- The Equality Network is an informal grouping of organisations committed to the vision of a more equal New Zealand.
- The network is coordinated by a small group of volunteers from the following organisations: Income Equality Aotearoa – Closing The Gap; the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services/Closer Together – Whakatata Mai; Child Poverty Action Group; Community Networks Aotearoa; Public Health Association; Living Wage; Oxfam; UCAN; ActionStation. Membership of this steering group is reviewed annually.
- Steering Group: Prudence Stone (PHA); Trevor McGlinchey (NZCCSS); Peter Malcolm (CTG); Ros Rice (Community Networks Aotearoa); Janfrie Wakim (CPAG); Jo Spratt (Oxfam); Debbie Leyland (UCAN); Jo Vicente-Angeles (Living Wage); Ruby Powell (ActionStation); Max Rashbrooke (Advisor); Rae Julian (Networker). The network is supported by the JR McKenzie Trust.
- Groups are free to join the network but taking part in the network means agreeing to share in our way of working, our kaupapa. We ask groups wishing to be part of the network to register with the steering group and commit to supporting the aims of the network.
- We treat one another as equals.
- We share information about our organisation as it relates to achieving the vision of a more equal society.
- We support each other in the network in work that contributes to reducing inequality in this country.
- We do not use the network to promote other areas and themes of work that do not relate to reducing inequality.
- We will communicate freely and fully with each other and regularly update members of the network about progress of the work.
- We make decisions by consensus via email. Any decisions requiring the agreement of the network will identify an appropriate timeframe for responses and make reasonable efforts to ensure all members have received the information and had a chance to consider it.
- We understand consensus decision-making to mean that all those involved have the chance to offer their views and indicate support for a decision. A group may also choose to stand aside and not oppose a decision and accept the wider view of the group even if their own position differs from the consensus position. A consensus is not reached if all groups in the network do not arrive at an agreed position and therefore the network will have no official position on the issue.
- We will identify spokespeople for the network by consensus but this does not limit the ability of groups to make statements in their own names on issues.
- We will deal with disagreements that cannot be resolved in a consensus process through the steering group. In this situation the steering group will identify two independent and respected people to be available to act as facilitators for resolving such disputes. By joining the network, groups agree to accept this facilitation process as the appropriate way to deal with serious disputes and ensure fairness to all involved.
- We reserve the right as a group to remove from the network any group that fails to respect our kaupapa and after reasonable efforts have been made to resolve the issues.
