20 November 2011

Kiwi kids’ lesson for the PM

The Prime Minister should look to children for advice on running the country, with an international survey showing the first thing kiwi kids would do if they had his job would be to provide the food, housing and necessities everyone needs, the Green Party said today.

A survey conducted for International Children’s Day today asked children what would be the first thing they would do if they were in charge of the country and kiwi kids voted to provide the basics – food, clothing and shelter - to ensure everyone could have a good life.

“Kids are telling us that what really matters is that people are cared for. I think that’s a profound and moving message which all adults should take on board,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said.

“This should be a reality check for MPs and the Government in particular. Kiwi children were more likely than those in other developed countries to focus on providing the basics.

“Maybe that’s because a fifth of our children are living in poverty. This survey shows our kids are well aware that too many are missing out.

“What really matters for them is that poverty is eradicated and that everyone has what they need for a good life.

“The Green Party’s Take the Step Campaign has recruited hundreds of champions who have agreed to take steps to help end child poverty.

“The Greens have policy that puts children at the heart of everything we do, ensuring that all children get access to free health care, a good education, warm dry homes and that their parents are paid a liveable wage.

“This Government meanwhile, is giving tax cuts to the rich and introducing draconian welfare measures to distract from the fact it is not delivering the jobs people need.

“It should stop blaming poor families for its own failures and actually do something to help them,” Mrs Turei said.

ends

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>