Speech: The 2009 Nikau Foundation Corporate Challenge

The 2009 Nikau Foundation Corporate Challenge
Thursday 18 June 2009; 5.30pm
Hon Tariana Turia,
Minister of the Community and Voluntary Sector

(delivered on behalf of Minister Turia)

One of my favourite places in the world is Whangaehu Marae.

When I go home, I know that there will be a small, but enthusiastic group who keep the home fires burning.

In fact we have a saying, Kia mura tonu nga ahi kaa mo te matemateaone – keep the home fires burning so loved ones will always return.

I am forever grateful that the spirit of ahi kaa is maintained by Bubs in the kitchen, George doing the cooking, Alan keeping the lawns neat, Pahia on the paepae, Kiri looking after the books, Michelle caring for the manuhiri, and Toroa fulfilling the special role of kaikaranga.

There are many others – too many to name but always in my mind – who do what they can to fulfil their obligations and responsibilities to our whanau, our hapu, our iwi.

None of these people are paid; there are no contracts for services; we don’t think of them as providers. Some may call them volunteers. I call them whanau.

Around Aotearoa, there are approximately 1200 marae who manage to host occasions on a remarkable scale; who have an organized workforce second to none; who take great pride in operating with enough flexibility to respond to circumstances as they arise.

Indeed, our marae never fail to impress me as huge business operations dedicated towards meeting the needs of the people.

One of the wonderful aspects of being the Minister of the Community and Voluntary Sector, is that the amazing things I see happen on marae, are also often seen in so many areas across our community where dedicated individuals have a passion for meeting the needs of their people.

This week, Volunteer Awareness Week, has been a week full of wonder as I think of all of the selfless service and sacrifice demonstrated by so many individuals, organizations and businesses who do their bit to build strong communities.

And so, when the invitation came from the Nikau Foundation to spend some time with you all, celebrating the Corporate Challenge, it was with genuine pleasure that I took up the opportunity to be here tonight.

The Nikau Foundation is one of eight community foundations throughout the nation, which turn gifts, trusts and legacies into an investment in their local region.

The Nikau Palm, in itself, is a very appropriate symbol to think about the concept of the corporate challenge.

The Nikau Palm – the only native New Zealand palm – has an abundant fruit, a sturdy stem, and multiple uses. Tangata whenua used the nikau leaves in our whare. The top of the stem is fleshy and juicy and could sometimes be eaten. The Nikau also has medicinal properties – it can be used as a laxative; it can be used to relax the pelvic floor muscles and thereby make labour easier, it can even be useful in cases of diarrhea.

So how does that connect, exactly, to the Corporate Challenge?

What we see with the Corporate Challenge and Volunteer Wellington, is that some four hundred volunteers, and over twenty businesses, have literally given life to over forty different projects throughout Wellington, Porirua and the Hutt Valley.

Through one simple principle – the concept of corporate or employee volunteering – a whole range of different outcomes and achievements have occurred.

I’m really impressed by the range of corporates who have been involved with the challenge - such as health organizations, banks, law firms, construction companies, religious groups, farming bodies and local government.

These businesses have worked alongside and in collaboration with central government, local government and community organizations to help build positive futures for our community.

And I want to really acknowledge the way in which you have all contributed towards creating a culture of generosity.

As business benefits, the employees benefit and the communities benefit.

The great thing is that anyone can give volunteering a go – it can be about giving time, giving money, giving in-kind, or those random acts of kindness that we have seen in this corporate challenge.

The range of activities done as part of the challenge reflects the full breadth of volunteering – beach and stream clean ups and plantings, street collecting for non-profit groups, assisting new migrants to settle in, cooking for families with sick children, providing computer and technical knowledge to support donations.

When times are tough, as they undoubtedly are, it is really lovely to be able to celebrate initiatives such as you have demonstrated throughout our communities.

But I want to focus on this challenge of the economic downturn.

As the impact of the global recession is felt here in Aotearoa we are seeing an increasing number of people considering volunteering as an option to keep their skills current, to keep them engaged with other people and to show they are motivated.

Volunteering helps to overcome barriers that can easily occur through long-term unemployment – it keeps people motivated, and helps to develop a vital sense of resilience.

We know, however, that the community sector is often the first line of response to communities, suffering the effects of an economic downturn. And so there are a number of challenges that arise out of that.

Firstly, in times of difficulty, it becomes even more important that collaboration and cooperation become tools of the trade. Finding local solutions to cross-community issues is vital and stronger networks will help to achieve that. The more we can learn to work together, the more likely we can make a real difference to our communities.

Secondly, the Government has decided that it can help to show the value we place on volunteering, by providing tax incentives to encourage volunteering.

The Government has also lifted the limits on the tax relief for charitable donations made by individuals, companies and Maori authorities.

And thirdly, as New Zealanders, as members of our communities, we can all play a part in acknowledging the unsung heroes that keep our communities afloat.

Last year, more than 14,000 volunteers from every sector of the community passed through the doors of Volunteer Wellington and its branches in Volunteer Porirua and Volunteer Hutt.

Volunteer Awareness Week is an opportunity for all of us to say, thank you, and to let you know we appreciate the commitment you have shown.

Whether it is in volunteering centres, or corporate challenges, or at the marae, or at the New Zealand Fire Service or through any of the businesses that allow and encourage employees to participate in community work – what you are doing is fantastic.

And this year, I am really proud that the theme of this week is youth –the world of good they do by volunteering – because I know it augurs well for a future that shows a commitment to strong communities.

I congratulate all of you here for your generosity of spirit and your dedicated efforts to making a better tomorrow.