GSS Content Submissions
Social Conditions Business Unit
Statistics New Zealand

Submission on General Social Survey, Preliminary Views 2005
Introduction

The consultation process on the planned General Social Survey has only just come to the notice of Volunteering New Zealand. Hence the late date of this response. Due to our late knowledge of the project, our comments are brief.

Volunteering New Zealand is an association of regional volunteer centres and national organisations with a strong commitment to volunteering. These organisations cover emergency services, health, welfare, education, sport and recreation, conservation, special interests and advocacy.

Its mission is to create an environment which supports, promotes, values and encourages effective volunteering by the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. Its vision is to be recognised as the national voice of volunteering and volunteers in this country. This is a different role from that of other organisations which speak on behalf of not- for-profit or voluntary organisations.

Comment on Survey Proposal

Volunteering NZ is supportive of the planned survey and its objectives. We are also supportive of the inclusion of volunteering in the topics under Social Connectedness. We note that a distinction is being made between formal and informal voluntary activity. We would suggest that the boundary between these two groupings could become blurred. If the distinction is retained in the survey questions, there will need to be clear definitions so that both interviewers and interviewees understand fully where the boundary has been set.

While Social Connectedness is a logical section to include volunteering, there are several of the other domains within which volunteering has a relevance. These are: . Paid work – a number of those not in employment (or a preferred area of employment) undertake voluntary activities as a means of developing skills, gaining work type experience, improving language etc. New immigrants, younger people with new qualifications and older people wanting to get back into the workforce are some examples of those who volunteer for this purpose. Questions related to those who are unemployed should make reference to volunteering for this purpose:

Level 7, 75 Ghuznee Street
PO Box 24 526, Manners Street, Wellington
Tel: (04) 384 3636
Fax: (04) 384 3637
Email: office@volunteeringnz.org.nz
Website: www.volunteeringnz.org.nz

Culture and identity

Much of the activity which happens to preserve and develop individual cultures is undertaken on a voluntary basis. Cultural identity also relates very much to social connectedness. These factors should be reflected in the questions asked.

Leisure and recreation

organised leisure time activities are in many instances dependent on volunteers and for many their voluntary activities are also leisure time activities. This should be reflected in the questions asked.

Relationship with other Statistics Projects

We ask how this General Social Survey will inter-relate with the Satellite Account/Johns Hopkins projects and the Time Use survey. There is clearly a link between these different projects especially in relation to questions concerning volunteering and unpaid time activities.

Volunteering New Zealand would welcome the opportunity for having input to the project as it progresses.

Tim Burns
Executive Director

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