Boys play on, Families lose

As the world marks 100 years of celebrating International Women's Day next Tuesday 8th March, in Aotearoa New Zealand the Prime Minister has announced possible funding cuts to Working for Families and increased funding to enable rugby world cup games to be played in earthquake affected Christchurch.

"Where is the equality in this? The boys play on, while women and families lose." says Rose Black and Anna Cox, researchers for Poverty Action Waikato.

The commercial enterprise of the Rugby World Cup is seemingly more valued than the everyday benefits many hard working people experience through Working for Families.

Governments cut backs on family support and spending in the social service sector leave women and children to carry the biggest impact of stretched Government resources. People and families living on the average wage or less face increasing difficulty meeting rising food and energy costs such as power and petrol.

With the reduced availability of paid work and less government support in many communities the undercurrent of crime and violence rises to the surface. Poverty Action Waikato is encouraging women to speak out about the many affects of poverty and inequality.

"The prioritising of business over families cannot continue. From the flood of government support for business, we have yet to see money trickle down to the creation of secure jobs to support those most in need. The government financing of business, including the rugby world cup, is not proving to be an effective way to deliver social security to our nation. "

Many people in our communities are experiencing growing hardship and poverty as the impact of the latest recession deepens. Come and listen to women speaking out about poverty and inequality Tuesday the 8th of March, Garden Place, Hamilton, 11.30am-1.30pm. Women from around the region will address the question: Poverty, why should we give a damn?

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