Extension for Mataatua COGS applications

23/7/2004
The Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) has extended the closing date for online applications from the Mataatua region from Friday July 30 to Friday August 27.

Community Development Group Acting Director Morag Osborne says it was recognised that community groups in this flood-affected area might struggle to meet the July 30 closing date.

“Residents from the area covered by the Mataatua COGS Local Distribution Committee (Whakatane, Kawerau and Opotiki) will be fully focused on rebuilding their community following the recent floods, and we felt strongly that this should not prejudice their opportunity to apply for a COGS grant,” Ms Osborne says.

“This is the first year COGS has moved to a national closing date, but these are exceptional circumstances.”

Established in 1986, COGS has made more than 40,000 grants, totaling almost $200 million, to community and voluntary groups around New Zealand.

Its 41 Local Distribution Committees, served entirely by volunteers, allocate $12 million a year to more than 3000 community groups.

The scheme enables grass-roots community and voluntary groups to pay their ongoing running costs such as rent, travel costs, volunteer and administration expenses, or host hui, fono or community workshops.

Most grants are $3000 or less.

This year, $239,580 has been allocated for distribution in the Mataatua region.

Morag Osborne says the extension means that community groups in the eastern Bay of Plenty have an extra month to lodge an application through the COGS online system.

“By applying online, community groups are able to track the progress of their application, and it also makes repeat applications easier as key information doesn’t have to be re-entered year after year.”

“For these reasons, we are encouraging everyone to apply online through http://cogs.cdgo.govt.nz, and groups who have applied online previously will not have to re-register. If they have forgotten their user name or password they can email webmaster@cogs.cdgo.govt.nz or phone us on 0800 824 824.”

COGS Online also contains an information guide and ‘frequently asked questions’ page offering application advice.

COGS is administered by the Community Development Group of the Department of Internal Affairs.

Contact:
Claire Hall, Communications Advisor
Community Development Group
Department of Internal Affairs
(04) 495-7299
027 284 4228
claire.hall@dia.govt.nz