Church congratulated on child poverty stand

The efforts by the bishops of the Anglican Church to ensure that the issue of child poverty is not forgotten is a call to all New Zealanders to take action, says Labour's Interfaith-Dialogue Spokesperson, Su'a William Sio.

'I think the Anglican Church is right on the mark and this Government has to focus on child poverty in the next 3 years and we have to hold them to it.

'All New Zealanders, especially our faith communities should be standing together to demand from this Government the eradication of child poverty in New Zealand. This is the right thing to do. All other issues pale into insignificance and distract us from achieving the eradication of child poverty.

'Child poverty was raised by almost all the political parties in recognition that we've got one in five of our kids who don't have the fundamental essentials of life.

'These children and the families they belong to are deprived of the most basic human needs. Many of these families are now classified as working poor.

'They work but do not have sufficient hours. They earn a wage, but can't sustain themselves on what they earn. They don't get enough to eat, they are living in inadequate housing or homeless, they face third world diseases; they have inadequate shoes and clothing; and often sleep in cold and damp conditions at night.

'Every one I know aspires to get ahead. They want a job that pays well. They want a roof over their head and they want to provide for their families and see their children excel at school,” says Su'a William Sio.

The Anglican Church have created a booklet as part of a campaign they have launched to get Anglicans to reflect, pray and take action on child poverty.

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2 comments

Wisechief

Posted on 22-10-2014 17:43 | By Wise Chief

Churches should have stuck up for beneficiaries when government started slashing benefits while keeping wages low in feigned effort to supposedly de-incentivize people staying on the dole to long in vain attempt to appease public fears generated via arrogant ignorant biased media. This was is the direct cause of the misery we have today now being suffered mostly via Children and Elderly on set small pension. KIWIS need not forget all the hidden and huge rise in suicides and domestic violence over this time frame and huge deliberately generated rise in Private Prison population specifically poor unemployed Maori and Islanders. Topping all this are the people hunters the POLICE STATE now armed with every weapon deemed required to quell or kill those who resist, police no longer needing a warrant to enter ones home for even the lamest of minor suspicions of a nark in one's street.


Poverty in NZ

Posted on 02-11-2014 12:54 | By Watchdog

Churches have always stood up for Beneficiaries and probably understand the situation better than government does itself. The will to solve the problem has to come from all politicians. It is notable that the Salvation Army commissioned a report on poverty to show the Govt just how serious Child poverty and poverty among our Beneficiaries really is. I suggest to have a look at http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/127944/hardship-report-shows-'bleak'-picture for some details and do further research if you wish. My own church works hard to find accommodation, furniture, giving budgeting advice, food and other support where it can. I have been involved with some of the care for elderly in their own homes and I can agree that the Govt-set remuneration for doing this work is way out of date. However, I personally look at it more as doing satisfying voluntary work with a modicum of remuneration. Heart is more important than money.


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