14 October 2007

65 Pro-Family Groups Gather for Forum on the Family

More than 150 delegates representing over 60 family-focused organisations are gathering in Auckland on Monday for the second annual NZ Forum on the Family, hosted by Family First NZ.

Key speakers include ex-Cabinet Minister John Tamihere, TV producer Alison Harley, Ian Grant from Parents Inc, Christine Rankin from For the Sake of Our Children Trust, and Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

The Forum also features a Political Panel with MP's from eight of the parties currently represented in Parliament, including National's Judith Collins, Labour's Russell Fairbrother and Green's Sue Bradford fronting up to answer questions put by the organisations represented at the Forum.

"The purpose of the day is to bring a number of family, pro-life and marriage organisations together to synergise," says Forum spokesman Bob McCoskrie. "There are many family focused groups who, along with their thousands of members, are concerned about the breakdown of the family, the denial of the huge benefits to society of marriage, and a society which is counter-cultural to the role of parents and the safety of children and families."

"This forum will enable these groups to work together and to speak up for these issues more effectively."

Organisations represented include Family First NZ, For the Sake of our Children Trust, Sensible Sentencing Trust, Focus on the Family, Family Education Network (NZ), Family Life International, Prison Fellowship of NZ, Viewers for Television Excellence (VOTE), Grandparents raising GrandchildrenT Trust, FamilyLife, Union of Fathers, Right to Life NZ, Waipareira Alternative Education Unit, Open Home Foundation, Family Works Northern, and Homes of Hope Charitable Trust.

Topics to be discussed include tax policies for families, practical and relevant solutions to child abuse and domestic violence, support for beneficiary families, abortion laws, defending the role of parents, parenting and marriage issues, broadcasting standards, and acknowledging and resourcing the invaluable work being performed by our charitable organisations.

"This will be an important day for the many organisations in NZ who are seeing the first-hand the breakdown of families, the lack of support, and the desparate need for families and marriage to be strengthened. Strong families make a strong nation."

ENDS

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