13 February 2007

PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE

Speaking of Muesli bars…

The National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) is disappointed with the Minister of Social Development’s announcement that grand parents are to receive only part of the increase they have been expecting. NCWNZ believes the amount, which “reduces the disparity” in allowances paid to Foster parents versus grandparents or kinship carers, is a failure to recognise the seriousness of the situation.

The Minister has in effect just handed grandparents raising grandchildren a “muesli bar”, rather than delivering on the promise which would see these families receive the same entitlement as foster parents,” said Christine Low, NCWNZ National President. “The Minister himself has already described the inequity as ‘inherently unfair’, yet he appears reluctant to resolve it, instead opting to fall back on ‘we are working on it’.”

NCWNZ believes that many groups are tiring of half-measures and the ‘narrowing’ of gaps; people want parity. Hon. David Benson-Pope has the power to correct this situation.

“The level of poverty in New Zealand is being widely discussed by all. While not every grandparent carer is living below the poverty line, there are sufficient ‘just getting by’ to recognise that this part of the community needs more help. The majority of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren are retired and are on fixed incomes, i.e. Superannuation,”continued Christine Low. “This isn’t simply a matter of helping the grandparents; it is also about helping the children in their care, and recognising that they are our social investment.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media