*14 June 2011***

Newtown invites Stacey Jones to tackle debt

Concerned locals in the Wellington neighbourhood of Newtown are inviting Kiwi rugby league legend Stacey Jones to reconsider his promotion of high-interest loan company Instant Finance, in order to tackle debt among low-income communities in New Zealand.

*Debt-free Newtown* is launching its campaign, “C’mon Stacey, let’s tackle debt!”, at lunchtime on Friday 24 June, with an opportunity for people to sign letters asking Stacey Jones to consider the impact his endorsement of Instant Finance has on those in low incomes.

“Stacey Jones is a Kiwi legend,” says Debt-free Newtown spokesperson, local parent and youth worker Mark Barnard. “He’s a true role model to many people in low-income Māori and Pacific communities. It’s those communities in particular who are over-represented as clients of high-interest lenders like Instant Finance, with all the resulting financial and social hardships that are well-documented by budgetting and social service agencies throughout the country”.

“I wonder if Stacey is really aware of the kind of ‘debt-slavery’ that many poor families find themselves in when they sign up with high-interest lenders like Instant Finance”, says Mr Barnard.

“Is debt-slavery something Stacey Jones really wants his name associated with?” asks Mark Barnard. “We don’t think so. We want to say to Stacey, ‘Mate, don’t let the team down here, c’mon, help us tackle debt’”.

Debt-free Newtown launches the “C’mon Stacey” campaign between *12-1:30pm*on *Friday 24 June*, next to the playground on the corner of Riddiford and Constable Streets, Newtown. (Rain date Saturday 25th June).

*Ends*

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