Greens welcome Every Child Counts pledge

All Green MPs will be signing Every Child Count’s new political pledge for children, Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said today.

Every Child Counts has launched a ‘Political pledge for children’ to enable political candidates to demonstrate their commitment to progressing children’s interests. “By challenging MPs and candidates to sign the pledge, Every Child Counts will put the 270,000 New Zealand children who are growing up in poverty on the political agenda,” Mrs Turei said.

“There are simple, affordable, and realistic solutions available to us right now to deal with child poverty. The Green Party has a plan to bring 100,000 children out of poverty by 2014. We have costed this plan and we know we can do it.

“The Green Party will make Working for Families work for all families by extending the In-Work Tax Credit it to every low income family.

“Extending the In Work Tax Credit would mean approximately 140,000 of the poorest families in New Zealand will receive important financial support to meet their children’s needs.

“Kids whose parents rely on benefits have the same needs as other kids from low-income families. They stand to gain the most from extra family income to cover the basics like rent, food, and power, but they are denied this support.

“The Human Rights Tribunal has found this to be discriminatory. Yet subsequent Labour and National Governments have continued this discrimination.”

Mrs Turei said providing better study support for sole parents and beneficiaries through the training incentive allowance was also important.

“We'd raise the minimum wage to help working parents, and ensure rental properties are warm and healthy for kids,” said Mrs Turei.

For more information on the Green Party’s plan to get 100,000 kids out of poverty visit http://www.greens.org.nz/endchildpoverty

ENDS

Authorised by Metiria Turei, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.

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