This is about saving lives of young children and older people especially, who are made ill by the condition of their homes and die as a result. Continue reading

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Laws are going to be changed, requiring solo parents on a benefit to look for part-time work when their youngest child is five and fulltime work when that child turns 14.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says extensive skill training programmes and help with childcare are essential parts of her package. "We're not cutting benefits, we're trying to move people ahead and we're not being punitive," she said. "Long-term reliance on benefits is one of the worst things that can happen to families and we need to help them get off it."

Responding to claims these reforms amounted to beneficiary bashing and were unrealistic the Prime Minster, John Key expressed the opinion that plenty of women go back to work when their baby is a year old and that it makes financial sense to do so.

Labour, NZ First, the Greens and the Mana Party say there aren't any jobs available and beneficiaries are being unfairly targeted.

Child Poverty Action Group says at the time when the Government is consulting on vulnerable children, it's about to blow a huge hole in the safety net provided to thousands of children whose parents are on a benefit. Spokesman Dr Mike O'Brien says there are also issues around what provisions will be put in place to protect parents of high-needs children.He says the proposals suggest there's no understanding within the Government that the care of children is hard work.

New Zealand Council of Christian Social Service's (NZCCSS) most recent Vulnerability Report, published in September 2011, concluded that the increasing hardening of access to government benefits and housing is resulting in higher levels of vulnerability and more people wanting services from social support organisations. It said most NZCCSS members experienced another strong increase in demands for their services.

The NZCCSS is fostering debate to encourage politicians to address the impact of income inequality through government policy.

NZCCS represents six denominations — Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist and the Salvation Army — who are responsible for about 500 social service delivery sites nationwide.

The changes in benefit eligibility and access to state housing in particular seem to have been having an impact. "There has been a large drop in the number of hardship grants - including for food and benefit advances to help pay for power. This appears to be a direct result of the requirement to get budgeting advice if you need to get more than three grants a year", said NZCCSS Executive Officer, Trevor McGlinchey. "Community social service providers have been coping with a surge in budget advice referrals, and while some areas in Auckland had a drop in demand for food parcels many others have had a marked increase in requests."

"The National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) believes in principle that stage one of the Government's welfare reforms represents a positive step in the right direction," NCWNZ President Elizabeth Bang said today.

The National Business Review has an extensive list of links to blogs and opinions about the welfare reforms.

• The Manawatu Standard
• NZCCSS
• NewstalkZB
• TV3
• The Christian Century
• Image: Stuff.co.nz

In a statement being distributed to Catholic parishes throughout the country, the bishops emphasise that politics is not a private affair and that the election is an opportunity to help secure the common good.

President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop John Dew of Wellington, says when we are making political choices we need to think beyond what will be "better for me" and think about what will be "better for us".

"We need to ask whether political policy options enhance our life together as a community, and most importantly, whether they protect the vulnerable," he says.

In the statement the bishops ask whether we merely consider a "shopping list" of political choices.

They suggest we can instead be dynamic and active advocates for political choices such as valuing human life, protecting the poor and vulnerable in our society, enhancing our relationships and communities, and preserving the goods of the earth.

The bishops recognise that there are many different possible policies or options which could achieve a just and fair society. They ask that people use their consciences to challenge and debate the options put forward by political parties to help ensure the outcomes of the election build the common good of all.

"We must look to the good of all members of our communities," says Archbishop Dew, "not just to our own needs and wants".

"Participation in the democratic process is important. During elections, we have the opportunity and responsibility to address the needs of all in our community".

Church leaders are challenging all political parties to acknowledge their shared responsibility to provide a just share of society's wealth and resources for all its citizens, especially the most vulnerable.

This includes adequate income for everyone, fair taxation policies, access to good health care, affordable housing, and provision for sustainable living.

The church leaders state that: "These are not privileges but part of the common heritage of humanity. Social welfare is part of a greater picture of social, economic and environmental priorities and decisions about spending. Caring for others makes us better people and strengthens our community."

The signatories to the statement: Rodney Macann, National Leader, Baptist Churches of New Zealand
Most Reverend John Dew, Catholic Archbishop of Wellington
Most Reverend David Moxon, Archbishop, Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia
Reverend Desmond Cooper, President, Methodist Church of New Zealand
Right Reverend Peter Cheyne, Moderator, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
Commissioner Donald Bell, Territorial Commander, Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga
Pastor Ken Harrison, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand

Download and read Christian Leaders' statement

• NZCBC
• Image: Liberation

"Our members do not want to be constantly battling the symptoms of underinvestment in families", said Ruby. "Children deserve to live in families who have enough income to provide reasonable homes, food and clothing. Without sufficient support children from our poorest families will have a lifetime of physical, educational and social disadvantage".

Source:

• Voxy.co.nz
• Image: forgeignpolicyblogs.com