Winston Peters puts children on the election agenda

Every Child Counts congratulates Winston Peters, Leader of NZ First, for putting children into the election bidding contest. Earlier in the week Winston Peters promised that NZ First would make free healthcare for all primary children central to any post election coalition talks.

“Available healthcare for all children irrespective of family income is a critical element of any programme of giving children a good early start – one of Every Child Counts four core policies,” said Murray Edridge, spokesperson for Every Child Counts. “Children are our future and good health is basic to their development into fulfilling and productive adulthood.”

“All who work with parents and families know how real the impact of free healthcare is. It is no surprise therefore to find that in the Littlies Lobby UMR Research survey of parents with children under five years, rated the issue as the most helpful.

“So far, politicians have successfully marginalised children’s needs in their election campaigning. Winston Peters has placed them on the election agenda with this proposal,” he concluded.

Every Child Counts is a coalition including Barnardos, Plunket, Save the Children, Unicef NZ and AUT’s Institute of Public Policy, supported by more than 325 other organisations and thousands of individual supporters. It will be providing informed comment, sometimes critical, throughout the election campaign, identifying sensible or poor policy proposals from any political party from a children’s perspective.

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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