MERRY CHRISTMAS

and a

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Danny 

I. THE MISSION STATEMENT

The main objective of the systems is to help new migrants to Auckland by making available to them items and goods that they can own or use while adjusting to the new life of New Zealand. Giving up so much and starting all over again in a foreign place is difficult enough. Having nothing to start with will even make things tougher. Our mission is to make it a little less painful, and a little more bearable for those who are starting here in New Zealand.

II. THE VISION

We look forward to the time when every new migrant in New Zealand will only have to look at our site and check out anything they need, and get it for FREE. This way they can reserve their money (which is usually just about enough, if not lacking), and spend more time on more important matters that may need more attention, like looking for work and establish a more stable life in New Zealand.

III. THE MECHANICS

1. DEPOSITS

• The registered member (donor) uploads item(s) or good(s) which he wishes to make available for others to use temporarily or own permanently.
• If the item is for temporary use, the donor should indicate the dates during which the item is available for use.
• The donor shall give additional information that may be of help to the user (e.g. insurance details, warranty cards, etc).
• Once listed in our database, and awarded to a beneficiary, an item may not be taken back by the donor.
• NOTE: during the first phase of the project, there might not be a warehouse where items shall be stored, so the donor may have to keep the item until it is assigned to a beneficiary.

2. REQUESTS & ORDERS

• A registered member shall make an order for a beneficiary, indicating the item number(s) of the good(s) needed by the beneficiary.
• Orders shall be processed once a week,
• Should an item be requested for two or more beneficiaries, the queuing rule shall apply. The queuing rule shall be used to ensure that every item or good is awarded to the one who needs it most.
• The selection and awarding of the items shall be automated using the selection process and queuing rule as the basic parameters, to minimise, if not eliminate, unfair practice, or to avoid leaving the decision to the discretion of a person or a group of persons in the organisation.
• The awarding shall be made with utmost fairness and integrity, while maintaining the main objective of the system.

3. WITHDRAWALS

• Once awarded to a beneficiary, an item is withdrawn from the database, and delisted in the inventory or removed from the list of available items.
• It is the responsibility of the registered member who lodged the order to liaise with both the beneficiary and the donor of the item.
• The actual delivery or the pickup of the item shall be the responsibility of the beneficiary.
• Under no circumstances shall the beneficiary be charged any fee or payment for the item awarded. In cases where cost of transporting items are incurred, it shall be the responsibility of the registered member who lodged the order.

4. RETURNS

• Items may be returned by the beneficiary and be made available again by others to use or to own.
• The process of returning items shall follow the same process of depositing items to the inventory.
• Items which are not usable anymore shall not be returned or deposited to the inventory. This is to avoid making the system the rubbish bin or unusable items.

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Please follow the link and join us at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nzstuffexchange/

When one decides to embark on a journey to a foreign land, like New Zealand, one usually leaves everything behind, and start all over again. Not only because freight charges are outrageously expensive, but also because we need the cash and stay as liquid as possible. Well, that is if there is cash to start with. So, we come here with almost nothing but our dreams and whatever is left of our dignity.

"Sanay na tayo sa hirap, kaya okey lang maski walang plato o kutsara,"  are words we normally say to comfort each other during the first few days in New Zealand. It is not uncommon for first time migrants (especially when friends are hard to find) that one eats on the floor (because there is no dining table yet) where one sleeps later at night (because there is no bed much less a couch to lie down to).

Yet, so many of those who have been here for years, and are able to establish a more stable life here, have to parkl their cars outside because their garages are full of stuff they are not using anymore. Garage sales here and there speak for themselves. Yet, these are the things that could have made a lot of difference to a newcomer in New Zealand.

This is where NZ Stuff Exchange comes in - 

to help new migrants to Auckland by making available to them items and goods that they can own or use while adjusting to the new life of New Zealand. Giving up so much and starting all over again in a foreign place is difficult enough. Having nothing to start with will even make things tougher. Our mission is to make it a little less painful, and a little more bearable for those who are starting here in New Zealand

Email us for your comments and suggestions. Should you have any questions or clarifications, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. (Please see contact details). We hope to hear from you.