Maori Party Congratulates Child Poverty Action Group on Court Decision

Tariana Turia, Co-leader, Maori Party

November 7 2006

The Maori Party today welcomed the decision of the High Court, that the Child Poverty Action Group is enabled to act on behalf of children affected by discriminatory government policies.

“The Ministry of Social Development has confirmed that 230,000 children in beneficiary families as of 31 December 2005, well after Working for Families had been introduced, would not be eligible for the In Work Payment” said Mrs Turia.

“Even after the full implementation of Working for Families, the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) estimates that 175,000 children in both working and beneficiary families would remain in poverty”.

“These numbers are to our national shame” said Mrs Turia.

“We absolutely applaud the courage of CPAG in standing up for such a significant group of New Zealanders” said Mrs Turia.

“And we welcome the insight shown by the Courts in recognising that disadvantanged individuals should be entitled to be supported by advocacy groups in having their case heard” said Mrs Turia. “Indeed, we believe it was always a mean-spirited action by the Crown, to force the very people affected by discrimination to launch their own defence, without the support of an advocacy group behind them”.

“In the interests of our most vulnerable children, and the well-being of all of our whanau, we look forward to the progress of this case”.

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