According to Philanthropy New Zealand, Vodafone "offers a great example of how businesses in Aotearoa can approach a strategic and sustainable, social good programme."

Sue McCabe, chief executive at Philanthropy NZ, says, "Business philanthropy is critical for Aotearoa New Zealand to flourish economically, socially, and environmentally, given the scale of the challenges and opportunities we face."

"Vodafone is a great example to look to for guidance given its long-term and strategic approach, its commitment to continue to learn what works and change based on the evidence," she says.

"The Vodafone Foundation is not just a leader in corporate philanthropy, but in philanthropy and grant-making more generally. As well as helping to transform young lives through their own mahi, the Vodafone Foundation also contributes to the bigger giving movement in New Zealand through its willingness to share their successes and learnings, and to collaborate with other philanthropic and Government funders." Continue reading

There will be roaring levels of commercial testosterone at this auction, and the Treaty of Waitangi's protective intent comes into play immediately in this scenario.

The Treaty was highly protective of Maori and their position as tangata whenua in 1840, their wellbeing, ownership rights, and cultural survival.

We should not be surprised in the digital age that its protections, in respect of the assumed royal prerogative (the right of kings, queens and parliaments to assert ownership over raw resources and the right to own and sell) reaches into areas like the spectrum resource. The courts have accepted that the Treaty deliberately placed a fetter over the prerogative in New Zealand.

Maori should not be blamed for the length and sharpness of those guarantees. Maori didn't write the Treaty nor initiate the migration and colonisation which necessitated it. They are entitled to cling to the contract their ancestors signed.

It's useful to remember that in all the claims Maori have made for spectrum in both broadcasting and telecommunications, they have displayed a clear idea of what they would do with spectrum and why it is needed. All have faced fierce Crown opposition and produced bitter fights in the courts.

In 1985 the Maori Council surprised the Government of the day by launching a bid for the third channel TV warrants before the Broadcasting Tribunal. The last national VHF network was at stake. The bid failed. Conventional wisdom of the time framed the Maori channel as an impossibility. Look at Maori Television now. A burgeoning success, but started 20 years after the main body of native speakers of the language passed into the night, along with the rich resources they would have provided. Continue reading

Sources

• Piripi Walker in The Dominion Post
• Image: Delimiter
  

Piripi Walker, Ngati Raukawa, is spokesman for Nga Kaiwhakapumau i Te Reo, (The Wellington Maori Language Board).

Church Resources and Vodafone recently built on their existing relationship and concluded negotiations that continue to offer free calls amongst all Church Resources members, but also adds the choice of a range of different mobile call plan options.

"In tough economic times Vodafone is playing our tune", said Church Resources General Manger, Fr John Murphy.

"Every dollar saved is a dollar church groups don't have to earn."

Murphy said the existing plans brought cost efficiencies when talking among ourselves, but he thinks these new plans will save even more money and make church workers more efficient in their ministry.

"These plans enable us to not only talk free to other members of our ministry team, but beyond. They're the Vatican II of church talk, we can now talk to others."

Murphy expects a little bit of a settling in time. "We've already had one user who initially went for the cheapest option, then saw the potential and asked to be upgraded."

Nigel Pounds, Vodafone Wellington Area Sales Manager, is very pleased the Church Resources account stayed with Vodafone.

"We are absolutely over the moon, to be able to continue providing Telecommunication services to Church Resources."

"Our goal is to ensure that we are offering great value and great service to Church Resources as well as continuing to deliver innovation that helps Church Resources do its thing better".

Pound's optimism seems 'on the mark' as initial feedback from the service is all positive.

"What I like is I can talk and not worry about it", said Brother Matt Morris.

Morris who is Head of Science and Manager of the First XV at St Patrick's College Wellington, sees immediate advantage in the new choice of plans.

"Free calls to landlines, and 500 free mobile minutes a month is a big help in a busy school."

Fr Pete Roe, a consultant with the Emergency Services in Wellington says a fixed amount for calls and a generous data allowance will make managing his costs that much easier.

Challenge 2000 leader Bridget Roche is very excited about the changes and is also moving their landlines and broadband to Vodafone.

"We struggle to get funding for our infrastructural telecommunications costs and yet they are so important for the effectiveness, safety and quality of our work. The $8,000 pa we'll save is 'really big' money to us".

It's early days, but Roche is already visualising which front line children and youth programmes will benefit because of these savings.

"We've been planning some exciting youth development programmes to run over summer, but not sure how we might fund them so this is wonderful news".

"There is a God", she said.

Church Resources General Manger John Murphy says the range of plans we now offer, on top of the free Talkzone, means this is the best value mobile proposition in the Church at the moment.

"No longer does one size fit all, Church Resources has a plan to suit all church workers' needs," he said.

The Church Resources mobile, landline, and broadband packages are available through Church Resources and available to all Church organisations throughout New Zealand.