Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Pacific people to benefit from Government’s Families Package


Pacific people to benefit from Government’s Families Package

Pacific families are set to benefit from the Government’s Families Package, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio.

The key elements of the Families Package include:

· Best Start payment to help all New Zealand families with a newborn by $60 a week up until the child’s first birthday – and up to three years of age for low- and middle-income families

· More financial assistance for low- and middle-income families with children by increasing Working for Families payments

· Restoring the Independent Earner Tax Credit to help low-income working people

· Increasing the Accommodation Supplement and Accommodation Benefit

· Winter Energy Payment to help our poorest families heat their homes over winter.

“For far too long Pacific peoples have been over-represented in New Zealand’s negative social indicators. We have promised to help them,” Aupito William Sio says.

“The Families Package offers a range of support and will make a real difference for Pacific communities and help give their children a better start in life.

“The Accommodation Supplement and Accommodation Benefit changes will provide families with financial help with housing costs. With just under half of Pacific children under five years old living in crowded homes, this will provide real support.

“The Winter Energy Payment will be a helping hand to Pacific families. They are the most likely to report major housing problems, with 43 per cent of Pacific families reporting problems with cold housing.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Damp and cold housing is a contributing factor to higher rates of hospitalisation for infectious diseases.

“When you combine the Families Package with 26 weeks of paid parental leave, the minimum wage going up to $16.50 per hour from July next year, and to $20 per hour by 2021, the fees-free post-secondary education policy starting January 2018, and the $50 increases to student allowances, this Government is making significant investments that will help Pacific families throughout New Zealand.

“Pacific peoples are twice as likely as Pakeha to be in the lowest 20 per cent of income earners, and four times less likely to be in the top 20 per cent. We need to break the intergenerational cycle through targeted investment in housing, health, education and the early years of a child’s life.

“We are able to do this because we have rejected the previous National Government’s tax cuts, which would have given $440 million a year to the top 10 per cent of earners. We are targeting our investment to those who need it most,” Aupito William Sio says.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.