Nominations open for COGS distribution committees

28/2/2005


Nominations open this week for the Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) Local Distribution Committee election.

All new members will be elected onto the 37 local distribution committees (LDCs) throughout New Zealand in the first ever nationally coordinated COGS LDC election.

“This is an opportunity for people to be part of a scheme designed to help support and strengthen their local community,” says Morag Woodley, Director of Local Government and Community Development Operations at the Department of Internal Affairs.

More than $12 million is distributed to voluntary and community organisations every year through COGS local distribution committees. The committees, made up of volunteers, consider and make decisions on grant applications from groups within their local communities. The scheme is administered by the Local Government and Community Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs.

“COGS is a community-driven government-funded scheme – an example of the community and government working together to build strong, sustainable communities, and to provide strong social services,” says Ms Woodley.

The election of members for all LDCs is being coordinated nationally this year for the first time since the scheme was established in 1986, and elections will now take place by postal ballot every three years – rather than only when vacancies occur in local committees.

The new election process is part of a series of changes being implemented this year following an independent review of COGS commissioned by the Department of Internal Affairs and the National COGS Committee in 2003.

“The review found that, for the most part, COGS has worked well and we are not planning major changes,” says Ms Woodley. “Grants will still be made to community-owned and community-driven groups that meet COGS criteria. The community will still elect local distribution committees, and the Department of Internal Affairs will still administer the scheme.

“However, there will be changes designed to bring about more transparent, nationally consistent processes.”

She says the improvements relate to administrative processes, particularly around accountability and the election of committee members.

Committees will be smaller to increase effectiveness and efficiency, and members may serve two consecutive terms of three years (if re-elected) rather than standing down after one term.

“This way we can retain experience as well as benefiting from the insight of new members,” says Ms Woodley.

“We’ll also ensure that there is a balance of gender, ethnicity, age, geographical representation and skills on each committee. If the democratic process yields an imbalance, up to two additional members can be co-opted to rectify the imbalance.”

Key dates for the LDC election 2005:

• 4 March: Nominations for positions on the LDC open.
• 1 April: Nominations close at 12 noon.
• 8 April: Postal ballot forms are sent to all registered community groups (NB: Only registered community groups can vote in the election).
• 18-29 April: Public meetings held in each LDC region.
• 6 May: Voting closes 12 noon.

A candidates’ guide, nomination and registration to vote forms are available on the Department of Internal Affairs website at:

For more information, contact the Department of Internal Affairs:
Lucy Sanderson, Senior Communications Advisor, Phone 04 495 7299 or 027 284 4228
Colin Feslier, Corporate Communications Manger, Phone 04 495 9460 or 027 457 5676.