20 November 2012
Taupo hosts 350 budgeters
Taupo is hosting more than 350 budget advisers from around the country on 21 November 2012.
Raewyn Fox, CEO of the New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services says their biennial conference is being held
at the Wairakei Resort in Taupo. “It’s themed Hooked into budgeting which references the trout fishing location as well
as the popularity of budgeting at the moment. We’ve seen more clients in the past year than any previous year, and we
have one of our biggest conferences with over 350 budget advisers attending.”
Budgeting services operate independently with a national umbrella organisation providing quality assurance, training,
resourcing and support. “We currently have 160 members, which means 160 community organisations have decided budgeting
is an important service they need to offer their local people,” Fox said. “Last year they helped 55,000 families.”
The conference in Taupo has been organised by a committee of local budget advisers from nearby budgeting services. “It’s
important those people attending conference get a real feel for Taupo, and organisation by a local committee helps that
happen. We have a powhiri at Rauhoto Marae to open the conference, and many delegates are staying on to watch the Lake
Taupo Cycle challenge.”
“The focus of the conference will be on budget advisers sharing knowledge, networking and learning. We have speakers
from a number of stakeholders such as financial disputes resolution services, Work and Income, funding organisations,
and community education experts,” Fox said. “Our keynote speaker is the Honourable Minister Paula Bennett.”
The New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services is a network of community budgeting services offering free,
confidential, non-judgemental budgeting advice. Find a free budget adviser on www.familybudgeting.org.nz or by calling
0508 BUDGETLINE (283 438).
ENDS
About the NZFFBS Inc:
The NZFFBS Inc is a collective of community organisations that share a common code of ethics, philosophy, and commitment
to delivering quality, free budgeting advice to families/whanau and individuals. The current membership comprises 160
budget services throughout New Zealand that employ over 1700 predominantly volunteer staff, who worked with over 55,000
clients last year. For free budgeting advice call 0508 BUDGETLINE (283 438).