National’s Whiteware White Wash Won’t End Poverty

Pre-budget talk of a big focus on child poverty has proven to be nothing more than hot air, with   budget announcements falling well short of what is needed to help the 250,000 New Zealand kids that live in poverty, says Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

"A scheme where beneficiaries can borrow to buy whitewear doesn't cut it for hungry kids. This budget is a whitewear whitewash,” said Mrs Turei.

“While John Key is feasting with the likes of SkyCity and Warner Brothers, this budget doesn’t even offer crumbs for child poverty or vulnerable children.

“The Government is spending its time and money acting for vested interests, not defending our national interest. It is acting in the interest of the 2%, not all New Zealanders. 

“Bill English’s warning that he didn't believe there was a solution to poverty this week was obviously an excuse for not even trying to solve it.

“Of the thirty five short-term actions recommended by the Childrens’ Commissioners expert advisory group on solutions to child poverty, this budget acts on only three of them.

“Despite having the opportunity to meaningfully invest in kids the Government decided to spend their time and energy on doing deals with SkyCity instead.

“Vulnerable children have been forgotten and mislead. There is no food in schools programme, despite John Key and Bill English giving the distinct impression in the lead up to the budget that there would be.

“The budget has prioritised returning to a 0.04% surplus next year over investing in the interests of our most vulnerable children and taking real action to end poverty.

“This budget is another example of National acting on behalf of vested interests, not vulnerable children.” 

ENDS

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