Family poverty – 26,000 kiwi kids in poverty

This week is Social Justice week. The focus this year is family poverty.

Almost a quarter of all New Zealand families with children experience income poverty. 2014 Child Poverty Monitor

That means that these families live on less than 60% of New Zealand’s mean income.

Only 37% of the adults in these families are in paid employment.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has produced a short documentary – ‘Kiwi Families: It’s Our Story‘ – featuring four community groups across the country and the families they support.

It forms part of an awareness raising campaign about child poverty in New Zealand.

A DVD copy of the film can also be ordered from the Caritas office by email: caritas@caritas.org.nz or phone: 0800 22 10 22.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is encouraging people to share this story by organising a movie night this Social Justice Week.

Click here for a link to the Discussion and DVD Screening Guide to get some guidance on how to run a movie night, and how to discuss and debate some of the issues shown in the film.

This week is Social Justice Week, 13-19 September.

The focus this year is family poverty and what it would take for all Kiwi families to flourish.

The aim in 2015 is to increase awareness and understanding of the challenges struggling families face today in Aoteraoa New Zealand, while also inspiring people to take action. Resources for Social Justice Week

As well as using ‘Kiwi Families: It’s Our Story Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand suggests some other things that anyone can to:

  • Write to your local MP, councillor, decision makers and share with them your top three essentials that you believe every family need in order to flourish.
  • Take some time to pray for families that you know who are going through a hard time and listen to how God might be calling you to respond.
  • Support Social Justice Week events are being held in your parishes and community centres.

Cardinal John Dew will mark the beginning of the campaign and also launch The Poverty and Justice Bible with a special mass at the St Peter and Paul Mass Centre in Lower Hutt on Sunday, 13 September from 5:30pm. A showing of the Social Justice Week 20-minute documentary will follow the mass.

Produced in partnership with Bible Society New Zealand, The Poverty and Justice Bible uses the Catholic NRSV translation, but also includes a unique study section which was developed with The Catholic Institute and derived from the New Zealand Year 12 Religious Education curriculum and Caritas resources.

Event: Launch of Social Justice Week 2015 and The Poverty and Justice Bible
Venue: Catholic Parish of Te Awakairangi, St Peter and Paul Mass Centre 60 Knights Road, Lower Hutt
Date: 13 September, 2015
Time: 5:30pm start

Source

Additional reading

News category: New Zealand.

Tags: , , , ,