The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) represents six church networks: the Anglican Care Network, the Baptist, Catholic and Presbyterian social services agencies, and the Methodist and the Salvation Army churches.
Nationally, the range and scope of our six-member networks is extensive. Thirty-seven types of services are delivered through 1,024 programmes in 213 separate provider sites in 55 towns and cities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our members’ services cover such areas as support for children and families, services for older people including community and residential care, community food distribution and emergency services, housing, budgeting and financial literacy education, disability, addictions, community development and employment services.
This size in, and diversity of, services are among the many reasons for us to celebrate our membership and the work that they do to meet people’s needs throughout the motu.
Our mission
NZCCSS works for a just and compassionate society in Aotearoa New Zealand. We see this as continuing the mission of Jesus Christ.
Our priority is the poor and vulnerable of our society. Our mahi is focused on supporting our members to serve New Zealanders and on giving a voice to those in need; on ensuring that voice is put before the decisionmakers of this country. As we do this, we have made the honouring of Te Tiriti O Waitangi a priority – its spirit as well as its principles. We seek to acknowledge the place of Māori as Aotearoa New Zealand’s first people and to contribute to the lifting of Māori health and wellbeing.
Our key roles are:
- to represent the common interests and vision of our members at the national level
- to supply information and networking opportunities
- to support members providing quality services
- to develop, critique and advocate for policies that will assist poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged members of society.
Structure
NZCCSS is governed by a national council made up of two representatives from each of the six church denominations.
A small secretariat carries out the day-to-day work of the council. This includes gathering and distributing information, research on social policy issues, preparing submissions on proposed legislation and regulations, and building relationships with government officials and others working in the community sector.
Three policy groups oversee the policy and research work that NZCCSS does in our three key areas: children and families, impacts of poverty & exclusion, and older people. Each policy group is made up of at least two council representatives plus social services managers, academics or others with particular expertise or knowledge in that area. This means that the work that NZCCSS does is well informed by what is happening throughout New Zealand.
Read more about our work here.
Associate entities
Kore Haikai Zero Hunger Collective
The number of New Zealanders experiencing poverty-related hunger has increased steadily in recent years. It is a complex issue that has much to do with structural challenges that have evolved in this country. The root causes are complex – including low wages, the cost of housing and lengthy food supply chains.
In late 2019, the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services joined with the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch city missions, the Salvation Army, and Vision West Community Trust to form Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective to begin the journey of addressing those challenges and issues.
The aim of the collective is to eliminate food insecurity in Aotearoa New Zealand. Currently, Kore Hiakai is connected to over 300 foodbanks and community food organisations across the country and is an adviser to the Ministry of Social Development on food security for the community food distribution sector.
What is Food insecurity? Read this Kore Hiakai resource here.
Find out more about the work of Kore Hiakai.
Sector vacancies
See NZCCSS’s members and partners latest vacancies here.