Launch of new Tick for Kids campaign - Tuesday 17 June

It takes a child to raise a country - new campaign to put children at the centre of this election

Child advocacy groups say that every year 60 babies under the age of one die from conditions linked to socio-economic status - a shocking indictment of our society’s failure to address inequality and child poverty.

That’s why an unprecedented number of child advocacy and welfare organisations have joined together to launch the national Tick for Kids campaign in Auckland today.

Grey Lynn School students will quiz politicians about what they will do for children’s rights this election.

Tick for Kids spokesperson, UNICEF NZ National Advocacy Manager, Deborah Morris-Travers says children must be a central focus in the election this year.

“Children have been neglected by our politicians and policy-makers for too long,” she says.

“They have been the collateral damage for many policies and laws that have led to increasing poverty. That fact that at least one baby dies from an illness linked to socio-economic status each week is unacceptable. New Zealanders have got to stand up for children and keep them in mind when they vote on 20 September.

“We want political parties to prioritise children’s access to quality health, housing, education and welfare to ensure every child has what they need to live a safe, happy and fulfilled life. Failure to ensure children do well is socially and economically costly. If we want our nation to do well, our children must do well. That’s why our campaign will repeat the message that “It takes a child to raise a country”.

“Opinion polls show a growing level of concern about New Zealand children living in poverty. We will be working to engage the public in Tick for Kids events around the country, urging them to take action and equipping them with questions to ask their candidates. To make progress for children we need both the public and politicians to take action.

The students will ask questions of politicians, including Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei, National MP Alfred Ngaro, Brendan Horan MP, Internet Party Leader Laila Harre, and candidates Michael Wood (Labour) and Te Hira Paenga (Maori Party).

Tick for Kids Supporters as at 17 June 2014
Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (ACYA)
Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand
Analytica
Brainwave Trust
Child Wellbeing Network
Child Poverty Action Group (CPA G)
Early Education Federation
Every Child Counts (ECC)
Far North Parent Mentoring
Feed the Need
Footsteps
Health Star Pacific
IHC New Zealand Inc.
Mana Ririki
National Council of Women
New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS)
New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU)
NZEI Te Riu Roa
New Zealand Medical Association
New Zealand Paediatric Society
Paparore School
Pillars
Plunket
Post Primary Teachers Association (PP TA)
Public Health Association (PHA)
Public Issues Network, Methodist Church
OMEP (World Organisation for Early Childhood) Aotearoa NZ
Quality Public Education Coalition (QPEC)
Robson Hanan Trust (Rethinking Crime and Punishment)
Smokefree Coalition
Te Ora Hou Aotearoa
Unicef NZ

ENDS

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