World statistics day, some stats for the Government
The Green Party today joined Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson in welcoming World Statistics day, and called for reflection on New Zealand’s sobering inequality statistics.
“It’s great that John Key’s Government is celebrating world statistics day. I hope they take this opportunity to reflect on some of the New Zealand statistics that they have been helping to create,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.
- Current state house waiting list is over 10,000 households
- Government slashed the budget for upgrading and acquiring state houses by 85% from $120 million to $18 million
- 8,500 to 20,000 New Zealand households have extreme housing issues
- OECD report ranks New Zealand 23rd out of 30 for income inequality
- 230,000 children live below the poverty line in New Zealand.
“New Zealand can be a great country, we can be a society in which everyone has access to affordable housing, and all our children have enough to eat, said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.
“John Key’s Government needs to get serious about addressing poverty and inequality, so that all New Zealanders get a fair go. If John needs some ideas, he can see our Mind the Gap package which has shovel-ready initiatives for creating positive change in Aotearoa.
“Inequality is hurting everyone in New Zealand,” Mrs Turei said. “It lowers life expectancy in all income brackets, it increases obesity in all income brackets, it fills our hospitals and our prisons and we all pay.”
For more information
Link to the Green Party Mind the Gap package www.greens.org.nz/mindthegap