Agents or stewards? Contracting with voluntary organisations

Abstract

In order to escape a violent partner, take a disabled child swimming, get information about government services or extinguish a rural house fire, New Zealanders will generally interact with a voluntary organisation. In many areas of government voluntary organisations play an important delivery and operational role. A modest estimate (based on data from only 14 government departments) suggests that at least $650 million of public social services are delivered each year by voluntary organisations via government contracts (Community and Voluntary Sector Working Party, 2001).