Media Statement For immediate release Thursday, 8 May, 2003

Turner: Legal aid for grandparents raising grandchildren

United Future family affairs spokeswoman Judy Turner today called for grandparents raising their grandchildren to get legal aid when contesting the guardianship of those children.

"Today we have generous and loving grandparents around the country remortgaging their homes just to protect their grandchildren.

"It is an injustice and it needs to be fixed," Mrs Turner said, after raising the issue in Parliament today.

"We have people being means-tested, and having to go into huge debt all over again, at a time in their lives when they often have limited income, and have worked hard to get where they are.

"And why do they do it? Because there are kids out there who simply need them and whose lives may well be horrific without them.

"What they are doing is not just a good for their families, but for society as a whole if these people give a good and safe upbringing to young New Zealanders.

"Let's make sure they are not penalised for doing the right thing," Mrs Turner said.

Ends.

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