YMCA Key Leaders Forum

9 Juen 2007

Taloha ni, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka, Namaste, Kia orana koutou katoatoa, Ia Orana, Gud de tru olgeta, Talofa, Kia ora tatau and Warm Pacific Greetings to you all this morning.

It is a pleasure to be here and address you this morning as the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, on behalf Youth Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta who is currently in Uganda.

I would like to acknowledge:

- Your New Zealand President, Lindsay McKenzie;
- National Executive Officer Ric Odom;
- And a special welcome to Bob Nicholson, CEO of YMCA Australia.

I understand that many of you staff, board members, trustees from YMCA's across New Zealand and guests from Australia have travelled long distances to be here today.

Before I begin I would also like to acknowledge the distance that YMCA has travelled over the last 152 years.

The contribution the YMCA has made in developing the MIND, BODY and SPIRIT of New Zealanders through the many programmes and services offered by all your local YMCA's is immense.

Today I would like to speak to you about three things firstly, a bit about the key theme of this Forum leadership and young people, secondly, about the working relationship between the Ministry of Youth Development and YMCA, and thirdly the key announcements concerning youth in our government's 2007 Budget.

Today's forum is about you, about your passion and commitment for young people, about your commitment and dedication to your communities, and most of all about your future as the YMCA movement locally, nationally and internationally.

Voluntary groups and charitable agencies like the Y are skilled at adjusting to economic and social changes, are in touch with world trends and opportunities, are comfortable with new technologies, and often have relative freedom to move in a way that government does not.

Our Labour-led government is committed to building strong, sustainable and connected communities. Strong groups like local YMCA equals strong communities. Strong communities equals a strong nation.

As the Government we know we need to work in partnership with local bodies such as YMCA to encourage local solutions for local issues.
We recognise the wealth of skill, experience and good will offered by the many volunteers and paid staff working through the Y.

One of the key themes for today's forum is around working with young people, and developing the leaders of tomorrow. The YMCA's commitment to "Building Strong Kids, Strong Families, Strong Communities" is important for New Zealand.

Developing leadership skills amongst young people is critical to our nation's Economic Transformation. Confident young leaders will ensure we continue to grow our economic and social wealth, develop employment opportunities, and increase foreign investment and entrepreneurship.

Young leaders are also critical to building our sense of National Identity: the concepts of civic pride, citizenship and social inclusion.

As a collective, we New Zealanders come in all shapes, sizes and shades and I believe we need a diverse range of young leaders who not only reflect our diversity but can also lead the New Zealand of the future.

Encouraging young leaders in our communities is also very important.

Young peoples' involvement in their local communities cover every niche from youth councils and local government to their involvement with working with at-risk youth, local DHBs and community organisations to the environment, schools, design, sport, law and the arts.

Good leaders create good communities.

And by definition, all young people will be the leaders of tomorrow's families and communities. I know and you know that strong families; with healthy confident kids; creating their own safe communities; is a huge priority for you and for us.

The local YMCA associations are important partners for the delivery of positive youth development services.

I understand that for many years the YMCA have been delivering programmes like the New Zealand Conservation Corps, on behalf of the Ministry of Youth Development.

Your delivery of these and many other programmes have been critical in ensuring young people have the opportunity to realise their full potential.

The New Zealand Conservation Corps programmes are one example of how you have contributed towards achieving the government's priority of ensuring all young people have the opportunity for employment, education or training.

In 2007 we now have areas of the country where there are no under 25 year olds registered as unemployed for those of us who have been around a while and have been through tough times, this is an absolutely monumental achievement.

The YMCA is a key partner in supporting the Ministry's sector development project. The government recognises the invaluable work delivered by youth service organisations and by youth workers.

The Ministry's work programme over the next year will ensure those working with young people have accessible opportunities to enhance their skills and develop their learning around best practice approaches to positive youth development opportunities.

I wish to speak a bit about the recent announcements in the Budget for young New Zealanders.

Dr. Michael Cullen's 8th Budget continues our government's good work of implementing polices that invest in people, rebuild infrastructure and grow our economy.

You will have all heard about our Labour-led government's new KiwiSaver policy. Our visitors from Australia will already be familiar with state-administered superannuation savings schemes.
KiwiSaver is our answer to address our country's poor savings record and to increase our future financial security.

The scheme is simple. Open an account and you receive $1000 from the government. Contribute 4% of your salary and the government and your employer will chip in as well.

I have heard of some confusion around whether non-profits who don't pay tax will be eligible for the KiwiSaver employer tax credit.

I can assure you that the YMCA and other non-profits will be eligible for the KiwiSaver employer tax credit of up to $20 per week from the government per paid employee in the scheme. This fully covers the compulsory contribution of 1% for the 2008 year.

The Budget provided a range of new funding and initiatives directed at our youth.

In the community and voluntary sector, the budget provided:

- Funding of more than $20 million over the next two years will help community organisations deliver services that support New Zealand's children, young people and their families;

- A further $2 million for the training and support of people working to prevent family violence in Maori whānau and communities;

- And the rebate threshold of $1890 on charitable donations has been removed, to reward and encourage more charitable giving. This is fantastic news for people who donate and for charitable organisations such as yours who receive donations.

In health, there is:

- A four-year investment of an extra $124 million in child and youth health;

- Heavy investment in a range of suicide prevention initiatives as part of the New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy, launched last year;

- Substantial funding to support sexual health education and reducing sexually transmitted infections.

- And a social marketing campaign to raise awareness of the risks of taking drugs.

In education:

- We are investing in our kids and building 14 new schools, 180 new classrooms and 10 new school gyms;

- Increasing in school operational funding by an extra $140 million;

- Investing in out of school services, to give parents more support;

- And we are investing $50 million in schools to implement the Healthy Eating, Healthy Action plan to reduce obesity, diabetes and related diseases.

And in youth development:

- There is a further $700,000 over the next year to support the Turn Your Life Around and Project K mentoring programmes for young people.

I could go on to also mention new investments in tertiary education, youth justice and sport and recreation.

But I wish to now conclude by saying a big thank you to YMCA. Thank you for the wonderful work you do, day in day out, in and for our communities.

You have been doing this great work for over 150 years. I know it is appreciated and valued by many, and you deserve to be recognised for this.

I wish you all the best for this Forum and for the future.

Meitaki Maata.

ends

© Scoop Media