It doesn't matter what your question is.We will help,and if we can't help you directly,we'll find someone who can.
What we do
When you contact a CAB you will receive a free and confidential service of information, advice and support. We aim to enable you to deal with your own problems. In summary, we listen, we thoroughly research options and we explain the information in a way that you can use it. If it’s appropriate, we act on your behalf. In detail, we:
•Secure language assistance if you need it
•Can help you identify the problems you require assistance with
•Research what information will be of most use to you and locate this information for you
•Work through the information with you, helping you to make sense of it
•Help you to identify the outcome you want
•Help you to understand the options you have for achieving the desired outcome
•Assist you to understand the implications of any options available and to choose the option that will produce the best outcome for you
•Assist you to achieve the best outcome, for example through helping you write a letter
•Depending on your needs, and with your permission, act on your behalf with third parties to help achieve the outcome you want
We help you regardless of your:
•Question, issue or problem
•Demographic profile (age, gender, ethnicity etc.)
•Geographic location
•Mobility
•Language
•Literacy
•Income
We are not experts in any particular subject but we are experts in finding and using information. We also work to strengthen our communities by identifying and raising issues at a local level and nationally. We use our experience with clients to advocate for socially just policies and services in Aotearoa New Zealand. We do this in two ways:
•Through participation in Government policy processes, the submissions process, lobbying and media activity
•Based on our experience of working with clients, supported by statistics, case-studies, and anecdotal information from bureaux, branches and specialist services
The person-to-person service provided by bureaux volunteers is unique in New Zealand, as is our ability to provide a national snapshot of community concerns and issues.
