31 January, 2007

Key’s focus on outcomes for children welcome

He Mana tō ia Tamaiti/ Every Child Counts* has welcomed John Key’s focus on the consequences for children of living in situations of disadvantage and social exclusion.

“In his ‘State of the Nation’ speech, Mr Key has acknowledged some of the serious issues affecting outcomes for children and shaping our society and economy, including poverty, parenting skills and social exclusion. And while National is yet to identify the specific policies it wishes to pursue, Every Child Counts welcomes the focus on what are critical issues for the future of today’s children and the way in which New Zealand develops,” said Every Child Counts Project Manager, Deborah Morris-Travers.

“While it is clear that the current government is making an effort to address some aspects of disadvantage, in reality it is very difficult to know the extent of disadvantage suffered by many children and families, or the progress made to improve their circumstances, because these are not pinpointed in our regularly recorded measures of poverty and living standards.

“This highlights the need for government and all political parties to identify what needs to be measured, and how often, so that we can monitor the impact of policies, be clear about what outcomes we seek for children, and ensure we are pursuing the right kinds of solutions.

“We would urge all political parties to work constructively together, and in partnership with parents, grandparents, educators, and community groups to advance programmes that better support children and prevent the so-called ‘underclass’ from becoming an entrenched feature of New Zealand society.

“In this, the role of non-governmental organisations is central. Community groups can improve access to social services for children and families, and are best placed to ensure that solutions are acceptable and responsive to communities. However, care needs to be taken to ensure that devolution is accompanied with sufficient resources and that services are based on the best available evidence.

“We should all be very clear that every single New Zealander will benefit from policies that put children at the centre and ensure that our youngest citizens grow up knowing they have opportunities to pursue, and have the skills to do so,” said Ms Morris-Travers.

ENDS

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