Caritas the Catholic Justice and Peace Agency, welcomed the 2020 Budget, saying it provides a foundation of hope on which we can build a fairer society in which all can flourish. The Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Auckland says that while the Government has made an encouraging effort to meet the Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand welcomes a stronger focus on New Zealand’s most vulnerable people and indications of a long-term, integrated approach to climate change in this year’s Budget. “Earlier in the year, we supported the intergenerational wellbeing approach being taken in this year’s Budget,” said Caritas Director Julianne Hickey. “It is good to see a Read more
In welcoming the government’s Budget announcement today, Caritas says it heralds proposed changes that could help families, people on low incomes and the environment. The government will, however, still need to demonstrate how money reaches those at the grassroots and most impacted by poverty. They are still keen to hear how the Government will report Read more
Father Kevin Barr says Fiji’s 2014 budget is the first “people-centred” and “pro-poor” budget for many years. Speaking as a panellist on the topic “Implementation of Socio-Economic Rights’” at the Attorney-General’s 15th annual conference, he congratulated government on its initiatives and said the generous allocations for education would bring a radical change in parents’ ability Read more
The Holy See has suffered its largest budget deficit for 10 years, but growing numbers of visitors to the Vatican Museums gave the Vatican City State a healthy surplus. The Holy See finances for 2011 recorded a deficit of 14.9 million euros ($NZ22.9 million). Its budget covers the Vatican Secretariat of State and its worldwide Read more
Short-sighted policy changes, taking with one hand while giving with the other, may leave vulnerable groups short-changed in this year’s Budget, says Catholic social justice agency Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. Caritas Director Julianne Hickey says the Catholic agency assesses the impact of Budget measures through the lens of the common good: what will contribute to Read more
As Budget day rolled along, the public and politicians took to twitter to talk about the big issues of the day – from tax cuts and the country’s future, to David Shearer’s speech-making prowess and Winston Peter’s quips. Here’s our picks for the best of the day: Continue Reading
More money has been allocated for Maori education in the Budget presented on Thursday. But the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Hato Petera College in Auckland says the Budget has not brought much help to their school. Janice Smith says the Board of Trustees is grateful for 2% increase in their operating budget, Read more
Two Catholic organisations who had been planning participation in Saturday’s post Budget rally in Auckland withdrew support following a New Zealand Herald story about the civil disobedience intentions of some participants. The Herald reported that Meredydd Barrar, spokesman for newly formed Coalition for Social Justice, said that they intended to take action during the World Read more
Catholic social justice agency Caritas has put the government ‘on watch’ for the true impact of ‘re-prioritised spending’ and welfare changes expected later this year, following the 2011 Budget. Caritas director Michael Smith said the Catholic agency had looked for a budget which would protect the human dignity of the nation’s most vulnerable people, while Read more