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The new government is under immediate pressure to increase profit levels before Christmas.
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Dozens of social organizations are writing an open letter to Jacinda Ardern, urging her to act now on child poverty. Source: 1 NEWS
More than 50 organizations have written an open letter to the Prime Minister urging him to act now and help lift children out of poverty.
From beneficiary advocates to labor unions to Save the Children and the Salvation Army, a wide range of social organizations have signed the letter to Jacinda Ardern.
“The situation is urgent and it is growing. As the new government, you can release these limitations on individuals, families and children, ”the letter says.
“We ask you to urgently remove one of the biggest limitations on whānau and child welfare, before Christmas: not having enough income.”
Currently, the government is awarding tens of thousands of emergency food grants a month and food banks are under enormous pressure as increasing numbers of New Zealanders struggle to put food on the table.
One of the signers, the executive director of the Mental Health Foundation, Shaun Robinson, says that the profit lift is a “no-brainer.”
“There is ample evidence that poverty, particularly as it affects children, has significant impacts on poor mental health.”
He said Ardern could achieve many of his goals around child poverty and children’s mental health simply by increasing profits.
“This is a very quick fix, invest the money in making the benefits livable, especially for households with children, and you will achieve many of your policy results in a few months.”
The New Zealand National Council of Women has also co-signed.
Its president, Lisa Lawrence, told 1 NEWS that benefits have not kept up with increases in the cost of living, which means that those who receive social assistance are getting worse.
“Reduce life to a survival strategy … children should be able to thrive.”
“We pray that benefit rates across the country are re-examined so that no child is left in material poverty.”
Community volunteer and disability benefits recipient Stacey Ryan told 1 NEWS that this year’s $ 25 per week increase in benefits was not enough to make a substantial difference in her life.
“Because of my illnesses and disabilities, I can’t work anymore and an additional $ 25 a week doesn’t help me pay for the medications I need, let alone help pay my rent, pay my bills and keep my phone on.”
“For most people, they need an extra $ 100 to $ 150 a week, and that’s for one person alone,” he said.
Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta declined to comment on the benefit levels today when asked if they were sufficient.
But during the election campaign, the Labor Party said policies like Winter Energy Payment, Best Start and free school lunches were beginning to “change New Zealand’s record on child poverty.”
He said these, along with the Family Package, “have already lifted thousands of children out of poverty.”
The following groups have jointly signed the open letter, which will be sent to the Prime Minister tomorrow morning:
ActionStation, Auckland Action Against Poverty, Auckland City Mission, Auckland Womens Center, Barnardos, Belong Aotearoa, Beneficiaries & Unwaged Worker Trust, Beneficiary Advocacy Services Christchurch, Birthright NZ, CCS Disability Action, Child Poverty Action Group, Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Networks Aotearoa , Assembly of Disabled Persons, Equality Network, FinCap, FIRST Union, Lifewise, Manaaki Rangatahi, Manawatū Tenants’ Union, Māngere East Family Services, Mental Health Foundation, Methodist Alliance, Monte Cecilia, National Council of Women, New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations, Ngā Tāngata Microfinance, NZ Disability Advisory Trust, NZ Accessibility Advisory Trust, NZEI Te Riu Roa, Pacific Women’s Watch NZ, Public Issues Network: Methodist Church, Public Service Association, Tenants United, The Salvation Army, Save the Children, D Social Justice Group Anglican Diocese of Auckland, Social Link, St Matthews in the City, Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga: National Network of Family Violence Services, Tick for Kids, Tokona Te Raki, UCAN, Unite, Urban Neighbors of Hope, VisionWest, Waipareira Trust, We Are Beneficiaries, Wesley Community Action, Whānau Āwhina Plunket.
