Economy

poverty

What chance is there of a bipartisan approach to child poverty?

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 354 comments

The findings of the child poverty monitoring report are being released today.  One in four or 265,000 children live in poverty and one in ten live in severe poverty.  Children’s Commissioner Dr Russell Wills has called for a bipartisan political approach to the issue but Paula Bennett has replied by saying that she is incredibly proud of the Government’s record.  How can you be incredibly proud of allowing one in four children to live in poverty?

Child Poverty in New Zealand

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 212 comments

The Herald on Sunday this morning has produced a series of chilling articles showing that a computer glitch has caused the under reporting of abuse notifications, and a worrying increase in admission to hospital of children suffering form third world diseases.  And the Children’s Commissioner had to secure funding from a private trust so that the data for this report could be collated.  It makes you wonder if the Government wants to know the extent of child poverty in Aotearoa.

Census 2013: increase in inequality

Written By: karol
Date published: - 26 comments

NZ Census 2013 shows a widening income gap: rises for the haves; more struggle for the have nots.  Gains for women in education and some in the highest income brackets; more struggle for those on low incomes, especially beneficiaries impacted by Bennett’s punitive welfare reforms. Welcome to Key’s “Brighter Future”.

Battle weary & marginalised: state housing

Written By: karol
Date published: - 61 comments

The National government is destroying NZ’s state housing system.  Right of tenure removed,  a shift towards private provision of “social housing”,  housing campaigners marginalised, & Tracy Watkins crowing about the shift from the “welfare state”. Greens & Mana are for more state houses.  And Labour? [Update] Picket of (Nat) Party for the Rich Dec 8 Akl. NZH article.

Poverty, women & rape culture

Written By: karol
Date published: - 132 comments

In our highly gendered socio-economic system that has institutionalised poverty, gendered violence, sexual violence and rape culture, low income women are multiply disadvantaged.  Trigger warning: This post addresses some difficult and sensitive issues about poverty, women and rape culture. Subsequent comments will be tightly moderated.

‘Locked Up Warriors’: 101 East

Written By: karol
Date published: - 95 comments

On 101 East on Al Jazeera. Too many people in NZ prisons, especially Maori: too many in poverty; too much money spent on prisons; not enough for low income communities; some very good community initiatives. Is this a fair representation?

Super. Reprise.

Written By: KJT
Date published: - 41 comments

The meme of “we cannot afford super, welfare seems to be very powerful. So powerful, that even those who know better have been taken in.

Outsourcing poverty: Paula Bennett’s shame

Written By: karol
Date published: - 51 comments

A charity is taking on the funding of the essential work on monitoring poverty, in the face of Paula Bennett, Bill English and John Key et al failing to do their job: a return to Dickensian & Edwardian times.

Because it’s all about “me”

Written By: karol
Date published: - 22 comments

Cunliffe talked of moving from a “from a cost-based to a values-based” strategy. We need a new narrative: valuing all, including children of those on benefits; about long term benefits for all of less inequality & poverty, and more affordable housing & better public transport, & more.

Key loses his “Centre”, Herald spins right, Smith on the ropes

Written By: karol
Date published: - 35 comments

Cunliffe’s moderate, centre left Labour is on the rise; MSM-supported, NAct smears & negative spin is in over-drive.  John Key and the NZ Herald editorial  spin from the radical “neoliberal” right.  Slippery Nick Smith, a NAct weak point, is under concerted pressure. [Updated]

“Predistribution”: From Miliband to Cunliffe

Written By: karol
Date published: - 41 comments

Ed Miliband got the idea of pre-distribution from Jacob Hacker. Cunliffe has followed.  Can “pre-distribution” underpin a new direction for the left in NZ: one relevant to the challenges of the 21st century, especially in countering the too wide inequality gap & re-instating social democracy?

Beyond the MSM? You Bet!

Written By: karol
Date published: - 221 comments

David Cunliffe spoke to the Left base in the Daily Blog Live interview last night: economy, tax, employment, GCSB, TPPA & more.  He raises hopes for a new, post GFC social democratic vision. But he spoke to those with economic & policy knowledge. His nods towards better social security, away from bennie bashing, need fleshing out.

Vulnerable Children: The big picture

Written By: karol
Date published: - 43 comments

Yesterday Paula Bennett introduced the First Reading of the Vulnerable Children Bill.  Nat MPs separated child abuse from issues of poverty and income inequality.  Opposition MPs from Mana, Labour & The Greens called the Nats on it, arguing for the bigger picture.

Tales from the precariat: AAAP

Written By: karol
Date published: - 71 comments

Auckland Action Against Poverty did 3 days of advocacy action in New Lynn.  Their press releases & videos show the struggles of low income Kiwis to survive in John Key’s corporate-loving NZ.  The tales tell of a need for real social security legislation & a more client-friendly WINZ.

UBI. (Universal Basic Income).

Written By: KJT
Date published: - 232 comments

The concept of UBI has a long history in New Zealand.

Of course, we already have a UBI for those over 65.  Which has been extremely successful at eliminating poverty amongst the elderly, at a very moderate cost by international standards.

‘Mind the Gap” – the way forward

Written By: karol
Date published: - 77 comments

TV3’s Mind the Gap documentary (Bryan Bruce) is very important because it put before the general population the damaging impact of income inequality in a clear and and straightforward manner.  The solutions?  Ideas from academics, journalists, campaigners & opposition politicians/parties.

Poverty Watch 45

Written By: Anthony R0bins
Date published: - 20 comments

Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, Auckland’s beggar ban. What sort of country are we?

Poverty Watch 44

Written By: Anthony R0bins
Date published: - 3 comments

Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. Last week CPAG published a report on the links between poverty and child abuse, and why current government policy is misguided. So what did the second part of the report have to say?

Poverty Watch 43

Written By: Anthony R0bins
Date published: - 7 comments

Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. Last week CPAG published a report on the links between poverty and child abuse, and why current government policy is misguided. So what did the first part of the report have to say?

“The problem gambler”: Key & SkyCity

Written By: karol
Date published: - 10 comments

Brand Key – CEO of NZ Inc, speculator, gambler, spinmeister – epitomises the “neoliberal revolution”.  Gambling & other consumerist addictions are blamed on the individual. A court case against SkyCity shows the contradictory links between gambling, smoking, corporate influence & “insatiable consumerism.”

Poverty Watch 42

Written By: Anthony R0bins
Date published: - 86 comments

Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, the CPAG report on the links between poverty and child abuse, and why it shows that government policy is misguided. Green MP Holly Walker tries to get a straight answer out of Paula Bennett.

Poverty Watch 41

Written By: Anthony R0bins
Date published: - 3 comments

Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, the NBR “rich list” and the sick joke of “trickle down” wealth.

A king is born: Long Live Inequality!

Written By: karol
Date published: - 87 comments

UK children born on the same day as the new prince will get a silver penny: but their lives will be vastly different.  Left foot Forward spells out the inequalities between these new born.  John Key gushes over the new prince, while his government slashes, burns and fuels inequalities.

Poverty Watch 40

Written By: Anthony R0bins
Date published: - 10 comments

Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, poverty and educational outcomes.

Outsourcing: Scamming the system

Written By: karol
Date published: - 23 comments

A new report on the UK government’s outsourcing of public sector work is damning. Necessary and basic work to fulfill individual and social needs, (eg social security, unemployment, health care, education) is being “gamed” and scammed by monopolistic private contractors. Key’s government favours outsourcing to private profiteers.

Poverty Watch 39

Written By: Anthony R0bins
Date published: - 5 comments

Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, extracts from a piece by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. In contrast to our own disinterested government, it sets out what is really required to break the cycle of poverty.

A problem of “masculine” values

Written By: karol
Date published: - 121 comments

The MSM coverage of the Labour Party remit, led by right wing propagandists, is riddled with sexism and the same traditional masculinist values that marginalise the poor and those with least power. I repeat my post that critiques a speech on gender & politics at the 2012 Labour Party Conference.

Poverty Watch 38

Written By: Anthony R0bins
Date published: - 10 comments

Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, check out The Herald chat session with Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) ) co-convener Alan Johnson. What question would you have asked him?

Outlawing Begging

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 37 comments

Ironically during the week of Auckland’s big sleep out there has been a proposal to change Auckland Council’s by laws to provide for […]

Your country needs you

Written By: karol
Date published: - 76 comments

Slippery John Key continues with the theft of the common weal, while the Kiwis with the least powerful voices are being neglected. Labour MPs, it’s time to get over your personality politics, your divisions and careerist maneuverings, and step up.

Poverty Watch 37

Written By: Anthony R0bins
Date published: -

Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, a report from the English Children’s Commissioner on the 600,000 children driven into policy by their government’s policies, and check out the “Race to End Poverty”.

Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election round-up

Written By: karol
Date published: - 15 comments

Four contenders with excellent track records. Some important issues for the electorate have been highlighted, especially related to poverty, jobs, education, and affordable housing. Some commentators claim tomorrow’s by-election will be a test of this or that party’s strength.[update: RNZ interviews]