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Almost 220 new social and transitional places are on the way for Tauranga and Papamoa, the Government has today confirmed.

“We’re on track to have 68 short term transitional housing places available in Tauranga and Papamoa by the end of the year. This will mean we can support up to 272 families in Tauranga and Papamoa every year while long term solutions are found,” says Ms Adams.

“Of those 68 places, 21 places are already open.

The Government will invest $6 million over four years to support prosperous and more resilient communities, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Alfred Ngaro says.

$1.5 million has been added to the Department of Internal Affairs baseline funding, which means the Community and Voluntary sector will receive a further $6 million in just four years with the additional funding set to continue after 2020/21.

Funding for those wanting to build leadership and capability in volunteering, social enterprise and the community is available from today, says Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Alfred Ngaro.

The Community Leadership Fund opens today with $500,000 available.

“The Community and Voluntary sector makes a massive contribution to New Zealand every day,” says Mr Ngaro.

Ua saunoa le Minisita o le Matagaluega mo Tagata Pasifika i Niu Sila, Alfred Ngaro – “O le vaiaso o le gagana Samoa, o se avanoa mo Niu Sila atoa e ma’au ma fiafia fa’atasi i le felanulanua’i o gagana ma aganu’u taitasi, aemaise ia maua’a le gagana”

Sāmoan Language week gives all New Zealanders the opportunity to celebrate our diversity and keep the language alive says Minister for Pacific Peoples, Alfred Ngaro.

Investment in Budget 2017 will help improve outcomes for our Pacific communities in New Zealand, Pacific Peoples Minister Alfred Ngaro says.

The Ministry will receive $3 million over four years to increase its policy, research and evaluation capabilities.

“My expectation is that the Ministry will be the hub for Pacific knowledge and intelligence and the first stop for those looking to make improvements for our people. This funding will help work towards those ambitions,” says Mr Ngaro.

The Relocation from Auckland grant is helping kiwi families become more independent and saving tax payer’s money, says Associate Social Housing Minister Alfred Ngaro.

“I’m thrilled with the success of this programme,” says Mr Ngaro.

“On average we’re saving the taxpayer $170 a week in subsidised housing costs for every family that moves out of Auckland. With the average grant being about $4,637 the Government is seeing a saving in costs well within a year of people moving.

Kiwis looking to give back to their community by broadening their horizons through international travel and study will get a chance to apply for funding to do so, says Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Alfred Ngaro.

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (WCMT) Fellowship and partner Fellowship – the Winston Churchill McNeish Writer’s Fellowship, open today for funding applications.

With Student Volunteer Week celebrations kicking off, Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector Alfred Ngaro says young people have an opportunity to learn new skills, contribute to the causes they value and be part of a national movement this week.

Student Volunteer Week is in its third year in New Zealand and runs from 1-7 May.

“Student Volunteer Week celebrates those students already making a difference in their communities and encourages others to give it a go,” says Mr Ngaro.

Associate Social Housing Minister Alfred Ngaro has confirmed plans for 117 more social and transitional houses in Rotorua.

"We’re aiming to have 37 transitional houses available by the end of the year and 80 new social housing properties over the next three years,” Mr Ngaro says.

“The properties will likely be a mixture of new builds and existing properties and we’re encouraging community housing providers to partner with the Ministry of Social Development to help us reach this ambitious goal.”

Volunteering is one of the best ways we can honour the ANZAC spirt, says Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Alfred Ngaro.

‘Serve for New Zealand’, an initiative run by Christchurch’s Student Volunteer Army (SVA), in partnership with the RSA and the University of Canterbury, invites New Zealanders to pledge an hour or more of their time to give back to the community.

Nine of New Zealand’s brightest and most inspiring young Pacific students have just received Government scholarships to pursue their dreams says Pacific Peoples Minister Alfred Ngaro.

This is the second year that the Toloa Tertiary Scholarships have been available.

The scholarships of up to $25,000 each are paid over three years and awarded to Pacific students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects at a tertiary level.

Months of hard work has put Government in a good position to house those most in need in Auckland during a busy period says Associate Social Housing Minister Alfred Ngaro.

“Over the last few months I’ve been getting out and about and visiting those on the ground,” says Mr Ngaro.

The 2016 Public Trust and Confidence in Charities survey serves as a reminder of the regulator role of Charity Services and the transparency of the Charities Register says Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Alfred Ngaro.

The survey has been run every two years since 2008 and the results are relatively similar to previous years.

The results show that New Zealanders trust and confidence in the sector is moderate with an average rating of 5.9 out of 10.

From today communities will be able to apply for $12.5 million of grant funding for the projects and organisations that matter to them most says Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Alfred Ngaro.

The Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) opens today.

“The COGS funding is unique in that it’s decided on and distributed by local distribution committees. That means we have locals deciding what matters most to them and what will have the most impact on their own communities,” says Mr Ngaro.

Minister for Children Anne Tolley and Associate Minister for Children Alfred Ngaro welcome today’s official launch of VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai - the independent advocacy service for children and young people in state care.

“VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai is an important part of the Government’s overhaul of our care and protection system,” says Mrs Tolley.

The Government’s plan to develop 12 old houses into 44 new social housing is moving at pace in Auckland.

Social Housing Minster Amy Adams and Associate Social Housing Minister Alfred Ngaro were onsite in Mt Wellington to see first-hand four Housing New Zealand developments on the go in Auckland.

This weekend is an opportunity for us to check in on our neighbours and build our communities says Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Alfred Ngaro.

Neighbours Day Aotearoa is celebrated across the country over the weekend of 25th and 26th March.

“Events like the Kaikoura Earthquake and Port Hill fires prompted neighbours to come together and offer each other a helping hand. It’s great then to also have a more positive reminder to check in on each other and build those communities,” says Mr Ngaro.

With the ‘Support for Volunteering’ fund opening today volunteering groups should look at what projects they need help with and apply for funding says Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Alfred Ngaro.

“Every year we grant over $500,000 through this fund to support volunteering in New Zealand,” says Mr Ngaro.

“Volunteers contribute about $3.5 billion in labour every year, so this funding is one of many ways we can support the amazing contribution they give to New Zealand every day.

Vulnerable families will now have other housing options in Lower Hutt thanks to Government funding says Associate Social Housing Minister Alfred Ngaro.

The Minister today visited the blessing and opening of a new transitional house in Naenae.

Koraunui Marae Trust has been contracted to provide housing and support services to the women and children who’ll stay in the six-bedroom, three-bathroom house.

Pacific Peoples Minister Alfred Ngaro has today congratulated the winners of the 2017 ASB Polyfest.

“It was another fantastic event this year and I know that the judges would have had an extremely hard time selecting the top groups,” says Mr Ngaro.

“I attended the celebrations on Friday, while the PM visited yesterday and we were both blown away by the caliber of the performances.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Alfred Ngaro has congratulated Charities Services on its win at last night’s inaugural New Zealand Charities Technology Awards dinner.

The Minister attended the celebrations, which was hosted by TechSoup New Zealand, and congratulated the team in person.

“I’m thrilled to see that the hard work and ingenuity that Charities Services has put in has been recognised,” says Mr Ngaro.

Pacific People’s Minister Alfred Ngaro has welcomed the news that Penina Health Trust has become a registered Community Housing Provider.

The trust, which currently provides a range of mental health services, is the first Pacific group to become a Community Housing Provider.

“I’m thrilled to see that Penina has decided to build on the services they already offer and stepped up to take part in social housing,” says Mr Ngaro.

More families will have a warm and safe place to stay in times of need with the opening of the first stages of an emergency housing development in Otahuhu, Auckland.

The 43-house Luke Street transitional housing development was officially opened today by Prime Minister Bill English.

“Luke Street is the first HNZ purpose built emergency housing development under the Government’s $303.6 million emergency housing funding announced in November 2016,” Social Housing Minister Amy Adams says.

Pacific People’s Minister Alfred Ngaro says Pacific language weeks give all New Zealanders the chance to celebrate our diversity.

“The dates for our seven Pacific language weeks are now set and I’d love to see kiwis using these weeks as an opportunity to celebrate our Pacific cultures and all that they contribute to modern New Zealand,” Mr Ngaro says.