Join the conversation!
Posted on Thursday, July 29th, 2010 | Posted in Government Relationships | Comments OffMany have read our news item and blog post from our 16 July 2010 New & Views issue expressing reservations about the draft Relationship Agreement with Government. We’re delighted that a number have now joined our conversation! Comments received corroborate what we said, and raise other questions. We encourage our readers to check these out, and please add your own comments to connect to the online conversation we’ve now started!
Also, take a look at what ANGOA (the Association of Non-Government Organisations of Aotearoa) says from it’s last Wellington Roundtable. The group expressed “strong disappointment” at the draft Agreement. They said “it is very high level, but many people expressed disappointment and frustration at this. Here are some of the comments:
- Previous consultations had expressed strong calls for a document more specific than the original 2001 Statement of Government Intentions for an Improved Community-Government Relationship (the SOGI).
- This document is less specific than what we had – its statements were summed up as “we should all be nice to each other” – but Aotearoa New Zealand needs something more substantial than this.
- “Like motherhood and apple pie”, several people said – no-one could disagree with it, but we need something practical that addresses current issues, with accountability in both directions, and this document is no help at all.”
We encourage you to read more on the ANGOA website and tell ANGOA what you think. There is extensive and detailed discussion there raising some further issues about the content of the draft Agreement.
‘Bang the table!’ and give your feedback online about the draft Relationship Agreement direct to the Kia Tutahi-Standing Together steering group, or go to a hui and speak out.