Hon Tariana Turia and Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Maori Party Co-Leaders

11 December 2012

Maori Party calls for implementation of Panels Solutions to Child Poverty

The Maori Party, on the one year anniversary of their Relationship Accord with the National Party, have called for urgent action on the issue of child poverty. They are also calling on all political parties to give priority to working through all 78 recommendations in the report produced by the Children’s Commissioners Expert Advisory Group “Solutions to Child Poverty.”

Dr Pita Sharples said “Today, as we mark the one year anniversary of our Relationship Accord with the National Party, we are pleased to welcome the report of the Children’s Commissioners Expert Advisory Panel which outlines 78 action points to help alleviate and address issues of poverty.”

“Poverty, was one of the key issues that we placed on the agenda in our negotiations going into government, and so it is timely that this report has been released today.”

Tariana Turia said “We are extremely concerned about the health and wellbeing status of our children, as evidenced in the recent Te Ohonga Ake report.”

“We believe that the report produced by the Expert Advisory Panel offers us a glimmer of hope moving into the future, and we are calling on every person, every whanau and community, and every political party to advance an immediate response to the 78 recommendations of the report as a total package to alleviate poverty in this country.”

“We are disheartened that over successive years, and successive governments this issue has not been fully addressed. We need concerted action on this issue, and the Maori Party are proud to say that we intend to fight for the implementation of this report at the highest level of government.”

“We came to parliament to see action on these issues. Not to sit idle while people talk about why not to do something.”

ENDS

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