Time for better co-ordination in local government

You know local government is in dire need of reform when one department funds a group of volunteers to plant trees on some land and another department of the same organisation sends out a bulldozer crew to flatten three years of planting work by the volunteers. Wellington's City Life news broke the story this week - much to the embarrassment of Wellington Regional Council. C'mon guys - how about a bit more co-ordination and communication. You can't afford to burn off community goodwill and volunteer labour.

Clear Election Win for National

The November 8th election gave National a strong win and, with United Future and ACT pre-election support, an outright majority.

The outgoing Prime Minister Helen Clark departed the Labour leadership without rancour. Her commitment to New Zealand cannot be doubted - even if we might debate the way she tried to implement it. Michael Cullen can take pride in a solid track record of debt repayment and a series of surpluses in the government accounts.

The new Labour leadership the Goff-King ticket will ensure a strong parliamentary opposition. It also helps Labour to rebuild support among those traditional supporters who opted to stay at home on election day.

For the incoming government the work is ahead of them. John Key has made a great start with assembling a new Ministry in eight days. He has wisely recruited the support of the Maori Party - as well as ACT. With smart strategic decisions we could be seeing a fundamental re-alignment of political loyalties in NZ politics. The challenge for National is to follow through with their policy programme and to build a strong platform for sustained economic growth, social cohesion and responsible stewardship of the environment.

Being Different Is The Name of the Game in MMP

The news this week featured United Future's decision to go with National. This alignment with one major party pre-election is risky but it helps clarify the position for voters.

During the six years it has worked with Labour United Future can chalk up at least six key policy gains:

a government Discussion Paper on Income Splitting;

central government funding for Transmission Gully;

an extension of daylight saving;

tax cuts for companies;

removing the cap on tax rebates for donations to charities; and

ensuring that people in Kiwisaver can divert 50% of their contributions to their mortgage.

These are significant policy wins for a small centre party which won only 3 seats in Parliament at the 2005 election. In 2008 United Future could be expected to highlight those aspects of its policy programme which distinguish it from the other parties. Otherwise liberal/centrist National-leaning voters will have no reason to vote United when they could vote directly for National (or Labour).

Policies such as support for parents of children with disabilities, extending ECE funding to Playcentres, Income Splitting, respect for the Treaty of Waitangi partnership, ensuring that National sticks to its policies on issues such as a nuclear-free NZ and blocking any backtracks on asset sales, in the first term of any new centre-right government, could all form part of a core policy offering that demonstrates extra value not available from other parties.

In 2008, at a time when small parties have a declining share of the political market, voters are unlikely to vote for a minor party unless they think it adds value to what their preferred major party would otherwise do. In opting to align with National United Future must figure out what distinct policy positions it will highlight to draw centrist voters that might otherwise sit on the Right of Labour or on the Left of National. It's called differentiation and in MMP it's the name of the game.


Disclaimer: In a personal capacity the writer was a former Board member of United Future from late 2003 until early 2006.

Time to provide rates relief to kiwi battlers

The Report of the Local Government Rates Inquiry last year “identified affordability problems for rates for some sections of the community which will increase over the next ten years.” In other words councils are pushing up rates so fast that low income households can’t afford to pay and its going to get worse over the next ten years.

Senior citizens and others on fixed incomes face a constant struggle trying to budget in the face of local authorities which seem to have an insatiable appetite for ratepayer dollars.

It is not acceptable for local authorities to demand rates rises above the rate of inflation and population growth. Rates rises should be capped at the inflation rate plus an allowance for population growth. This will inevitably mean that Councils have to prioritise like the rest of us. Pet projects might have to be delayed or scrapped until they can be afforded.

Vodafone Wellington Lions triumph over Southland

The Wellington Lions carved out a hard fought win over the Southland stags tonight at the Westpac Trust Stadium. There are many lessons to be learned for the final.

Time to face the truth of global financial markets

World share markets are trending downwards. Governments in democracies are desperately trying to hold back the tide of recession by throwing ever- increasing amounts of taxpayers’ money at banks and financial institutions without lasting success. In open competitive markets some businesses rise and others fall – they don’t all rise and rise or rise and plateau.

The sooner shady financial practices based on greedy manipulation of financial products is cleaned out of the financial system – the better. Covering the patient with billions or trillions of band aids will not deal with the underlying problem. The fact is that too many people borrowed too much money and then couldn't afford the repayments when circumstances changed. The banks and finance companies that shovelled out so much debt share the responsibility. Recovering from this will take a while. Yes it will be painful – and not just for the money traders but also for the ordinary wage worker and homeowner battling rising prices for groceries, rates and clothing. As we discovered in the 1970s and 1980s government’s cannot control everything – especially not technological changes, migration patterns or cross-border capital flows. They should not pretend they can. At the same token there is no need for despair. Economic cycles include periods of growth and periods of contraction. This phase will pass.

The wisest thing households and businesses can do right now is to adopt some old-fashioned advice and cut spending on unnecessary items, reduce debt, and look for new household income opportunities. Governments at local and central levels might usefully adopt the same advice.

Prime Minister visits Vodafone Call centre

The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, visited the Vodafone Call centre at Manukau this month. She was there to have morning tea with three competition winners who won a "Morning Tea with the Prime Minister" as a charitable fundraising prize.

The event was covered by a range of media including Prime TV and Radio NZ. The Prime Minister was welcomed to the Call centre by Vodafone CEO- Russell Stanners and the Vodafone Maori Cultural Group by way of a powhiri.

Ms Clark spoke to staff and answered questions from the competition winners on a range of topics.

Playcentres Are Grossly Underfunded

Playcentres are being grossly underfunded. That's the finding of a new report released last week. The report, prepared by Woodhams Research Associates, found that government funding was substantially lower than required for Playcentre to be sustainable due to a systematic discounting on Playcentre costs. It also found that parents are frustrated by the need to waste their time on Ministry of Education red tape rather than providing the programme for their children.

The New Zealand Playcentre Federation said the report highlighted how the government has undermined parents wanting to educate their own children.

Political reaction has been swift with National promising to incorporate Playcentre within the free early childhood funding model and United Future urging action to support Playcentre http://www.unitedfuture.org.nz/default,995,playcentres_being_systematically_under-funded.sm

"We have been trying for years to get the government to recognise the stress they have been putting Playcentre under. Now we have documented evidence of their systematic underfunding" said Playcentre Federation President, Marion Pilkington.

Key findings in the report include:

* The Ministry of Education appears to have ignored 31% of Playcentre costs when calculating funding rates;

* There is no adequate argument for excluding Playcentre from the 20 hours free ECE policy;

* Playcentre members, at centre and association level, have to volunteer for over 2000 hours per year for each centre on activities other than running the educational programme.

* Government policies have discriminated against parent provision of ECE.

"We have always known that Playcentre provides high quality education for our children" said Mrs Pilkington. "The report shows how the Playcentre model of education matches the best international research on high quality outcomes for children and their families as well."

Rural Playcentres often form community hubs and meeting points, especially after the closure of small schools and services such as post offices. It is in the interest of all communities to see that the Playcentre model remains healthy and viable.

"Playcentre calls on all political parties to support our drive for fair funding, effective structural support and reduced bureaucratic red tape" said Marion Pilkington.

The full report is published at www.playcentre.org.nz

Is George Bush The Worst President In America's History?

As the Presidential elections begin to enter the home straight we can take a look at the legacy of eight years of the GW Bush presidency. The popular image of a buffoon in the Oval Office does not necessarily do justice to President Bush. To get a fair assessment we need to look at the evidence and then draw our conclusions. After all an inability to string sentences together is not necessarily an indication of poor statesmanship. This week's Independent www.theindepndent.co.nz
published a very interesting ledger weighing up the legacy of the GW Bush years.

The view of America held by foreigners fell from 58% favourable in January 2001 to 39% favourable in January 2008. But what do non-Americans know about the US? Of more importance is how the Bush Presidency impacted the daily lives of ordinary Americans. The cost of health premiums increased from $US6230 per year to $US12,106 per year; household income actually fell by $1,100. Personal savings rates fell 0.5% compared to an increase of 2.3% to January 2001.

Beyond the household and from the nation's perspective Real GDP growth had been 4% to January 2001 when Bush came into office. Over the past seven years GDP has increased by just 2.6%. The Budget balance went from a $US431bn surplus over the previous three budgets to a $US734 deficit over the previous three budgets in January 2008. National debt increased from $US 5.7trillion to $US 9.2trillion. The number of Americans living in poverty rose from 31.6million to 36.5million.

There are a host of other statistics on the costs of college, price of petrol and the number of new private sector jobs created which all point to a real failure under the watch of the Bush Administration. Sounds like a time for change.

Obama Streets Ahead on Iraq and Education

A very useful summary of the US Presidential candidates positions on major policy issues has been developed by Associated press www.kansascity.com/445/story/765614.html

On the key matter of Iraq Senator McCain: "Opposes scheduling a troop withdrawal, saying latest strategy is succeeding. Supported decision to go to war, but was early critic of the manner in which administration prosecuted it. Was key backer of the troop increase. Willing to have permanent U.S. peacekeeping forces in Iraq."

In contrast Senator Obama: "Spoke against war at start, opposed troop increase. Voted against one major military spending bill in May 2007; otherwise voted in favor of money to support the war. Says his plan would complete withdrawal of combat troops in 16 months. Initially had said a timetable for completing withdrawal would be irresponsible without knowing what facts he'd face in office."

On Education Senator McCain: "Favors parental choice of schools, including vouchers for private schools when approved by local officials, and right of parents to choose home schooling. More money for community college education."

In contrast Senator Obama: "Encourage but not require universal pre-kindergarten programs, expand teacher-mentoring programs and reward teachers with higher pay not tied to standardized test scores, in $18 billion plan to be paid for in part by delaying elements of moon and Mars missions. Change No Child Left Behind law "so that we're not just teaching to a test and crowding out programs like art and music." Tax credit to pay up to $4,000 of college expenses for students who perform 100 hours of community service a year."

Port Nicholson Settlement - A Major Contribution to Justice

The Port Nicholson Block Claims Team have signed a Deed of Settlement with the Crown settling all the historical Treaty claims of Taranaki Whānui at a ceremony at Wellington’s Pipitea Marae.

Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika is a collective that comprises people from a number of Taranaki iwi whose ancestors migrated to Wellington in the 1820s and 30s and signed the Port Nicholson Block Deed of Purchase in 1839.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Michael Cullen said the signing was an important milestone in the relationship between the Crown and iwi in New Zealand’s capital city.

The settlement package includes:

· an historical account, Crown acknowledgements of historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles, a Crown apology, and the innovation of a Statement of forgiveness from Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika to the Crown;

· a cultural redress package featuring the transfer of a number of sites of cultural significance to Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika, including the three islands in Wellington Harbour, with public access rights preserved; and

· a quantum of $25.025 million, as well as the opportunity to purchase a number of Crown properties in Wellington city and the surrounding region.


Dr Cullen deserves full credit for settling this claim and for leading the way in beginning a healing process to enable iwi to move forward.

Biden Adds Foreign Policy Strength to Obama Ticket

Senator Obama's decision to have Senator Joe Biden as his Vice Presidential running mate will add further gravitas to the Democratic ticket in the US elections this November. Biden is one of America's longest serving Senator's, with two presidential races behind him (1988 and 2008),and immense foreign policy expertise. In choosing Biden Obama has added experience to his youth, an insider's knowledge to his reputation as an anti-establishment figure, and international relations expertise to Obama's domestic policy background. It will be interesting to see the next few polls comparing McCain to Obama - given this latest news.

Time for Wellington To Grow

Recent statistics on staff numbers show that there has been significant growth in public service jobs. This makes Wellington vulnerable to any major staff reductions in the public sector should there be any significant change to government spending in the near term. Wellington needs to develop additonal sources of growth and employment in the private sector. As many investors are finding at to their cost - it pays to diversify.

Economies of scale are well and good but we need to balance the idea of concentrating development in the CBD. From a strategic perspective having all our facilities concentrated around the CBD leaves us vulnerable in the event of an earthquake.

In an age when carbon-based transport is likely to become more expensive we need to consider alternatives. Light rail, broadband, teleworking are all concepts worth exploring. If the city is going to prosper and grow then we need to be open to the outside world and market ourselves globally. We need to attract the people and the capital to invest in modern infrastructure and we need to sell high value products and services in the global marketplace. Perhaps its time to dust off the proposal for a hi-tech business park in the northern suburbs?

Allow local retailers to compete - end council protectionism

Yesterday's Dominion Post editorial exposed the City Council's fast tracking of measures to protect CBD business interests over and above local Johnsonville shop owners. In an age of rising concerns about pollution and increasing petrol prices surely we should allow the market to operate for benefit of local retailers and residents alike?

Progressive liberalism

The word "liberal" has been misused by many groups in recent years. Some see it as a badge for laissez-faire capitalism - despite liberalism's concern with equal opportunity and freedom from poverty, ignorance or superstition. Others, see liberals as soft on crime, supporters of Big Government and the welfare state.
However, a dictionary definition describes liberal as :
"relating to or having social and political views that favour progress and reform" - Collins Concise Dictionary p.853.
Intrinsic in the liberal attitude is a willingness to always look to improve things, to question established assumptions and to find better solutions to the challenges of the day. Freedom and responsibility are at the heart of the liberal philosophy.

Today the greatest threat to liberalism is not monarchist absolutism of the type facing liberals in revolutionary France. Rather it is the desire for freedom without the acceptance of responsibility and the selective blindness regarding the need to broaden freedoms for all sorts of forgotten groups in society. Rebuilding social capital and the linkages that unite local communities is one of the main tasks facing the country today. The party that can rediscover the roots of this type of balanced yet progressive liberalism will be the party that surprises at the election.

Step Change Needed in Economic Performance

New Zealand needs a step change in economic performance if it is to raise the living standards of all its people and to afford the increasingly expensive healthcare treatments now available. In addition we also have a large number of baby-boomers coming through the system to retirement during the next two decades.

Productivity growth, adoption of hi-tech production methods and lower income tax rates are all part of the policy mix required. We also need to agree and implement a NZ Broadband Strategy and build links between our education system, job training and the global marketplace in a way that encourages kiwi companies to remain headquartered here and to be smart about retention of Intellectual Property rights here in New Zealand.

Whichever parties are involved in forming the next government should probably consider convening a NZ Summit of the type David Lange convened after the 1984 election. We need to debate and agree some key national goals and then set about achieving them.

Income Splitting Long Overdue!

The long overdue recognition of at home parents came another step closer this week with the launch of a Discussion Paper by Revenue Minister and United Future Leader - Peter Dunne.

Income Splitting allows parents to split their combined income so that each partner pays less tax. This is a simple way of recognising the valuable role played by parents who choose to work at home raising their own children. The times are changing and there is a groundswell of support for this tax reform. In addition to our own supporters in Parents' Choice 08 - other groups such as various Playcentre groups and Parents As Partners are also rallying support for this change. United Future has led the way in terms of including Income Splitting in its policy programme. Other parties have been asked to consider Income Splitting.

No Nukes Is Good Nukes

Over the past 12 months a number of print and radio news items have appeared extolling the virtues of nuclear power and urging a reconsideration of New Zealand's opposition to nuclear power.

There are at least five good reasons for continuing to oppose nuclear power in New Zealand. These are:
1. Even now there is still no way to safely dispose of highly radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants. If we're going to be good stewards of the environment then we cannot just dump toxic radioactive waste in the Pacific or in the Southern Alps.
2. The risk of nuclear materials falling into the hands of terrorists and the large scale damage that could result. Globally the risk of terrorists getting their hands on nuclear material increases every time another country adopts nuclear power as an energy source. We do not need to be part of that problem.
3. The inability of the pro-nuclear lobby to guarantee the safety of nuclear power plants. Nuclear accidents in the USA (Three Mile Island) and Russia (Cheronobyl) continue to remind us that sometimes our faith in science and human engineering can be misplaced - no matter how many safety systems are in place. The engineers of the Titanic also believed they had a truly safe and unsinkable product. Supporters of nuclear power will argue that life itself can be seen as being one big risk management exercise but frankly when it comes to nuclear power it pays to err on the side of caution.
4 New Zealand has particular geographical challenges such as our terrain and earthquake risks. Even if the case for nuclear power can be made for the USA or France - the challenges for New Zealand and the reasons not to do it are stronger here than elsewhere.
5. The economics don't stack up. The cost of nuclear reactors in the UK is now budgeted at $9billion each. That could fund our entire education or health system for some years. In most countries nuclear power plants rely on taxpayer subsidies to cover the cost of construction. I can think of a lot of other things I'd prefer to use taxpayer subisides for ahead of helping the nuclear power industry.

The nuclear lobby argues that because we have tiny radioactive sources in things like smoke detectors it is not true for us to claim to be "nuclear-free" Therefore - so the argument runs_ we should adopt nuclear power. But there is a huge leap between smoke detectors and nuclear power plants churning out radioactive waste.

As of 2007, the United States had accumulated more than 50,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel from nuclear reactors. Underground storage at Yucca Mountain in U.S. has been proposed as permanent storage. After 10,000 years of radioactive decay, according to United States Environmental Protection Agency standards, the spent nuclear fuel will no longer pose a threat to public health and safety.

Alternative energy sources, such as wind, tidal, solar and geothermal, which do not have the pollutant waste involved with nuclear, remain far better options.

Wellington's Regular Rates Rise

WELLINGTONIANS face another rates rises this year. The average rates increase is likely to be around five percent - almost twice the inflation rate. The Council's Draft Annual Report also recommends increases to fees and charges for sports fields, burials and cremations, and swimming pools.

At a time when central government is urging people to get fit the Council is proposing a 10% increase in fitness centre fees and 5% in learn to swim programmes. Pool entry fees are expected to increase in 2009. At the other end of the spectrum burial and cremation fees will go up by an average of 8.5%.

Surely its time for much greater rigour to be brought to bear on Council spending. Perhaps the Council could focus more on those items that promote the city's economic development - such as improved infrastructure in the north of the City - and less on some of the never-ending series of Council-sponsored events or the rate-payer funded sculptures dotted around the central city?

The Draft Annual Plan will be debated and finalised for consultation at a council meeting on March 27. Wellingtonians will then get their say between April 16 and May 19. For more information visit www.wellington.govt.nz

Time to Renew Local Democracy

Monday, October 15, 2007

When most people of voting age cannot be bothered to vote in local body elections then we should be concerned about the health of our local democracy. With voter participation at just 42% in 2004 and possibly even lower this year we need to start asking questions about the causes of this deterioration in local democracy.

Is it simply voter apathy? Are people so content with arrangements that they see no reason to get involved? Or did the proliferation of voting documents for several elected bodies, using different methods of election, different ways of listing candidates deter people from making the effort?

Having three weeks in which to vote appears to have made the situation worse rather than better as residents put the voting papers to one side to "look at later". Postal voting must also be reviewed. The last minute publicity during the last two days of the elections contributed to the late flurry of votes. Perhaps having a single day as a focus would deliver a greater sense of community participation and voter turnout? Perhaps having local polling booths as in the parliamentary elections would help. Electronic voting, including voting by Txt, should also be considered.

Then there are the broader issues such as whether we should move towards greater inter-council co-operation or amalgamation in order to boost region-wide economic development. However, if we are going to go down that path then voters will want some assurance that local community issues will be treated with respect and that grassroots democracy will not suffer further as decision-making moves even further way from some communities.

The creation of Community Boards would be one way of balancing community input with Councils taking a broader strategic view of things. Compared to Christchurch, and even Auckland, Wellington has a poor track record of facilitating Community Boards. Community Boards allow local residents to help make changes in their neighbourhood. Its one of the few areas in the democractic process where some local participation can bring tangible results close to where people live. As such it helps rebuild a sense of community and helps restore some faith in the democractic process. The cost is relatively small. Based on last weekend's results we cannot afford to do nothing. Change is long overdue. It's time the City Council adopted a consistent approach to Community Boards and facilitated their establishment city wide.

Posted by Roger Ellis at 4:22 PM
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Tana Umaga - Real Life Hero

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Tana Umaga and many of the Vodafone Wellington Lions Rugby team took time out recently to attend a post-training BBQ with local Wellington school children.

The event was a great opportunity for local school boys and girls to watch the Lions players train and to mingle with their sporting heroes afterwards. Local Parliamentarians (and one or two Vodafone staff :-) joined the Lions players as the children gathered autographs and posed for photographs.

Umaga demonstrated again why he is known as one of the great ambassadors of rugby and for New Zealand. His friendly, easy manner and broad smile made it easy for the children and parents to engage with one of the All Black greats.

Last week Tana was on hand again at the Ese Trust lunch to help raise funds for a family struck by two tragic sporting injuries. All credit to organisers, to the sponsors - including Vodafone - and to the Wellington rugby community for arranging this very memorable and successful occasion. Tana and the current and former All Blacks who were well represented at the fundraiser helped make the event as successful as it was. Later the same day Tana took the field to play in his 100th game for the Vodafone Wellington Lions - an amazing achievement in anyone's books.

Kids these days don't seem to have the sorts of real life heroes that used to exist before the days of x-box, paparazzi, doping scandals and so-called reality TV. So it was refreshing to get to meet a leader who has earned the respect of his teamates and the wider community for his real class both on and off the field. This was reflected in the standing ovation from his peers and rugby whanau at the lunch. Farewell Tana. Have a great time in France.


Posted by Roger Ellis at 5:11 PM
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Embracing the Digital Change

Thursday, November 29, 2007

This week over 500 leaders from telecommunications, IT, education, youth, iwi, and government gathered at the Digital Future Summit held at the Hyatt Regency in Auckland to help chart the way forward for ICT in New Zealand.

Among the array of talent presenting were: Barry Vercoe, professor of Music and Media Arts And Sciences at Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA and expat from Paeroa; David Cunliffe, Minister of Communications; Deputy Prime Minister, Michael Cullen, Minister of Broadcasting, Trevor Mallard; Sean McDougal, MD of Stakeholder Design; and Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief Wired plus a host of other luminaries from industry, commerce, government and education.

Prof Barry Vercoe discussed the internationally respected One laptop per child programme led by MIT. In brief the programme enables access to the Internet so that creativity and innovation are encouraged rather than stifled. He discussed ways in which laptops costing no more than $100 were made available to schoolchildren in the Solomon Islands. An e-learning community is then built by networking the laptops together.

We saw the responses and enthusiasm for learning as kids got to have their own laptop and to explore the Internet for themselves. In today's world we all need to be familiar with digital technology if we are going to have a say and have a role to play. We need to ensure that there are no pockets of New Zealand where children are left on the wrong side of the digital divide through lack of income or because they happen to live in the wrong part of the country.

Parents can draw real support from access to broadband and good information about parenting resources. Parents also need to be aware of the some of the risks associated with the Internet. Hectors World and other work by groups like Netsafe are all part of the pack of resources with which parents need to be empowered if we are to equip our children with the tools necessary to prosper in the 21st century while at the same time minimising risks from harmful elements in the Internet world. Amidst the many changes and uncertainties created by rapid technological change one thing is certain. To succeed in the 21st century we need to be able to use the power and capacity of the new ICT tools with the ease and confidence that children today are displaying. This applies across generations as well as between socio-economic groups and nation states.

For more details on the summit itself refer to http://www.digitalsummit.org.nz/.

Posted by Roger Ellis at 4:27 PM
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The Importance of Voluntarism

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

The combined value of voluntary effort in the community is estimated to be worth over $3 billion.

Non-profit institutions contributed 2.6 percent to New Zealand's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2004 according to a report released in August named "The Non-profit Institutions Satellite Account: 2004" just released by Statistics New Zealand. When volunteer labour is included, non-profit institutions' contribution to GDP increases from 2.6 percent to 4.9 percent.

The report estimates that the number of people who volunteered for one or more non-profit institutions to be 1,011,600 for the year ended March 2004. This represents 31 percent of the New Zealand population aged 12 years and over.It was estimated that these volunteers contributed 270 million hours of formal unpaid work. This is equal to 133,799 full-time positions being filled by volunteers.

The value of voluntary labour (or formal unpaid work) was estimated to be $3.31 billion for the year ended March 2004. This estimate added 2.3 percent to the contribution that non-profit institutions make to GDP.

The report notes that the percentage of New Zealanders who volunteered for non-profit institutions compares well with similar countries in recent years. In the United Kingdom, 39 percent of the population volunteered for one or more non-profit institution (2005), compared with 32 percent of the population in Australia (2000), and 27 percent in both Canada (2000) and the United States (1995).In New Zealand, the average volunteer did 5.1 hours per week of formal unpaid work, compared with an average of 3.2 hours per week per volunteer in Australia, 3.1 hours in Canada and 2.4 hours in the United States.The majority of volunteers (54 percent) volunteered for one non-profit institution.Because 46 percent of volunteers volunteered for more than one institution, there are more unpaid positions volunteered for than the actual number of people who volunteer. It is estimated that 1,727,400 volunteer positions were filled for non-profit institutions in the year ended March 2004.For more details and access to the full report please visit:Statistics NZ Non-Profit Satellite Account 2004