12. PAULA BENNETT (National) Link to this
to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector
What recent reports, if any, has she received regarding relationships between the community and voluntary sector and the Government?
Hon LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN (Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector) Link to this
I regularly receive a range of reports from officials on the relationship between the community and voluntary sector and the Government.
In the voluntary sector is lafo offered at times in lieu of wages, and does she consider it appropriate for a member of Parliament to accept lafo while working in the community?
Hon LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN Link to this
My understanding is that the issue of lafo is currently being looked at by Cabinet Office.
Tim BarnettHon LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN Link to this
The Labour-led Government initiated the Good Practice in Action Seminar Series, which promotes positive relationships between Government agencies and the community and voluntary sector. Another excellent example of collaboration is the Keeping it Legal resource, which helps community organisations better manage their legal responsibilities—over 6,000 copies have been distributed and it is being reprinted.
Has the Minister received any reports of voluntary labour on a significant scale from members of the Thai community being of particular benefit to one of her parliamentary colleagues, and are those reports in line with her own view of how the voluntary sector should operate?
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Would it be in line with her own view of how the voluntary sector should operate for a group of seven Thais, five of whom had received immigration assistance from Taito Phillip Field, to drive 658 kilometres from Auckland to Wellington in two four-wheel drive vehicles, along with their work tools, to stay at the house at 57 Kinghorne Street then owned by Taito Phillip Field, to do repair work involving both plastering and painting on that house, before driving the 658 kilometres back to Auckland; if not, why not?
Hon LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN Link to this
That would be a good question to put to the Minister of Labour. However, I want to say that over 1 million people in New Zealand are volunteers. They provide enormous social capital to this country, and we are grateful for the economic and social well-being they provide for us.