January 20 2012

The Green Paper Campervan drive is on to collect submissions

The drive is on to collect more submissions on the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children, with a Green Paper campervan driving from Kerikeri in the north to Invercargill in the south, making 32-stops over 13-days.

“There has never been a more important national debate, that’s why we need to take this issue literally to the people on the street,” said the former All Black Norm Hewitt. Norm is one of three Green Paper Champions, who have been leading the discussion around how New Zealand tackles its child abuse record.

Last July the Social Development Minister Paula Bennett released the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children, a discussion document that calls for all New Zealanders to give their views on what changes might help this country’s 160,000 vulnerable children.

“There are many ways people can make their submissions, and they can be as long or as short as they like,” said Norm. “They can be via Facebook, Twitter, our www.saysomething.org.nz website, or the old-fashioned way by post. And now they can make submissions at our Green Paper campervan. To get to as much of the country as possible, on Monday (January 23) our representatives will be starting a drive that takes them through at least 32 different locations in 26 towns and cities around the country. At the same time the Minister is visiting 14 mostly different locations, so between us we’re covering a lot of the country.

“Our representatives will be setting up in a busy area and asking people to fill out a submission form there and then, or take one away with them. If they want, they can also record their submission on video. This is our chance to tell the Government how we think we, as a country, can look after our children better. We all think something, now’s the time to say something, so I hope everyone will look out for the Green Paper campervan in their town. They can’t miss it – it’s marked with the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children logo and will be flanked by enormous flags.”

The Green Paper campervan is driving to: Kerikeri, Paihia, Whangarei, Thames, Paeroa, Waihi, Te Aroha, Hamilton, Tauranga, Mt Maunganui, Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Stratford, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Levin, Paraparaumu, Picton, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill.

(Editors, please note, these locations are NOT for the Minister’s tour – these are for the Green Paper campervan drive only)

Saying something on the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children is easy:

• Visit www.saysomething.org.nz and make a submission online.
•
• Email to yourresponse@childrensactionplan.govt.nz.
•
• Pick up a freepost submission flyer from WINZ offices
•
• Mail: Green Paper for Vulnerable Children, PO Box 1556, Wellington 6140.
•
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/greenpaperonchildren
•
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/greenpapernz

Submissions close on 28 February 2012.

For more information: For the Green Paper campervan drive, call Lee-Anne Duncan 021 751 763. For the Minister’s tour, call Luke Goldsmith 021 564 909.

Lee-Anne Duncan | Green Paper for Vulnerable Children

Have your say to help protect vulnerable children from abuse. www.saysomething.org.nz

Child, Family and Community Policy

Ministry of Social Development - Te Manatu Whakahiato Ora

ends

© Scoop Media