Matariki the right time to consider child impact assessment

Matariki the right time to consider child impact assessment

Public Health Association media release, 20 June 2012

Matariki, the Maori New Year, is an appropriate time to consider a new approach to supporting Maori children so they stop becoming the collateral damage of government policy, the Maori Affairs Select Committee heard today.

Keriata, Stuart, Strategic Advisor, Maori Public Health for the Public Health Association, told the Select Committee’s Inquiry into the determinants of wellbeing for Maori children that it is time to introduce tamariki impact assessment to evaluate the effects of government decisions on Maori children and their families.

“This time of rebirth and renewal provides the perfect setting for a new focus on fulfilling the needs of our children so tomorrow they can stand strong. We've had too many years of policies that have had unintended but adverse consequences for tamariki, and all the children of New Zealand.

“We got rid of Maori housing and changed social housing policies, and the unforeseen result was a huge increase in preventable infectious diseases caused by overcrowding. Tamariki impact assessment would test all central and local government policies social impact in the same way that new policies are currently tested for their regulatory impacts.

“It would be a cost-effective option for the government by reducing the health burden, and would help assure our commitment as a nation to children’s rights. Most importantly, however, impact assessment would send a clear message that our pepe, tamariki and rangatahi are assets and worth taking notice of.”

Child impact assessment is already being done in England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium and Scandinavia, and is supported here by former Children’s Commissioner Dr Ian Hassall. Two pilots have been run in Auckland and Manukau cities but Ms Stuart said tamariki impact assessment should be done at all levels and partner a national impact assessment just as the Maori Health Strategy sits alongside national health strategies right now.

“We believe this would be in line with the Whanau Ora approach, and it is something all families and whanau would benefit from.

“New Zealanders don't want their children collateral damage from policies and decisions that haven't all their implications fully considered.”

Ms Stuart urged the Select Committee to recommend to the government that child impact assessment be introduced.

“It’s a new year. Let’s also make this a new era where our children’s rights to health, happiness and social development are foremost in the decisions we make as a nation.

ENDS

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