PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE FAMILY PARTY
21 November 2007
The Family Party welcomes family research funding

The Family Party is welcoming Government’s pledge of $7million towards research into children and families, that will look at parenting behaviours, health and environmental factors, child development, education, nutrition and social interactions.

The Longitudinal Study will be the first New Zealand longitudinal study to start before the children were born. (http://www.stuff.co.nz/4280920a6160.html refers)

Richard Lewis, leader of The Family Party, says that while the research is necessary, its findings will likely only reinforce what people already know, that family ‘form’ is very important in healthy child development.

“Enduring two parent families are generally the best environment to raise children and government should encourage this family dynamic in every way. The increase in youth crime, alcohol and drug abuse and anti-social behaviour amongst our young people can largely be attributed to dysfunctional family environments,” he says.

Mr Lewis says nearly a decade of social engineering under Labour has disempowered families and weakened family structure. “Everyone is concerned at the alarming trends of harmful behaviour amongst New Zealand’s youth. Government has to come back to basics and restore strength and status to families through policies that put families ahead of party politics” he says.

Family Party policies aim to enhance the social and economic position of New Zealand families. Its first stage of policies will be released early December to coincide with the launch of its office in the Mangere Town Centre.

ENDS

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