MEDIA ADVISORY – AUGUST 4TH 2014

Wellington Bishops Co-Host Forum on Child Poverty

The Anglican and Roman Catholic Bishops of Wellington have invited political party leaders to speak at a forum on child poverty.

The forum will be held Tuesday August 5th at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul at 6:30pm.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop, John Dew, says that New Zealand is a country blessed in resources, and whether New Zealand children experience wellbeing or poverty is matter of distributive choices and of political will.

“We have the opportunity and the ability to make this country what many believe and wish for – a great place to bring up children and the forum is a place to explore how,” says Archbishop John Dew

The Anglican Bishop of Wellington, Justin Duckworth, says there is a need for a national strategy across parties to address child poverty.

“While the church is not called to politics, the church is called to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and so has a duty to help people make wise political decisions. Those decisions can impact on the lives of children,” says Bishop Justin Duckworth.

The Children's Commissioner, Dr. Russell Wills, is the keynote speaker, followed by the bishops and politicians.

The current confirmed participants on the panel are politicians:
Hon David Cunliffe
Hon Peter Dunne
Hon Chris Finlayson
Te Ururoa Flavell
Hone Harawira
Jan Logie,
Asenati Lole-Taylor,

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