Daniel Newman - Campaign Manager

New Zealand Labour Party - Manurewa Electorate

Manukau City schools are becoming foodbanks and soup kitchens for hungry children. The growth in school feeding programmes is yet another problem associated with poverty in Manukau City.

"What we are seeing is the net effect of the National/Act regimes 'policies to create poverty'. They are hell bent on destroying social services and hurting children who live in our community. It's very disheartening to see," said Labour's Manurewa Electorate campaign manager Daniel Newman.

The Salvation Army has pointed out that local residents are being forced to spend too much money on market rents for state housing. The hunger problem has worsened since the Government's last round of raising state house rents to market rates.

"Whilst the National/Act regime - supported by United, Mauri Pacific and New Zealand First - clap and cheer for market rents, Manukau City children are going to school feeling hungry with no lunch in their school bags. Politicians who get their kicks out of supporting market rents and letting Manukau children go to school hungry, are themselves pretty sick and disturbed," said Daniel Newman.

The Government forked out millions to spend on an APEC conference. But the National/Act regime is ignorant to the plight of Manukau City children and refuse to reverse their 'policies to create poverty'.

"I would love to see Jenny Shipley go without her lunch for a day or two. She's a prosperous women who has enjoyed her fair share of hearty lunches. She should go on a lunchtime famine like thousands of children throughout Manukau City," said Daniel Newman.

The problem of hungry children in school is yet another reason why local residents are not voting for the National/Act regime at the forthcoming general election.

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