and the social services organisations that support them. This Conference is essential for Governance, CEOs, senior managers and others who need to Review the Government’s plans. It provides an opportunity to Rethink and Respond to these plans and to consider other perspectives and directions that will help to strengthen vulnerable people and their communities. Come and Renew your networks and your commitment to making a real difference! read more

Conference to address critical issues for NZ's aging population

19/03/2012

Re-framing the debate about future wellbeing for older people and the impact of clowning in dementia care are examples of a varied programme looking at the critical issues that are facing our country’s growing elderly population that will be discussed at a conference in Wellington this month hosted by the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS). read more

Reforms Impacting on Vulnerable People and Service Providers

13/01/2012

The increasing hardening of access to government benefits and housing is resulting in higher levels of vulnerability and more people wanting services from social support organisations. The latest New Zealand Council of Christian Social Service (NZCCSS) Vulnerability Report indicates that in the quarter ending September 2011 most NZCCSS members experienced another strong increase in demands for their services. read more

Media Release Political Party Sign-Up

22/11/2011

Will there be a Parliamentary majority to support reducing Inequality? Late surge in support More than 63 political leaders and party candidates from six political parties have signed up to support policies to reduce inequality if elected. They have been responding to NZ Council of Christian Social Services’ (NZCCSS) invitation to show support for their Closer Together Whakatata Mai Choice to reduce inequalities. read more