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NZARC Blog

The New Zealand Association Resource Centre Trust (NZARC) blog is a place for board members, partner organisations, and subscribers to contribute articles and discuss issues of relevance to the non-profit sector. Contributions are welcome and encouraged.

Who will be the final speaker at the NZARC Human Resources Conference? You decide

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Have you read about or heard of an interesting speaker in the field of Human Resources around the topic of “Diversity” that you would like to learn more from? Or, is there that special charity or association that you would like to see present a case study or workshop around a specific Human Resources topic?

We have one speaker spot left to fill for our upcoming People ByAssociation Human Resources one-day conference specifically for charities and associations. You can be the one to help us decide who this is. Send us through your suggestion for a NZ-based speaker, or organisation you would like to see present at our conference by the end of business on the 02 March 2012, and we will see what we can do! 

All suggestions will be taken into consideration and if we feel your option fits in the best, you'll win a complimentary all-day workshop attendance at the upcoming People byAssociation conference –THE Human Resources Conference for charities and associations.

From your earlier feedback, we are pleased to announce we have already secured a great local national and international line-up of speakers who will present workshops and case studies about areas YOU identified as being of key importance to the sector.

  • Lisa Brown Morton (USA): -Keynote on strategic organisational development specific to human resources AND Masterclass workshop on organisational stakeholder development.
  • Anna McNaughton (NZ): - Leadership and management development in St John.
  • Tina Reid (NZ): - The Workplace Wellness project – collaborating for good employment practice.
  • John Bellamy (AUS): - The Talent Acquisition Strategy – how to attract qualified personnel with the right attitude, ability and motivation.
  • Jenny Magee (NZ): - Workshop about volunteer management and performance.
  • Bice Awan (NZ): - Developing a Fit for Purpose Governance strategy.

Click here for more information around these sessions. 

In the meantime – get your thinking cap on and send your suggestions of the speaker or organisation you would most like to see speak to: info@associations.org.nz . Do this by 02 March 2012 and go into the draw to win yourself a complimentary all-day workshop attendance at the conference!


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Do we need more non-profit organisations?

Wednesday, November 30, 2011


As recently reported by Mark Rosenman, ‘did you know that a recent study showed that in the US, 12 million baby boomers want to start their own non-profit or socially oriented business over the next decade. In the US, a million non-profit groups already exist, and plenty of for-profit ventures are dedicated in part to providing some social benefit.'

In New Zealand, we already see 25,473 registered charities – and that is at today’s count! We can expect that there would be a similar feeling amongst our population. How does this translate to things like solving community based issues; if there were more non-profits we would see more fragmentation of delivery of services to those who need it the most.

Would it not be better to strengthen those non-profit entities already making great positive difference and change at a community level? Wouldn’t it be better to harness the passion and willingness to ‘make a difference’, especially given the entrepreneurial bent that many New Zealanders have. This is a time when the non-profit community is being encouraged to be more efficient, and at the same time be more visible in the way in which the make a difference. 

Our challenge therefore is to channel the energy and passion of this group into existing organisations. Perhaps we can shift the focus to an ability to work collectively, building stronger, more effective and efficient non-profit organisations.

Mark Rosenman is director of Caring to Change, a project in Washington that seeks to improve how grant making serves the public.


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The Question That Will Change Your Organization

Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Whether you are a for-profit or non-profit we thought that the following rings true: "A good question beats a good answer." 

As Polly LeBarre, editorial director of the Management Innovation Exchange recently remarked... ’The first thing you notice when you have your ears pricked for questions is that most people (especially businesspeople) are more interested in presenting solutions, making assertions, and sharing their vision rather than listening to other’s opinions'.

So why ask questions instead of trying to have all the answers? Perhaps because it is impossible to have all the answers - and sometimes questions can identify more possibilities and new ways of thinking about the same old issues.

Vineet Nayar, CEO of the $3.5 billion global IT services firm, HCL Technologies keeps a list of twenty questions and makes time to think about them on a regular (almost daily) basis. Sometimes the most simple of questions can be the most thought provoking. The things he asks can easily be relevant for a non-profit. Things like:

  • Would my children (or my employees' children) want to work/volunteer/donate in/to a company like mine?
  • What would happen if there were no CEO at my company (or at any company in the world)?
  • Who would want to work/volunteer/donate to our organisation?
  • What ideas are we fighting for?
  • What do we stand for (and what are we opposed to)?
  • Why does what we do matter?

We like the idea of questions being asked and explored as a group as they generate more solidarity, engagement and progress. This is how contributors to an organisation can help define its future and buy-in to its success and prosperity. 


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Is there room for a Third Sector Roundtable?

Tuesday, August 09, 2011
We pose the questions of whether a there is a local requirement for a Third Sector Roundtable. We are suggesting a new amalgam, at a high and therefore influential level, with the purpose of attracting movers and shakers in our industry who collectively can make a meaningful difference in advancing our interests and public perception. 

New Zealand is lacking a credible representative body like the Australian Association Forum and Not-for-Profit Network. This idea was suggested by a notable charity chairman in a recent issue of Management magazine. He promoted setting up of a body of leading volunteer leaders, not unlike the New Zealand Business Roundtable, to serve as a think tank and ideas generator for both strands of non–profit association and charity interests. There are at present two organisations set up to serve association executive and charity trustees, but neither can lay claim to being singularly successful in establishing a representative membership base. 

One of our trustees attended the recent Australian Association Forum annual conference in Brisbane, which attracted 460 participants. This is an extension of previous conversations we have had with our Australian colleagues as we work together to align more closely. We anticipate that this will enable us to provide you with a way to access a range of facilities and services with international connections. We would welcome enquiries for further information on these subjects.

From the floor:

Consider the following scenario posed by one of our subscribers:
  • 80% membership from the available sector
  • Large and rapidly growing associate membership (suppliers and others related to the industry sector)
  • Currently holding a very successful conference
  • Successful topic-specific seminars
  • Good take up of sponsorship opportunities
  • Paid advertising for self-generated newsletters and magazines
  • I am sure that I have a significant proportion of the readership saying – ‘how can I get me some of that!’.

What we find very encouraging is that the manager of this particular entity is not happy to sit on his/her laurels. Rather they are asking – how can I make this even better? So, I have agreed to put it out to our subscribers to feed back to us if you would be so kind:
  • What other revenue-generating avenues are there
  • How to cut costs without cutting services

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. We can also publish your response without reference – so come on, forward your suggestions and we can get a consolidated approach to helping make your associations and charities more effective and efficient. Send your responses to rosemary@associations.org.nz

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Charities Commission role debate continues….

Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Borne out of a perceived need for an independent body to support charities, the Charities Commission was founded in 2005. The basic requirement was a commission to ‘promote public trust and confidence in the charitable sector’ - as recently pointed out by Dave Henderson of ANGOA, the Association of Non-governmental Organisations of Aotearoa.

Prior to this, the IRD would decide if an organisaton had donee status, giving advice around how this may apply to the charity.

Now the process is:
  • The Trust deed is written and then incorporated
  • The Registrar of Charitable Trusts in the Ministry of Economic development will incorporate the trust based on the trust deed that has been submitted
  • Application is made to the Charities Commission for registration
  • IRD has the final say around tax status

The Charities Commission at this stage can challenge the applicant after the trust is incorporated and therefore override the Registrar. We question if this is an acceptable process. For smaller charities looking apply for charitable status, it can sometime be quite an arduous process. Just as an overview:
  • The assessment and approval process can take between 6-8 weeks.
  • If the applying charity is ‘knocked back’ then the response process can be a time consuming and costly matter
  • If final resort is through the high court, cost is a prohibitive factor for most

There has been some concern and recent high profile cases around certain charities being deregistered. This highlights one of the current roles of the Commission, which is to monitor the activity of charities and carry out whatever action is required as a result. The Charities Commission has ‘copped a lot of flack’ for this, but let’s face it – it’s a dirty job, and someone’s got to take responsibility for it.

So then, how does the independent nature of the Commission remain so if it is absorbed into Internal Affairs? Will it solve some of the issues that are being experienced currently? We see merit in change, and look with interest to see how this change is managed.

To read the full article by Dave Henderson click here

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Charities Commission calls for candidates

Sunday, March 13, 2011
We have been advised that candidates are being sought for The Charities Commission. The Commission candidate positions have a number of functions that are intended to promote public trust and confidence in the Charitable sector including registration, education, and monitoring and investigations.

Comprising between 5 and 7 members, The Minister is seeking candidates who possess indepth legal knowledge with particular emphasis on trust law. Candidates are also sought with:
  • leadership and strong governance skills;
  • experience in public administration especially in respect to regulatory policy;
  • knowledge and first hand experience of the charitable sector.

Terms are for up to three years and members may be reappointed.

Candidates that are early in their career, and /or reside in the South Island are particularly welcomed.

Nominations are to be sent to Minister Turia's office, or emailed to Kathryn.Paton@parliament.govt.nz no later than Wed 30 March 2011.
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How do New Zealanders Give?

Sunday, March 13, 2011
The Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector (OCVS) has been conducting some interesting research around ‘Generosity indicators’. These indicators outline results around volunteering, what percentage of people donated, median dollars donated and donated goods. The results demonstrated a stable environment in the middle of last year. There are also some very interesting links to lifestyle, attitudes and consumer preferences for example:

* Compared to the average person, the estimated 1,035,000 people who volunteered in the June quarter 2010 were:
  • 20 percent more likely to go to the gym at least twice a week
  • 47 percent more likely to have at least one cup of fresh coffee per day
  • 23 percent more likely to buy New Zealand made products

We suggest there are opportunities in linking such preferences and lifestyle choices to align non-profit entities with donor market segments. OCVS are looking to be able to release the latest data to the market within the next couple of months and we will provide an update as it comes to hand. If you would like an update on the full results of the survey click here

Also you can contact us at NZARC for more information about potential uses for this information.
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Partner profile

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
As we mentioned in our last newsletter, we are thrilled to welcome Debitsuccess as a sponsor for the Marketing byAssociation conference.

Debitsuccess is Australasia’s largest full-service direct debit company, providing flexible payment services for a wide range of industries, including fitness centres, sports clubs, insurance companies and schools. Debitsuccess’ services are also used by charities to make donor gifting easy – or associations to make member payments effortless.

With more time taken with administration tasks, wouldn’t it be great to have someone chasing up promised payments from your donors or members? Debitsuccess a simple way to do this which will save you time and effort and ensure your precious funds are used for your cause, rather than for administration purposes. This frees up your time to focus on more important, strategic tasks.

The advantage to you is that Debitsuccess is able to tailor its service to your organisation’s unique needs, utilising cutting edge technology which is supported by a large call centre based in Auckland. An example of Debitsuccess’ latest technology is its Online Management Gateway (OMG) which allows its clients’ customers/donors to make a financial arrangement or commitment via the internet without there having to be intervention or involvement by the association or charity.

Debitsuccess currently assists organisations such as the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and the YMCA, allowing them to focus on their core business.

For more information about how Debitsuccess can help your organisation, call 09-4810498 or visit www.debitsuccess.co.nz
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