Newsletter from Child, Youth and Family

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Welcome to the new year everyone. I hope you had a relaxing break, got lots of sun, and feel refreshed and energised for the year ahead. For us, 2013 will see the consolidation of year one of our strategic plan… Read more

KIDS IN CARE DELIGHT IN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

The weeks leading into Christmas saw our staff busy planning, teaming up with local community, wrapping presents, and preparing amazing feasts and activities in honour of our kids in care and their caregivers.… Read more

GIVING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE A VOICE

“MY NAME IS JOANNA AND I AM IMPORTANT.”
This is the reply that came from a young girl in care when asked what she would like to say to her social worker.… Read more

CHILDREN'S ACTION PLAN BRINGS GOOD THINGS FOR KIDS IN CARE

The Strategy for Children and Young People in Care, one piece of the Children’s Action Plan puzzle, does a very important thing ... “It gives our children in care the same chance in life as other kiwi kids.”… Read more

Also in this issue:

Gateway Assessments are helping kids get the services and support they need

Insights from young people via zumba, jewellery and korero

Children's Day is just around the corner

New Year Honours for caregiver couple

In brief:

Latest Child, Youth and Family statistics

'Working Together' child protection workshops

What's new on our Practice Centre

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage