Invitation to Fabian Society lecture – Tuesday 28 February 2012, Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, 5:30pm
“The Important Thing About Income Inequality is What You Do about it – Exploring the Path to Reducing Income Inequality
in Aotearoa New Zealand”
Paul Barber, Policy Advisor, New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services
While the tents of the Occupy protesters may be moved on, the issues of income inequality will not be pushed to one side
so easily. The backdrop of massive international social and economic disparities shape the context for the particular
challenges we face in Aotearoa New Zealand. Deputy Prime Minister Bill English has said that the important thing about
income inequality is what we actually do about it. This lecture looks at our current situation and asks – what (if anything) is being done about inequality
right now and what more we could do. Can we find a path to a social and political consensus on income inequality and
what might that path look like?
Please register here
Paul Barber (BCA, MTh) is Policy Advisor with the NZ Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) and is involved with
the networking, support, research and policy analysis for the social services of the churches. NZCCSS agencies work with
those most impacted by socio-economic disadvantage and are responding to the associated health and social impacts on a
daily basis. Through research and policy analysis NZCCSS works toward changes in national level policy in health,
housing and social policy to reduce poverty and inequality based on sound research evidence, experience of effective
social service practice and the principles of justice and compassion www.nzccss.org.nz. The Closer Together Whakatata Mai – reducing inequalities programme is focused on the issue of income inequality in Aotearoa New Zealand.
ENDS