Benefit rates to increase

Benefits and Superannuation payments will increase from tomorrow, says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.The increase of 1.96% means benefits and pension rates keep pace with increases to the cost of living.”National is the first Government to enshrine in law, an automatic increase in benefits in line with CPI adjustments. This ensures fairness and certainty for those reliant on Government support,” says Ms Bennett.On top of the flat adjustment for cost of living increases, Superannuation rates will be further adjusted to bring them up to 66% of the net average wage.Therefore, New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension rates will increase by a total 2.31% ensuring older New Zealanders benefit from increasing wage levels.”National promised to maintain super and veteran payments at 66 per cent of the net average weekly wage and we’re delivering on that promise,” says Ms Bennett.Welfare benefits, foster care allowance, student allowances and loans will also increase from tomorrow and income thresholds for the Community Services Card will rise as well.The increase in the rates of benefits and allowances reflects the 1.96% change in the Consumers Price Index for the year to 31 December 2009.”These changes will increase New Zealand’s spending on benefit and pensions by more than $240 million per year,” says Ms Bennett.Further information about the increases to benefit rates, NZ Super, Veteran’s Pensions and student allowances can be found at www.msd.govt.nz

The DCC’s Puaka/Matariki Contestable Fund is open for applications with $6,000 available for distribution.The fund will accept applications:

• from all individuals and groups/organisations
• for events or projects which celebrate the season and the significance of Puaka/Matariki in the greater Dunedin area

It will consider applications that include the purchase of kai.The fund will not accept applications:

• for private events (e.g. ‘invite only’, or ‘in-house’ events)
• for events run outside of the DCC boundaries
• to fund the purchase of items that personally benefit any individual/roopu or organisation

This is the second year the DCC has made this fund available for the Puaka/Matariki celebration and DCC Puaka/Matariki Co-ordinator Gina Huakau says, “It is great that the DCC saw this gap and has been able to allocate this fund. There are some amazing ideas for events from the community and sometimes they just need some support to get started.”Ms Huakau is available for consultation hui with those who need more information about Puaka/Matariki or the Contestable Fund. Applications close 5.00pm Friday 23 April 2010 and forms are available at www.dunedin.govt.nz/puakamatarikiThe Puaka/Matariki Calendar will run from 30 May through to 6 June for 2010 although there may be events that fall outside these dates and we will endeavour to promote these on the calendar if appropriate and/or practical.

Contact details

Contact Gina Huakau, Puaka/Matariki Co-ordinator on 03 474 3647 or 021 264 4563.

A group of Wellington performers will wow audiences at the World Expo opening ceremony in Shanghai next month.

The symphonic haka group features the violinist Elena, opera singer Zane Te Wiremu Jarvis and kapa haka group, Te Ihi Connections. It will be directed by acclaimed artistic director and choreographer Tanemahuta Gray.They are the only cultural group representing New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific at the 30 April opening ceremony.The Shanghai World Expo is being held from May to October 2010. Seventy million people are expected to visit the expo and about 200 nations will take part in the global event, showcasing themselves through trade, business and culture. The expo has a budget of US$4 billion.The invitation for the group to perform came about through the official relationship between Wellington City Council and the city of Shanghai.Mayor Kerry Prendergast is delighted the symphonic haka group will represent Wellington. “We are proud to be taking Wellington performers to the expo and I am looking forward to showing the world what fantastic talent we have in our city.”Kapa haka tutors Merlene and Wi Wehi say their 20 performers are excited to be part of the opening ceremony entertainment line-up. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our group. All of them are on cloud nine and proud to be representing their country in this way,” says Merlene.The opening ceremony will be broadcast worldwide.

Celebrate, reward and recognise your fantastic volunteers by nominating them in the Intrepid Travel National Volunteer Awards.  One lucky volunteer will be off an adventure of a lifetime with Intrepid Travel.Last year Good Magazine launched a National Volunteer Award with lead partner Intrepid Travel and in 2010 we’re stoked to be involved.So what’s it all about?Quick smart head over to Good Magazine and get all the details.Nominate your super star volunteers and forward the information to your industry colleagues.  The more organisations and volunteers involved means more spotlights will shine on volunteering.Don’t delay – get the details and get nominating!

The Support for Volunteering Fund (SVF) promotes and supports volunteering in Aotearoa New Zealand.The 2010 /11 funding round is currently open and closes on Monday 12 April 2010 at 4.00 pm.The SVF was established in 2001 to promote and support volunteering in New Zealand. It is one of the many Crown-funded schemes designed to build strong, sustainable communities / hapū / iwi.Funding of $402,000 has been allocated to the following areas in the 2010 / 11 funding round.

• Volunteering New Zealand (VNZ) – In 2001, the SVF supported the establishment of Volunteering New Zealand, a national association of autonomous and independently organised volunteer centres and organisations committed to volunteering. Up to $80,000 is available for VNZ. For more information on Volunteering New Zealand, visit www.volunteeringnz.org.nz .
• Regional Volunteer Centres – Regional Volunteer Centres recruit and train volunteers, promote good practice and aim to build capacity in the community and voluntary sector. Up to $242,000 is available for regional volunteer centres.
• Māori, Pacific and ethnic volunteering projects and innovative projects – The Fund supports capability-building projects in the above communities to promote and support volunteering. The SVF also funds organisations to develop innovative ways to promote and support volunteering. Up to $80,000 is available for all of these projects.

Māori, Pacific and ethnic groups

The concept of volunteering is different from the New Zealand mainstream idea of volunteering for Māori, Pacific and ethnic communities.

• For Māori, ‘Mahi aroha’ is the term that most closely translates to the concept of voluntary work. Mahi aroha is the unpaid activity performed out of ‘duty’ and caring for others in accordance with the principles of tikanga to maintain mana and rangatiratanga, rather than for financial or personal reward.
• Pacific people define volunteering as ‘serving one another’. A definition for volunteering for Pacific people needs to take into account spirituality, cultural responsibility and obligation as well as the protocol and value bases of each pacific group.
• Ethnic people think of volunteering as the fulfilment of family and social obligations and responsibilities. These activities revolve around helping, sharing and giving, first to their own family, closely followed by their extended families, then to their own ethnic communities and finally to the wider community.

With this understanding in mind, the Fund will support projects that:

• promote information sharing, networking and development of resources that support Māori, Pacific and ethnic volunteering (e.g. organise workshops for volunteer leaders to share their knowledge and ideas, develop resource materials for volunteers)
• respond to specific cultural values and needs (e.g. training for roles on marae such as Kaikaranga, upskill existing volunteers); or
• encourage, recognise and promote volunteers as community leaders (e.g. encourage youth volunteers to be future community leaders, organise volunteer recognition awards).

Applicants are encouraged to create their own project ideas. Project costs are not restricted to specific items.For full details visit: http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Community-Funding-Support-for-Volunteering-Fund?OpenDocument .

Delegation from European Parliament visiting NZ Parliament

A delegation from the European Parliament is making a 3 day visit to the New Zealand Parliament from today, 30 March 2010.Comprising members from the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Finland and Romania, the delegation represents five political groups in the European Parliament.They will meet with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and attend question time in the House.Meetings are planned with various government agencies, including the Ministry of Economic Development, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Delegation members will participate in a round table discussion on climate change, chaired by Dr Jan Wright, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. They will also attend special party caucus meetings.The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee and the Primary Production Committee will also meet with the European Parliament group.Prior to their arrival in Wellington, the delegation visited a Canterbury sheep and beef farm and held discussions at the University of Canterbury on research collaboration.New Zealand’s relationship with Europe is important and this 17th visit by a European Parliament delegation is an opportunity to further develop the relationship.The group departs New Zealand on Thursday 1 April.

Southland District Council will be focusing on some new youth initiatives after receiving funding from the Ministry of Youth Development.Council senior policy analyst Wayne Heerdegen said a youth forum will be held in June/July in Invercargill by the Southland, Gore and Invercargill Youth Councils.”We have received $20,000 from the Ministry of Youth Development towards this project, which gives us the ability to put together something relevant to our youth in the south.”The forum will identify, clarify and report to Southland councils the issues of importance for young people in Southland, and will assist with the development of leadership skills for them.”Specific issues or projects identified during the forum will then be developed further by a focus group under the supervision of the Our Way Southland Regional Co-ordinator.”This is an opportunity for youth to influence outcomes and play a part in future development. We will be looking at developing what are and what should be youth priorities,” Mr Heerdegen said.Southland District Council has also received funding of $2000 from the Ministry to send three youth council representatives to the Youth in Local Government conference in Porirua later this year and a futher $500 to assist with Youth Week in May.”It is important to develop youth leadership and this will all help with that and also with youth being involved in and understanding local government.”

The Nelson Suter Art Society ‘Autumn Exhibition’ is a selection of recent art works by working members in a variety of media. The Society is also pleased to announce three guest artists whose work will accompany this exhibition:Tony Cribb is a Christchurch–based painter known for his quirky but dark humoured illustrative style.Tim Wraight is well known in the region as a carver and sculptor working primarily in wood and presents new work in his distinctive and culturally diverse style.Robin Slow is a painter based in Takaka whose work is inspired by Māori mythologies and narratives. He has recently held successful solo exhibitions in Christchurch and Taranaki.Image credits: Tony Cribb, ‘Tin Man 373 The Litterbug 2009′. Mixed media on cnvas 250 x 250 mm. Courtesy of the artist.More Information.

Autumn Exhibition Nelson Suter Art Society at The Suter Art Gallery is on these dates:

• 1st April 2010
• 2nd April 2010
• 3rd April 2010
• 4th April 2010
• 5th April 2010
• 6th April 2010
• 7th April 2010
• 8th April 2010
• 9th April 2010
• 10th April 2010
• 11th April 2010
• 12th April 2010
• 13th April 2010
• 14th April 2010
• 15th April 2010
• 16th April 2010
• 17th April 2010
• 18th April 2010
• 19th April 2010
• 20th April 2010
• 21st April 2010
• 22nd April 2010
• 23rd April 2010
• 24th April 2010
• 25th April 2010

Zealandia: The Karori Sanctuary Experience will turn the clock back 1000 years this Friday, 2 April when it opens a new permanent exhibition dedicated to showcasing New Zealand’s natural history.

Go back to 1000 AD with Zealandia - the Karori Sanctuary experienceStep back in time to before humans arrived and meet creatures from a long-lost world such as the giant moa and fearsome Haast’s eagle. An immersive ’sound and light theatre’ tells the story of human settlement and its impact on New Zealand’s wildlife, and visitors can learn what places like Zealandia are doing to put the fragments of old New Zealand back together.Admission for the exhibition and entry to the sanctuary costs $28 for adults and $14 for children 5 - 16 years. Under-fives and members have free entry.We have three year-long family passes (two adults and three children) worth $99 each to give away. Email marketing@wcc.govt.nz to go into the draw by 12 noon tomorrow (31.03.10). Winners will receive their pass when they next visit Zealandia. This competition is for Wellington city residents only.Zealandia is closed this week in preparation for the opening on Friday. Zealandia is located on Waiapu Road. Just take the number 3 bus straight to the gate. Opening hours are from 10.00am - 5.00pm daily. For more information, visit the Zealandia website or phone (04) 920 9200.

This years Anzac Commemorative Parade in Birkenhead, Auckland will have additional celebrations.

 Art4Anzac   is a separate Art Charity Exhibition supported by the Birkenhead Returned Services Association (RSA) , & presented by the PositiveNZ Trust

The  good people at Fernz Birkenhead have donated the Venue & Accommodation package after hearing of this wonderful concept of honoring the past and helping people for the future.

More Information : www.art4anzac.com 

Hunt for fruit instead of Easter eggs at Auckland Zoo

The Just Juice Great Fruit Hunt is on at Auckland Zoo these April school holidays from Friday, 2 April to Sunday, 18 April.

To teach kids about the importance of healthy foods in the animals’ diets and relate it back to their own, the zoo will have five free shows in the Discovery and Learning courtyard every day (10am, 11am, noon, 1pm and 2pm) with spot prizes to be won.

Then, instead of the traditional Easter egg hunt, children will be given a map to go on the great fruit hunt around the zoo, searching for seven images of pieces of fruit.

They mark on their map where they find the corresponding fruit, drop their completed entry form in the competition box, and go into the draw to win some great Just Juice prize packs.

As well as the show and the treasure hunt, there will be special animal encounters with our fruit-loving Rainbow lorikeets, lemurs, orangutans and more.

There will be plenty to see and do at the zoo these April school holidays, so make sure you bring the kids along. Normal zoo admission applies. Visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nz or phone 360 3805 for more information.

The April school holidays at Auckland Zoo are sponsored by Just Juice.

Minister to launch Bougainville library project

Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chris Finlayson will launch the Bougainville library project and website tomorrow at a function in Wellington.The Bougainville Library Trust was established by writer Lloyd Jones, author of Mister Pip, a novel set on the island of Bougainville during the crisis in the 1990s.In 2007, Mister Pip gained international acclaim winning the Commonwealth Literary Award and being short-listed for the Booker Prize. It also drew international attention to the ten year long crisis in Bougainville.In the late 1990s the New Zealand government initiated peace talks.  The introduction of peacekeepers brought an end to the hostilities on Bougainville.”Building a library and cultural centre is an important part of the island’s future.  A new library will address a younger generation and do much to rebuild the community’s cultural capital and confidence,” says Lloyd Jones.The Trust is working with Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) and the Bougainville Heritage Foundation, which is based in Arawa (Bougainville’s capital), to build and stock a library and cultural centre.A casualty of the Bougainville crisis was the loss of meeting places and books.  A community library will provide a home for both.  It will be a place to tell stories and read the stories of others.In New Zealand the Trust is currently fundraising for the Bougainville library. Donations can be made and further information about the library project can be found on the Bougainville library website - www.bougainvillelibrary.org.nzAlready a number of Australian and New Zealand publishers have donated $30,000 worth of books for the library.

Tripping the light fantastic

It’s time for Christchurch to slip on its dancing shoes! Ball gowns and evening suits will be coming out for the third New Zealand Spinal Trust Charity Ball, held on Saturday 10 April at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu.Following the success of the two previous balls, the 2010 ball promises to be the biggest ever. Top function band Barock will again provide the music, and continuous hors d’oeuvres will be served by Alchemy Café, with beer, wine and fruit juice available until midnight from the bar.The evening includes a live auction offering huge range of top quality items that include a Hamner Weekend Experience, with accommodation and jet boat tickets. Capture the memories on an Olympus Mju 9000 camera, valued at $649, from Photo & Video.Other prizes are an $10,000 Bayleys Real Estate home sell package, two nights plus breakfast in Christchurch’s most luxurious hotel room at The George Hotel, and a year’s membership for two people at Les Mills. Sports memorabilia, jewellery, art works and restaurant vouchers are amongst the auction items on offer.Funds raised go to support the programmes run by the New Zealand Spinal Trust, including the rehabilitation programme Kaleidoscope, the Allan Bean Centre Library & Information Centre and the Useful People volunteer programme.Tickets to the ball are $120 per person, reduced to $100 person for groups of 10 or more. To reserve your tickets, visit www.nzspinaltrust.org.nz/ball.asp. The New Zealand Spinal Trust website can be found atwww.nzspinaltrust.org.nz.

The Way2Go and Nelson City Council initiative, the “In Your Neighbourhood” Recreation Programme will be back in action, providing activities for young and old these school holidays.The programme visits a series of local parks and is delivered by experienced coaches and youth workers. All equipment is provided.Matt Shipman, Council Recreation Assistant says “While the programme is aimed primarily at 3 to 18 year olds, we encourage everyone, especially families, to come along and give it a go. It’s a great chance to try a sport you haven’t tried before, have a running race with your kids or even a picnic. It is free and everyone is welcome to join us.”“In Your Neighbourhood” will be running from Tuesday 6 April to Friday 16 April on Tuesdays, Thursday s and Fridays as follows:

• Tues 6 April  - Victory Square 10am -12pm and The Botanics 1pm – 3pm
• Thurs 8 April – Tahunanui Sports Field – 1pm – 3pm.
• Friday 9 April – Octopus’s Garden Stoke 10am – 12pm and Tahunanui Sports Field – 1pm – 3pm
• Tues 13 April – The Botanics 1pm- 3pm
• Thurs 15 April – Victory Square 1pm – 3pm
• Fri 16 April Octopus’s Garden Stoke 10am – 12pm and Tahunanui Sports Field – 1pm – 3pm

Look for the Way2Go trailer and the staff are hard to miss in their bright orange t-shirts.  You can also follow updates on twitter: https://twitter.com/inyrneighbrhoodCouncil has been running “In Your Neighbourhood” since 2007, delivered by HYPE- GS as part of the local Way2Go programme.

Alice Yuretich, a Year 11 Student from Kaitaia College has won the 2010 Race Unity Speech Award semi-finals at Whangarei Library and will go forward to the finals in Auckland on Friday 9 April.

Photo of the winner, Alice Yuretich, with Inspector Paul Dimery,NZ Police, who was presenting her with a certificate. Alice and Luji Lu, a year 10 student from Whangarei Boys High School, both competed in the semi finals with Alice winning $100 and the a chance to win $750 for herself and $750 for her school at the finals in Auckland.Senior students representing schools throughout the area spoke on the topic, ‘The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord’.Peter Bruce was Chief Judge of the panel that included Carla Klink and Te Warahi Hetaraka and Inspector Paul Dimery who represented the NZ Police.The speech contest, initiated by the NZ Baha’i Community 10 years ago, is supported by NZ Police, the Human Rights Commission and the Office of Ethnic Affairs.  Acknowledging its value in promoting race relations awareness among young people, the NZ Police has committed a $50,000 sponsorship to support the event over a five year period.For further information: Sue Scott, Children’s Services Librarian, Central Library, phone: 09 430 4206