maxim institute media release
27 March 2007

Connecting People Is At The Heart Of Social Justice

The Maxim Institute Forum 2007 – Pursuing Social Justice in New Zealand is about the case for connecting people together in our pursuit of social justice.

“People’s well-being depends on far more than the size of their bank account. It is time we viewed people holistically, recognising that their needs are best served in a relational way as institutional or bureaucratic assistance is only ever second-best,” says Maxim Institute CEO, Greg Fleming.

“There are lots of things government can and must do, but government cannot bestow identity, inspire hope or secure belonging; it cannot shape character or show love in the same way that communities can. These things, which are vital for human flourishing, are forged and sustained through living and dynamic relationships with family, charities, sports clubs, iwi, churches and faith communities.”

“New Zealand needs to stop looking to government to provide what the community does better. Social justice is at the heart of a free, just and compassionate society and it makes demands of each one of us: to care, to give and to be involved in the communities in which we live,” says Greg Fleming.

Keynote speaker, Professor Peter Saunders from the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) in Australia, says, “Government policies weaken communities when they remove the need for people to come together. Just because something is good doesn’t mean the State should provide it.”

Keynote speaker, Families Commissioner, Lyn Campbell QSM, says, “Real transformation takes place in people’s lives when they are connected to others in a meaningful way. There are simply no short-cuts to social justice. We must be prepared to get our hands dirty.”

Keynote speaker, Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft, says, “Serious youth offenders are ticking time bombs and too often they are struggling with interrelated problems that include the disconnection that follows relational breakdown. New Zealand must find ways of strengthening families and community support networks for young people.”

Greg Fleming says, “The debate about who is responsible for social justice is ultimately about what kind of country Kiwis want to live in. Government relies on the power of coercion and imposes its well-meaning programmes on the public; community-led organisations rely on altruism and thrive when their service is of genuine value to the public.”

“When government claims it can fix every social problem with yet another initiative, slowly it removes the need for us to care enough to give, to sacrifice and to connect with those in need. If we want to pursue social justice in New Zealand we must make strengthening communities a real priority,” says Fleming.

The Maxim Institute Forum 2007 – Pursuing Social Justice in New Zealand will take place on Friday 30 March at the Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE®. It will run from 1:00pm – 9:30pm.

ENDS

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