Media Statement
For immediate release
Wednesday, 25 August, 2004

Turner: Good Samaritan shows up plodding Govt

The announcement of a ''one-stop parenting shop'' generously funded by an anonymous donor just further highlights the plodding, ineffective Government approach to supporting families, United Future's Judy Turner said today.

The Growing Great Kids Centre, to be built in Greenlane, Auckland, is the kind of endeavour that that Government should be promoting as a positive intervention to support New Zealand families, Mrs Turner, United Future's family affairs spokeswoman, said.

The centre will teach parenting skills and offer a break for struggling parents.

United Future has consistently strongly advocated precisely this sort of positive intervention at a community level through community organisations and NGOs to support families and give them what they need before they get into real problems, she said.

"Here we have precisely that, but why is it that it comes from a very generous committed individual and not a focused, on-the-ball and committed Government?" Mrs Turner asked.

Ends.

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