News & Events

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

Media release - Political parties asked for commitment to reducing income inequality

03/11/2011

The NZ Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) is inviting all Party leaders and political candidates to commit to building a fairer New Zealand by actively supporting policy measures that reduce income inequality and bring people closer together. read more

Church Leaders call for shared responsibility toward a fair society

30/10/2011

Church leaders are calling on all political parties to acknowledge their shared responsibility to provide a just share of society’s wealth and resources for all its citizens, especially the most vulnerable. read more

Reducing income inequality benefits Māori

14/10/2011

Aotearoa New Zealand has seen the fastest growth in income inequality among the wealthy countries of the OECD and the impact of this increasing inequality ishitting Māori the hardest. The good news is that Māori will undoubtedly benefit from reducing inequality. read more

Left Further Behind - Inequality Hurts Our Children the Most

13/09/2011

The recently released report from Child Poverty Action Group “Left Further Behind” is another document recording the heart-breaking damage being done to our children who are missing out on the food, housing, healthcare and education that we would wish for every child in this country. read more

NZCCSS Services for Older People Conference 2012

05/09/2011

“Moving Forward Together – Nuku Tahi – Hikoi Tahi – Maranga Tahi” NZCCSS Services for Older People Conference, 29th -30th March 2012 Wellington read more

Increase Benefits for Children & Support for Young People

01/07/2011

New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) is calling for greater levels of support, including lifting benefit payments, for families with children and for more investment to be made in rangatahi Maori and in Pacific young people. After two years of releasing Vulnerability Reports NZCCSS is distressed to be reporting a real and continuing deepening of vulnerability within New Zealand communities. read more

New Project Targets Inequality in New Zealand

02/06/2011

Leaders from NZ’s major churches are supporting the launch of a new project today, aimed at reducing the gap between the rich and the poor in this country. The NZ Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) is launching Closer Together Whakatata Mai as a way to highlight the impact of inequality, especially income inequality, for our nation. read more

Budget 2011 – Cementing the Inequalities

19/05/2011

The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) social service agency members have identified that much of the misery and social disease they see every day in their communities is caused by the ever increasing inequalities in our society. The changes in the Working for Families regime will see lower income families getting some small increases in their weekly wage, but this will be more than negated by the additional costs imposed by Kiwi Saver and the increases in costs on food, petrol, accommodation and other basic necessities. read more

Recession Impacts: Angry children & impoverished families

28/03/2011

Today’s Vulnerability Report shows families cannot afford any cuts to essential social services. This report, released today, shows that more and more families are finding they cannot provide the essentials for their children and are seeking support from social service agencies. Trevor McGlinchey from the NZ Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) says that this is impacting on our young peoples’ ability to achieve their potential and resulting in anger and tension in families. read more

Anglican Bishops’ praise family violence prevention work

23/03/2011

The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) congratulates the Anglican Bishops who celebrated the prevention of family violence work being carried out in New Zealand Communities. The Anglican Bishops, supported by the Anglican Social Justice Commission, held a short service on the steps of the Wellington Cathedral this morning to draw attention to the family violence prevention work of Christian and other social service agencies. read more

Earthquake Response update to members from NZCCSS

07/03/2011

The past week has seen us at NZCCSS Secretariat working to contribute to a coordinated and long term response to the social services needs for Christchurch – both the immediate needs for help but also into the coming weeks and months. Executive Office Trevor McGlinchey visited Christchurch on 3rd March along with other NGO and Ministry of Social Development officials to meet with Christchurch NGOs. The Ministry of Social Development is also surveying social service organisations affected by the earthquake to assist the recovery effort. read more

Celebrate Beneficiaries - The Heroes of the Recession

22/02/2011

It is the government who is making bad life choices, not beneficiaries! In fact, Trevor McGlinchey from the NZ Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) says beneficiaries are the heroes who are carrying the country through the recession. read more

7th Vulnerability Report Released

09/12/2010

“After two years of ever increasing demand for social services and supports our members are reporting longer waiting lists, fewer resources and the need to ration access to services”, said Trevor McGlinchey, New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) Executive Officer. “The resilience of families is wearing thin. Savings and extended family resources that supported those affected by unemployment and reduced work hours in the early days of the recession are becoming exhausted. More and more families need access to the critical social services provided by Christian and other community agencies”. read more