17 June 2011

“Like the waters of the Mighty Waikato, we want goods and services to circulate and sustain life, not trickle down. A society with a reduced gap between rich and poor is better for all of us” says Archbishop David Moxon, Champion of the Whakatata Mai, Closer Together campaign that is being launched in the Waikato next Friday.

The NZ Council of Christian Social Services is calling on everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand to help get Closer Together Whakatata Mai by reducing income inequality. Poverty Action Waikato is the regional support group for the campaign.

Since the 1980’s NZ society has become increasingly unequal, not because the poor are getting poorer, but rather that the rich are getting richer. Figures show that most of the increase in inequality over the past decade was due to a larger overall rise in incomes for people in the top 20% bracket.

In a recent report, Poverty Action Waikato highlights how house prices in coastal locations in the Waikato are driven by the demands of the rich for holiday homes, leaving local residents with a lack of affordable housing.

“We are aware of people moving towns to find cheaper places to live. The trouble is that when people move towns they leave all their support systems behind. Inequality is tearing our communities apart. When household incomes are adequate and less extreme, communities are more cohesive.” says Rose Black, Poverty Action Waikato

Research shows that countries and communities with lower inequality work together better, are healthier, suffer fewer social problems and are more environmentally sustainable.

“Greater equality means stability and security. These are the foundations of good relationship and trusting communities, and this is why campaigns like Whakatata Mai make sense” Rose Black says.

ENDS

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