About Dev-Zone

Introduction

Dev-Zone is an independent Aotearoa New Zealand based resource centre on international development and global issues.

 

We work to inform and educate New Zealanders about international development and global issues. We run a library and a website, provide email updates, publish our magazine Just Change, engage in information related projects and work with like-minded organisations to raise awareness about issues.

 

Dev-Zone, alongside the Global Education Centre is a programme of the Development Resource Centre (DRC). The DRC is an independent, not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation governed by a charitable trust and core-funded by NZAID Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-tawhiti, a semi-autonomous body of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

 

Mandate

Dev-Zone is mandated through the following DRC key strategic outcomes:

  • The DRC is an integral part of organisational networks in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific striving to create a just world.
  • The DRC is recognised as the leading provider of development information and global education in Aotearoa New Zealand.
  • There is an increase in the understanding of development and global issues amongst targeted education and development communities, and the general public in Aotearoa.
  • Our clients use our information and education services to take action to create a just world.

Values and philosophy

Values

Dev-Zone works to promote the Development Resource Centre values:

  • A human rights approach to development
  • People-centred development
  • A holistic and sustainable approach to development
  • Transparency
  • Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Philosophy

We believe that information empowers and that the right to information is a fundamental human right. With accurate and comprehensive information people are able to make the best decisions about their own lives and how they engage with the world around them.

 

One aspect of the increasing disparities in the world is the extent to which individuals and communities are free to express their opinions and to impart information. To ensure the provision of balanced information in Aotearoa New Zealand, we work to ensure the views of marginalised people are actively sought and promoted alongside more publicly known and accessible views.

 

Staff

Tim O'Donovan

Development Resource Centre Director

Tim has a background in tertiary education having taught at both Auckland University of Technology and Wellington Polytechnic. He has a Masters of Communications and has studied development at postgraduate level. Tim spent two years working for VSA in Zimbabwe and more recently has been volunteering at RMS Refugee Resettlement.

 

Maria McMillan
Dev-Zone Manager
Maria has a long standing commitment to local and international social justice. Involved in NGOs and community groups for more than 15 years, Maria has developed a particular passion for capacity building in the areas of facilitation, group-decision making and planning. She has a professional background in library and information management, with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies. In 2003 she returned to university to undertake an Honours Programme in Political Science, where she focused her research on globalisation, water privatisation and theories of war. Maria came back to Dev-Zone in September 2006 after a year's maternity leave.

 

Terence Wood

Information Officer

Terence is a graduate of Victoria University's Masters of Development Studies programme where he wrote his thesis on participatory democracy in Brazil. In between graduating from Victoria and starting at Dev-Zone Terence worked for Victoria University where he was involved in research on Civil Society in the Pacific as well as research on the Millennium Development Goals in the region.

 

Elena Wrelton

Information Officer

Elena finished her MPhil in Development Studies in 2006 at Massey University. She has worked in a variety of roles in the non profit sector as well as in the tourism industry. The focus of her thesis was justice tourism in Mexico which reflected her strong interest in the Latin American region and human rights. Elena coordinates the publication of Just Change, Dev-Zone's development magazine.

 

Alice Beban

Information Officer

Originally from Levin (and proud of it!), Alice recently returned to Aotearoa after spending several years living in Asia and Europe.  She has worked with civil society groups in Japan, Sri Lanka and Italy, and helped set up an environmental education NGO in Cambodia.  Alice has particular interests in food politics and tourism.  Her Massey University Masters of Development Studies programme thesis looks at the impacts of organic agriculture conversion on small-scale farming families in Cambodia. Alice coordinates the publication of Just Change in conjunction with Elena.

 

Marion Lienert

Information Officer / Librarian

Marion has worked as a librarian for many years.  Wellington Central Library and Statistics New Zealand Library provided Marion with valuable experience in sourcing information for students and the public on a wide range of issues including developing countries. She has also gained knowledge in organising and making library resources in different formats such as audio-visual material easily accessible. Marion is especially interested in environmental issues and has been involved with the Pacific Institute of Resource Management (PIRM) and the Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific Movement. Marion has also been treasurer and secretary for an active community organisation for several years.

 

Shirley Meyers

Assistant Librarian

Shirley has worked at Dev-Zone for seven years, starting as a volunteer. During this time she has gained a Diploma in Communication from the Open Polytechnic of NZ which included some library papers. Shirley enjoys meeting people and helping them access information from the library. She also helps library users answer subject-specific requests from the vast amount of development and related resources collected by Dev-Zone. Every week she learns something new or a new development term!

 

 

 

Library

Dev-Zone operates a free lending and reference library of books, DVDs and videos, magazines, journals, conference papers and reports. While we emphasise people-centred, holistic and sustainable development, our library items cover a wide range of perspectives on a wide range of global topics.

 

Anyone in Aotearoa New Zealand can join and borrow from our library..


You can come in and visit or search our online catalogue and you can request items online and we’ll send them anywhere in the country.

 

Our library is a precious resource for everybody in Aotearoa New Zealand, sometimes we hold the only copy of items in the country so please do return items to allow others access to the information.

 

Dev-Zone Website

We take the hard work out of finding quality links on global issues.

 

Our Knowledge Centre houses a constantly updated collection of high quality links to online resources including articles, reports, key documents, campaigns, websites, as well as upcoming events and training.

 

You can find out the latest Pacific development news, scan in-depth global reports from key players and read critiques and comments about the latest development happenings.

 

Pacific Development Directory

Created in partnership with the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) has is an online searchable resource of development organisations working in the Pacific

 

Pacific Development Glossary and Acronym Guide

Unravel your Boomerang Aid from your Biketawa Declaration, your TRIMS from your TRIPS, the Dev-Zone Glossary and Acronym Guide helps you understand key international and key Pacific development terms.

 

Development Work Database

If you’re searching for paid or voluntary opportunities in the field of development our international regularly updated jobs database is the perfect place to start looking.

 

Email updates

Dev-Zone has several email updates you can subscribe to:

 

Development Issues update – tells you the latest additions to our website. Choose to receive information just on topics you choose or the whole shamoozle.

 

Development Work update – receive information on the latest additions to our jobs database. See all the jobs or just in your special area

 

Latest additions to the Library – receive monthly emails on the latest articles, books and other resources added to Dev-Zone’s library collection. You can reserve items online that you want to see.

 

Take Action – If you want to take action on creating a just world, this is the email for you, you’ll be sent information on campaigns and actions that you can take part in.

 

Just Change Magazine

Just Change magazine prioritises a sustainable approach to development coupled with critical thinking; a call for the development community and the general public to get informed and get involved.

 

Just Change is a product of, by, and for, those who are concerned with development, social justice, and human rights. Each issue is based on a different global concern.

 

Subscription is free:

 

Projects

Responsible Tourism Code for the Pacific

In collaboration the Pacific Island Association of NGO, Dev-Zone has developed the Responsible Tourism Code for the Pacific which encourages New Zealanders to make responsible decisions when travelling to and in the Pacific Islands. The code is endorsed by Dev-Zone, PIANGO and South-Pacific.travel (formerly South Pacific Tourism Organisation).

 

Organisations we work with

 

Pacific Island Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO)

Dev-Zone has a strategic partnership with PIANGO. We have shared projects including the Pacific Development Directory. In addition we provide technical support to PIANGO and host their website.

 

Family Planning Association (International Development) NZ (FPAID)

Dev-Zone and FPAID are the two New Zealand members of the Asia Pacific Alliance an alliance working to achieve the goals of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Jubilee Aotearoa Debt Action Network

Dev-Zone is one of a number of agencies and individuals in New Zealand working together for the cancellation of the unjust and unpayable debts of poor countries.

Dev-Zone hosts the Jubilee website

 

Collection policies

General principles

Our collection policy is guided by the DRC organisational mission, values and objectives.

We prioritise the collection and holding of information that:

  • emphasises information emanating from communities and/or persons living and working in a particular developing country over outside information about that country
  • is in line with our organisational values
  • allows the voices of the most vulnerable to be heard
  • provides balance to information and views widely available in New Zealand
  • encourages critical thinking
  • empowers users to take action to create a just world

The key focus of Dev-Zone’s collection is development and global issues. We take a broad and holistic definition of development recognizing the complexity and changing nature of issues involved in social, cultural, spiritual and economic development.

 

For more information and detailed collection policies please see our collection policies which include the following: