Reserved Applause For Budget’s Focus On Children
Save the Children New Zealand has welcomed the Government’s efforts to honour the Agenda for Children in the Budget
2004, but today said further action was needed to eliminate child poverty in New Zealand.
“While the Working for Families package is a promising start, the Government must go one step further and commit to a
date by which child poverty will be eliminated,” said Executive Director of Save the Children New Zealand John Bowis.
“Article 27 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) states that every child has a right to a
standard of living adequate for his or her physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development.”
“Having adopted the UNCRC in 1993, the New Zealand Government has an obligation to implement this right for New Zealand
children by providing material assistance and support programmes, particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and
housing. This budget is a step in the right direction.”
“On the basis of child’s rights and initial consideration, the key concerns for Save the Children New Zealand in
relation to the Budget 2004 are:
The “work will pay” incentive does not recognise those parents that choose to stay at home for the best interests of
their child. Children should not be made to suffer because their parents are not in work. The length of time it will
take for these benefits to become tangible, e.g. the first increase for family support doesn’t take place until April
2005 and the new “in work” payment is not introduced until 2006. The long-term best interests of the child. How can we
be confident that these initiatives are going to survive beyond 2007?”
“Nevertheless, Save the Children New Zealand is encouraged by this, the largest financial commitment to address child
poverty to date.”