27 May 2005

Media Statement

Auckland City Council supports Every Child Counts

Auckland City councillors last night voted overwhelmingly in favour of backing the Every Child Counts campaign following an eloquent address by Cnr Cathy Casey.

“It is exciting to see this support from local government,” said Dr Emma Davies, spokesperson for Every Child Counts. “Auckland is the first council to sign up in support of the campaign – and we hope councils all around the country will follow their lead. This kind of support from councils and other prominent organisations is hugely important because they play a pivotal role in policy development. There has also been tremendous support from many mayors around New Zealand. We see this as very significant endorsement of Every Child Counts’ aims.”

Every Child Counts is a coalition of individuals and organisations from all sectors of New Zealand life campaigning to promote children’s interests in the context of the general election and encouraging New Zealanders to recognise the role of children in the social and economic development of the nation. Increasing the visibility of children in public policy decision-making is one of the central aims of the campaign, along with a call for the next government to commit to eliminating child poverty, reducing child abuse and neglect, and ensuring all children get a good start in life.

The aims of Every Child Counts are consistent with Auckland City Council’s own aspirations for the city’s children as stated in its newly drafted Child and Family Policy, Growing Up Together. That policy sets out a number of aims and objectives, including encouraging children to participate in council decision-making, helping children be active and healthy, ensuring Auckland City is welcoming and safe for children and working with other agencies and service providers to meet children’s and families’ needs. That policy is currently available on the council’s website for public comment.

“There is growing concern about the well-being of many of New Zealand’s children,” said Dr Davies. “Signing up in support of Every Child Counts is one way of expressing that concern; it is also a way of expressing a desire for a New Zealand we can be proud of, one in which all children can thrive and reach their full potential.”

The public are invited to demonstrate their support for the nation’s children by adding
their names to the Every Child Counts campaign at www.everychildcounts.org.nz.

Ends

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