FAQ
What does membership mean?
A StandUP member means that you are part of our community. It is free to join, but if you think what we are doing is important, you can support us with donations. We will keep you updated of campaigns that we and other organisations are running so that you can choose to become engaged on an issue by issue basis. Our aim is for this platform to help individuals take multiple coordinated actions on issues that they care about, to activate their citizenship and to show the power of a crowd.
Does being a StandUp member mean I endorse all your specific campaigns?
No. Unlike a political party, being a member of the StandUp community does not mean you have to support every issue we campaign on.
Our members ‘opt-in’ on issues they care about and are motivated to act on. For each campaign we run, StandUp will alert members to the issues at hand and provide an opportunity to take action. As a member, you’ll be provided with ways to get involved with issues that you’re passionate about. Our role is to facilitate action at the correct time, but we don’t dictate it.
Are donations to StandUp tax-deductible?
Under the current laws, donations to StandUp are not tax-deductible. This is an important measure to ensure that StandUp’s campaign and advocacy work remain independent of government funds. You can make a donation to us here.
Why do we need it?
Political parties and institutional politics have too often failed to inspire people or offer meaningful opportunities for participation. Many New Zealanders remain deeply concerned about the political direction of our country. The last three decades have not been a success for those of us who share a commitment to the values of social justice, cultural diversity, ecological sustainability and economic fairness. New Zealand has experienced the fastest growing rate of income inequality in the OECD since the 1980s with a growing number of concerning social, economic and environmental problems. The egalitarian and pristine New Zealand which still forms part of our collective identity is no longer a reality.
StandUp! provides New Zealanders with the tools to fight back, to hold politicians accountable, and take innovative and effective action on important issues facing our country. StandUp members are building a ground-up movement of real people who are putting the participation back into our democracy. Since it’s inception in late 2011, the StandUp community has grown to include a core community of dedicated volunteers who aren’t afraid to stand up and have their say about important progressive political issues, helping shape the direction of New Zealand politics.
What do members do?
StandUp members take action on issues that they’re passionate about. Whether it is sending an email to a member of parliament, signing a petition, attending an event or helping to get an ad on the air, GetUp members get involved in targeted, coordinated and strategic action. By signing up for updates, members are alerted to new campaigns that provide ways of affecting positive change.
Who runs it?
StandUp is run by a small office of staff, interns and volunteers in Wellington. StandUp was founded in 2012 as a joint venture by IT and social innovation company Enspiral Ltd and a core of professionals based in Wellington including acting director Joseph Cederwall.
The organization has inspired by the success of GetUp in Australia, Avaaz internationally and has had considerable input and assistance from international advisers in the field.
StandUp has an experienced board that advises the staff. The board includes co-founders – Joshua Vial of Enspiral Ltd, Former Amnesty International NZ Director Ced Simpson, fundraising expert John Shaw, Ben Brandzel of Citizen Engagement Lab in USA and more.
Ultimately, the real work and impact of StandUp is achieved through our community members, who make the calls, send the emails, attend the events and give generous financial support. We couldn’t do it without the amazing support of our members.
Are you affiliated to any Political groups?
No. StandUp is an independent advocacy group. We don’t advocate for any particular political party – we simply call it as we see it; congratulating progressive policy and criticising bad policy.
StandUp brings together progressive people from all political backgrounds and parties, but is independent of all parties. It is StandUp’s political independence that allows us to work with and critique all political parties without fear or favour.
How can I get involved?
The first way to get involved is to become a member! If you’re not already a part of our amazing community, you can join up by adding your email address to the box on the left of the page.
StandUp is currently recruiting a team of volunteers and interns in our Wellington office who assist with a range of tasks such as research, administration, website updating or development, blog and forum moderation and event coordination. If this sounds like you, get in touch.
Can I offer my professional services to StandUp?
If you can help out with one of our campaigns, we’d love to hear from you. Shoot us an email at help@standup.org.nz – make sure you include a CV with your contact details, location, past experience and an outline of what you could offer (including cost of services).
