Politicians call for cross-party agreement to improve the lot of New Zealand children - Make My Future Fair – Meinga toku amua kia tika

Make My Future Fair – Meinga toku amua kia tika

Public Health Association media release 23 November 2015

The Public Health Association (PHA) commends UNICEF for its bold initiative to get cross-party agreement to address the needs of all New Zealand’s children.

Speaking at the launch of UNICEF’s new child advocacy website fairfuture.nz at Parliament on Wednesday last week, speakers from the Green Party, National and NZ First all endorsed a cross-party approach.

“We need all parties working together if we are to make a real difference for New Zealand kids,” says the PHA’s Chief Executive Officer Warren Lindberg.

“Despite signing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child in 1989, New Zealand continues to evidence poor outcomes for children. We must continue to advocate the needs of New Zealand children and work together for policy change.

“This requires a coordinated response from all political parties. The political willingness to work together, articulated at the fairfuture launch this week, was very encouraging.”

Fairfuture.nz is a new website designed to raise New Zealanders’ awareness about children’s issues.

“UNICEF continues to evidence strong leadership in child advocacy,” Lindberg says.

“The new website fairfuture.nz launched by UNICEF gives a comprehensive overview of children’s issues in New Zealand and provides thought leadership in this important area of public policy.”

Fairfuture.nzis effectively a call to action, Lindberg says.

“New Zealanders are concerned about these issues. This website gives community members a reference point. It is effectively a library of information about a whole range of issues impacting children.

“In time fairfuture.nz will stimulate public debate and increase pressure on Government to make sound policy choices in favour of children.

“The Public Health Association is especially concerned about the profile of Maori and Pasifika children who continue to experience hardship at twice the rate of other groups. These groups of children are growing and in 20 years will constitute 40 percent of New Zealand children.

“New migrant populations pose additional challenges. The population of New Zealand children will continue to diversify in coming years. New innovations will be required.

“My hope is that fairfuture.nz develops into a place where we can establish consensus about such issues, along with coordinated plans of action. I commend UNICEF for this very exciting initiative.”

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