Formation Of Ministerial Reference Group For International Year Of Volunteers 2001

The Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Mark Burton has enlisted the help of experienced volunteers from Kaikohe to Te Anau to assist in the organisation and promotion of International Year of the Volunteers 2001 (IYV), which runs from 5 December 2000 to 5 December 2001.

Mr Burton, the Minister responsible for the Year, announced the formation of the IYV Ministerial Reference Group today. Members are Denise Henigan, Pam McLeod, Te Warana Ratima, Cheryll Martin, Nick Toonan, Jane Poa, Karen Roberts, John Thornely, Ekara Lewis, Carol Quirk, Bella Tari.

"The Ministerial Reference Group will greatly help in shaping the Year, as well as providing me with a valuable conduit for information and issues surrounding the Year", Mark Burton said.

"The group has been selected both for their contacts and networks within volunteer groups, and also for their grass roots volunteering experience".

In appointing the group Mark Burton said he was mindful of the fact that the Year is about recognising the work that volunteers do both formally (via voluntary groups) and informally.

"Volunteering in New Zealand makes a vital contribution to cohesive society and 'capacity building' despite the fact that many volunteers are modest in relating their accomplishments".

The Group will hold its first meeting in Wellington on 26-27 October; where they will finalise their terms of reference, develop the first draft of a national plan of action for the Year, and elect a Chairperson from within the Group.

Details on the Group’s members follow.

Ministerial Reference Group for International Year of Volunteers 2001

Biographies
Name Skills/Experience Area
Denise Henigan  BA Hons
 Executive Officer, Nelson Volunteer Centre
 Chairperson Nelson Safer Community Council
 Experience at ‘grass roots’ and on Board of Trustees of Nelson District Free Kindergarten, former member of National Council of Women, involvement with Nelson Tasman Healthy Communities, Arthritis Foundation, Trustee on “FRESH’. Nelson
Pamela McLeod  Member of NZ Order of Merit 1998
 Holder of a 1990 Commemoration Medal
 Co-ordinator of Taupo Women’s Refuge, Emergency Housing and Awhina Lodge Society for 23 years
 Committee member of Taupo/Turangi Victim Support, Taupo Budget Advisory Service, Taupo Interchurch Welfare Society Inc and Taupo Council of Social Services
 Member on CYPS Care and Protection Panel for 9 years
 Helped establish Taupo Community Foodbank
 Secretary of Manaia Mafutaga Tokelauan Co-operative Housing
 Involvement in the following: girl’s brigade, contraceptive education, home support, CAB, sexual assault counselling, NZ Housing Network, COGS, and REAP. Taupo
Te Warana Ratima  Volunteers with marae/iwi/hapu groups for Ngati Whatua, including establishing and expanding a regional youth forum providing holiday programmes, wananga on tikanga and local history, and employment creation. Founding member of Te Rito, a consortium of local marae, and a member of the Kaipara Land Claimaints.
 Has been on the Te Awawaroa-Waitakere COGS committee as the Rurally Isolated Sector rep, and is presently a member of the Lottery Youth Auckland Sub-committee.
 Been involved in the Kohanga Reo movement establishing a kohanga at Reweti Marae.
 Was involved as a facilitator in the World Indigenous Youth Conference in 1999.
 Based at Haranui Marae assisting with TOPS training courses. West Auckland
Cheryll Martin  Now working as Regional Manager of the Auckland Volunteer Centre. Cheryll started at the Centre as a volunteer in 1995 as is still contributing many hours as a volunteer to the Centre.
 Worked as a volunteer assisting at her daughter's primary and intermediate schools
 Currently completing her Graduate Diploma in Not for Profit Management with a focus on volunteering and a BA.
 Volunteered for 3 years at Women's Refuge Auckland
Nick Toonen  Presently CEO of New Zealand Association of Citizen’s Advice Bureaux
 Former Executive Director of Volunteering Tasmania
 Former General Manager of the Tasmania AIDS Council
 National Board member of Volunteering Australia for six years, National and state (Tasmania) board member for Australian Council of Social Services and Family Planning Australia, Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, Australian Council for Lesbian/Gay Rights
 Wide volunteering experience in fundraising, supportlines, and radio shows Wellington
Jane Poa  JP, BA
 Manager Hawkes Bay Health Services, Director Pacific Islands Resource Centre
 Formerly self-employed as owner of coffee lounge and private training enterprise, Pacific Stepz Ltd.
 Held various positions within Pacific Islands Training Providers of New Zealand Association - National President, VP, National Secretary, executive member.
 Also various positions within the Cook Islands Community Care Centre, Hawkes Bay, National Advisory Committee for COGS, and the Hastings Safer Community Council Hawkes Bay
Karen Roberts  Presently Community Services Executive, Order of St John
 20 years working in IHC, always as the link between volunteers and paid staff, and a member of 4 branch committees
 Has volunteered for school committees, kindergartens, Playcentres, and as a Sports Coach Welling-
ton
John Thornely  Executive Officer, Palmerston North Community Services Council
 President of Adult and Community Education Association
 Vice President elect, Methodist Church of NZ Palmerston North
Ekara Lewis  Ngati Kahungunu
 Trustee and tutor for the Nga Tane Toa Violence Prevention Trust, which provides violence prevention programmes for boys. Formerly a Development Team member for Nga Tane Toa, and facilitator at the inaugural Nga Tane Toa training programme
 Member of the Maori sub-committee for the Southland Community Education Programme Inc.
 Self employed tourist operator operating a daily shuttle bus service between Te Anau and Invercargill Te Anau
Carol Quirk  Manager Sport Development for Hillary Commission
 Formerly Deputy Director of Historic Places Trust, and Past President of Surf Life Saving New Zealand
 Current active member of Lyall Bay Surf Club, and involved as a volunteer in sport for over 30 years Wellington
Bella Tari  Works with older people, helped develop a positive ageing initiative (Age Well) for both Maori and pakeha
 Is an unpaid health and social services co-ordinator, on committee for delivering home based care for older people.
 Works with marae-based programmes in her hapu eg recently won the Northland Tai Tokerau prison contract via the Ngati Rangi Ahu Whenua Trust, and involved with kaumatua flats and broadly with local and regional community organisations.
Kaikohe

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