More than 100 charities are meeting on Monday to discuss collective action in an effort organised by Social Service Providers Aotearoa (SSPA), a national organisation representing more than 230 social services.
The charities’ actions could include not signing contracts with government agency Oranga Tamariki if they do not agree with what they are being required to do under reduced or different contractual terms and conditions.
Many charities’ contracts with the agency run out at the end of this month and are either being renewed under new conditions, or could be scrapped entirely in order to meet reduced government funding announced in the Budget.
At-risk charities are unwilling to talk about it on the record in case it impacts their relationship with Oranga Tamariki, but a source said at least one charity had already been told its contract was ending.
The boss of SSPA wrote to members earlier this week inviting them to the meeting and said "actions need to be taken with some urgency".
The letter also said the SSPA had taken legal advice and members were urged not to sign contracts with Oranga Tamariki if they were "uneasy" about the terms and conditions.
The letter, from chief executive Belinda Himiona, said significant concerns had been raised by members and only limited reassurance had been provided by Oranga Tamariki, requiring a united effort by the sector to push back.
If concerns were not answered by the child agency an escalation to government ministers would be necessary, the letter says.
Ms Himiona had earlier stressed, in a post-Budget statement, that the reduction in funding had, in effect, set a savings target, but the charity sector had "not seen a reduction in the need for services".
