As the media and the political publicity machines grind into action because, it is Election Year 2014, it is interesting to look at some of the markers laid out for the Government to pay attention to towards the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014.
The National Council of Women of New Zealand, (NCWNZ) now heading for 117 years of continuous community service and political action on behalf of women and families, in their first Circular of the Year which has been delivered for the membership to devour and work out how their branch is going to turn it all into action and activity by members on behalf of all New Zealanders during 2014 and beyond, is my first port of call.
The opening page of the Circular has a review of young people by one of the younger members of NCWNZ Board giving the real deal on how young people are today, and as an older person it is an eye opener in many ways. The point is made that the New Zealand today differs markedly from the New Zealand of even a few years ago because we New Zealanders “come in all shapes and sizes, colours and personality types, from various backgrounds and upbringings, cultures and values. We live in different communities, will be cooking different meals for dinner tonight (if we cook at all) and we all have our own and differing opinions”.
She is often asked the question “so what exactly do young women want? What problems do you face? How can my organisation help?”
Some may not be aware that this well respected women’s organisation, NCWNZ, is going through the ‘growing pains’ of transition to the future, and not for the first time either. NCWNZ retain their original determination and vision ‘to make New Zealand a better place for women and their families’ and have begun by asking the obvious question “what does ‘better’ look like?” As NCWNZ reflects on this statement they clearly recognise the complexity of the statement and its multiple layers and the fact that it cannot all be done at once – there is no instant answer to the question posed. I wonder how many New Zealanders would consider what ‘better’ looks like in their community and what they would be willing and able to do to make theirs a ‘better community’?
This is 2014; a Parliamentary election year and the thing that shouts at me as a voter is that there are no spoken or published goals for each individual Member of Parliament that relates to their electorate and their many communities as well as their work in Parliament. There are apparently no goals for those Members of Parliament currently carrying Ministerial Portfolios. It seems to me that each Party should have a goals sheet that makes sense to the voting public and is achievable, whatever happens to the Budget. With no Manifesto in print any more and the seemingly ‘on the fly’ presentation of policy through the media and the ‘tit for tat’ between parties to out do each other in their largess, a goal sheet from each individual Member of Parliament might assist people to make sensible decisions based on the real intentions of the Political parties and individual Members of Parliament. People and Parties could really be held to account for a change. I am not talking about general and non specific intentions if they are elected and I am not talking about pipe dreams and juggling the budget and looking at their particular colour of voter needs, we all need factual, practical useful and workable goals to consider.
I believe that the time is right to look at New Zealand as it now is, with its ever changing and steadily increasing population of migrants, with its many poor people and the fact that Child Poverty is now the number one and most pressing challenge that we all as a nation have to address.
2014 is the 20th Anniversary of The United Nations International Year of the Family, making the necessity for change of political politicking, to having a good feasible, workable and honestly driven, cross government parties and cross government departments policy that will address this absolutely imperative problem solving process.
To appeal to all politicians not only must there be a desire to change the manner in which problems are addressed, particularly when they affect families whether young middle aged or elderly but specifically children of all ages, from the very youngest to those leaving university and there must be a desire to change the way in which care of all New Zealanders must underpin this move to a different and forward thinking series of processes that researches, listens and reads all the already collected data and information, consults those at the coal face and takes the best steps to begin to alleviate this terrible problem of child and family poverty and its down steam affects and effects. This may not mean throwing money at the problem and situation but in fact reconsidering the processes already in place and how to make them more effective useful and resolute for families and children.
Child Poverty did not simply happen overnight and even the highest in the land, The Governor General made it the subject in his 2014 New Year Speech
The New Year holidays are a time to enjoy the long summer days and reconnect with our family and friends. Spending time during the holidays at home, at the beach or at a park with our friends and whānau reminds us just how important our families are to us and our society.
During 2014 the family will be in the spotlight as the United Nations marks the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family.
In New Zealand the structure and dynamics of our families has changed. The notion of a typical family is open to interpretation. While our families are now more diverse, the desire of parents to raise their children in a caring, loving environment has not changed.
New Zealand is a great place to raise a family. I often hear people say that everyone should have a New Zealand childhood. The care we provide to our most vulnerable citizens – our children – is a barometer of the wellbeing of our families and our society. While most families successfully cope with the inevitable challenges life throws at us, some do not. New Zealand has a strong record of organisations, like Plunket and Birthright New Zealand, working with families to help them raise their children.
The 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family is a time to take stock. As a nation, and as communities, we need to both celebrate our successes, and examine how we can help those families facing particular difficulties, so every child can grow up in a safe and secure home.
Our families have faced challenges in the past, and have emerged stronger as a result.
The New Year holidays are a time to enjoy the long summer days and reconnect with our family and friends. Spending time during the holidays at home, at the beach or at a park with our friends and whānau reminds us just how important our families are to us and our society.
During 2014 the family will be in the spotlight as the United Nations marks the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family.
Our families have faced challenges in the past, and have emerged stronger as a result.
Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, GNZM QSO
Governor-General of New Zealand
1 Jan 2014
The well read and appreciated magazine North and South, February 2014, states, ‘We should be excited about Treasury’s rosy fiscal outlook, the government’s bigger tax take and high international dairy prices. So why is the glow of prosperity not shining on your household?’ The story begins with comment about the fact that the estimated annual rise for the past year is only 1.4%, and why that did not feel like a 1.4% inflation year and what is likely to happen in the coming year with the expected rises to insurance bills, rates and tertiary institution fees. The magazine discusses the clear disconnect between the Consumer Price Index and its measurement of inflation. It notes that the disconnect is exacerbated when incomes fail to keep up with the published inflation rate. It points out that many people have not had pay rises, or miniscule ones only, for many years It then goes on to address this affect on families, those owning a home, those considering getting divorced, the personal cost of turning up for work, the cost of spending your petty cash on pets, the costs of all insurance otherwise known as the price of peace of mind, what women need to succeed in this fiscal stupidity, the cost of marriage and of burial for the dearly departed. Constantly the magazine notes that many Kiwi’s household incomes are not keeping pace with their expenses. The affects on what is euphemistically called the middle class is not keeping pace with the inflation that government describes a low inflation but North and South proves that this is simply a rort. All of this information means that the effect on low income families is considerably more.
In seeking an appropriate quote to end this blog I rather liked the following quotes
“You can't fix by analysis what you bungled by design”, Light, Singer and Willett
“Facts speak louder than statistics”, Mr. Justice Streatfield (1950)
“He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts--for support rather than illumination”. Andrew Lang
“If you need statistics to prove it, it isn't true”. Professor Barbara Doyle”
Seems to me that all although collected statistical information by government agencies is helpful but used for political gainsay all these quotes say much the same – the means do not deserve the political ends to which they are put.
New Zealand has a problem of child and family poverty and we need to fix it NOW, with real and useful cross party support. We need to live in a fairer society not one driven by political ideologies and disinterest. The dollar is not ‘Mighty’ when people are starving, improperly sheltered and living in an uncaring political environment that plays fast and loose with people lives, we need to do something about this NOW!