Speech: We must be open to do as much as we can for those who have the least opportunity

Appropriation (2008/09 Supplementary Estimates) Bill
Hon Tariana Turia, Co-leader of the Maori Party
Tuesday 23 June 2009; 5.10pm

This last weekend, Saturday night was a chance to sit in front of the fire; to cheer on the Allblacks and to laugh as the painted rooster outsmarted the security team at the cake-tin.

It was a bitter-sweet victory; a win on the night was not enough to secure the six point margin that we needed to win the trophy.

But we got over it.

But for five young New Zealanders it didn’t stop there. They took their anger out on an unsuspecting member of the French rugby team; punching him and throwing him to the ground in an unprovoked assault which left the player with a suspected broken eye socket and stitches to the face.

So what does this have to do with the additional expenses and capital expenditure required for the financial year?

Is it just an isolated attack that bears no further comment?

If we were to read yesterday’s papers, we might find a different story. With the headline, ‘Surge in violence during recession’ we could read that Christchurch women's refuges have seen a huge jump in women asking for help as the recession bites.

The Battered Women’s Trust described an extraordinary increase - a 60% increase from about 200 community clients a year ago, to now reaching about 360 clients.

At the other end of the motu, a Special Circumstances Court is being proposed to cater for the increasing numbers of homeless living on Auckland streets. The manager of the Methodist Mission Lifewise service has called for a 24-hour service hub as an initial contact point for homeless people.

Throughout the country the number of food parcels being given out has increased; the economy continues to lose jobs; and people are finding it impossible to stretch the family finances even further.

For many of these New Zealanders, the recession just signals more of the same.

These are the New Zealanders who live on the very low levels of absolute income – those who represent the extreme end of income disparity.

This then, is the phenomenon that the Maori Party expected to see addressed in the Appropriation (2008/09 Supplementary Estimates) Bill.

Mr Speaker, increasing levels of violence; homelessness; food deprivation; poverty – these are just some of the effects of the recession that must be spoken about.

We have been pleased to support the initiatives that have emerged in the Budget process to assist New Zealanders in responding to the impacts of the global economic downturn.

The Maori Party has gone on record, in looking at the opportunities that may arise for Maori from the $7.45 billion investment in infrastructure; or the allocation of up to $40 million for the community responses to the recession.

But there are other areas which could benefit from further analysis – and we have been looking to legislation with poverty in mind.

The Supplementary Estimates goes to some detail in specifying appropriations for the Wiri inland port rail link; a screen production incentive fund; a contribution to joint venture airports.

There are allocations for participation at the Expo 2010 Shanghai China; and more appropriations for state highways and railway development.

There’s investment in generating reserve electricity at Whirinaki – and even funding for a transformational initiatives fund.

But there is nothing in this Bill which is transformational in terms of eliminating poverty.

There is nothing to suggest that the earned income threshold for beneficiaries could rise to $80; or that over-crowding or homelessness will be addressed.

While the changes in emphasis regarding infrastructure and transport initiatives are to be expected, it is disappointing that the estimates contain so little about incentives for our most vulnerable populations.

The Child Poverty Action Group spell it out in no uncertain terms, and I quote;

“Insisting on fiscal prudence now at the expense of children will prove to be very short-sighted when the future social costs hit high”.

Mr Speaker, the Maori Party will not neglect the rights of our children; and we are committed to the long-term view – a view in which whanau ora prevails; a time when marginalisation is reduced.

And we will speak the words that others may be afraid to say – we will do what we can to prevent poverty; to address discriminatory language; to confront social exclusion.

Having an eye to the long term view means we are clear about the outcomes before we proceed on any policy process.

If the problem is that it costs over $600,000 to build a prison cell; the answer may be far more wide-ranging than creating a solution out of converted shipping containers.

It’s about reintegration and restoration of offenders; reducing the recidivist offender rates; putting in place whanau support to encourage offenders not to turn to crime.

If the problem is that approximately 5000 New Zealanders die each year from tobacco use; we should not be putting all of our investment into programmes which tell smokers to quit. We would be far more better off investing in early intervention and prevention strategies which discourage young people from ever starting; and one of them might be removing the tobacco from the shop shelves in the first place.

If the problem is boy racers, we might consider working with the boys themselves as a vital opportunity for change rather than focus on the vehicles alone; or better yet, in supporting youth networks, and positive youth employment initiatives.

All of the investment in reducing hospital waiting lists is in many ways meaningless, if the foundation of health promotion is eroded.

We must be open to do as much as we can for those who have the least opportunity.

How do we lift the sights of vulnerable children to let them know that their world can change? What does whanau ora mean for them? It should not a 21st century Oliver Twist – asking for more when there is no more to be had.

Mr Speaker, last week was Volunteers Awareness Week, and if there was one message which came through over and over again, it was to demonstrate how rewarding the gift of giving can be.

In my role as the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, I am constantly humbled by New Zealanders who show their humanity to one another, through the gifts of time, gifts of money, gifts in kind that they share. There is nothing more inspiring than to see such generosity transform lives.

I see everyday people who have rejected the race to clutter their homes with accumulated wealth, and who have instead dedicated themselves to helping others around them. It doesn’t matter how they give, it is the fact that they give in the first place.

Let these people become our model in this Parliament, to restore that sense of community spirit which will be so critical in our recovery.