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12 May 2010
The Office of the Children's Commissioner has published a newsletter on the Economic Position of Children. CPAG's Susan St John and Mike O'Brien have contributed two articles which can be accessed here:
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31 Mar 2010
The reforms are supposed to reduce 'dependency' and save money. There is no evidence they will do either.
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23 Feb 2010
Reminiscent of the welfare attacks of the early 1990s, there is a disturbing lack of empathy for the hardship endured by the people who cannot work or who can only work part-time while on a benefit.
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29 Jan 2010
New Zealand once enjoyed a reputation in tax as an international leader. As the Tax Working Group has explained, we have lost that edge. The tax system now falls woefully short on the standard criteria of equity, efficiency and administrative simplicity.
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21 Dec 2009
New Zealand, like most other western and non western countries, has an abysmal record when it comes to achieving successful educational outcomes for children of the poor.
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22 Jul 2009
In-Work Tax Credit does not fulfill its anti-child poverty role. Susan St John and Claire Dale ask if it can be justified as an in-work benefit. The answer is no, suggesting the IWTC is a hugely expensive ( $ 0.5 Billion pa), ineffective labour market tool that has had unfortunate consequences for the poorest children in New Zealand. The cost for every sole parent who got work is over $250,000, rising to infinity as those jobs disappear rapidly in the recession.
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26 May 2009
Next week the government begins nationwide public consultation around its controversial plans to introduce National Standards into all primary and intermediate schools from 2010. Depending on the form they take and the way they are used, National Standards could be a very damaging development for New Zealand or they could be more useful. The consultation will certainly warrant attention by all concerned with the wellbeing of New Zealand's children and its future prosperity.
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6 Mar 2009
This article summarises and reflects briefly upon the Human Rights Review Tribunal's decision (Dec 08) that the In-Work Tax Credit discriminates against some of the country's poorest children.
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19 Feb 2009
This primer is intended to illustrate the likely economic climate within which Child Poverty Action Group NZ and other NGOs will work over the next twelve months.
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11 Feb 2009
Child Poverty Action Group is bringing a legal case alleging the In-Work Tax Credit discriminates against many of New Zealand’s poorest children.
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22 Dec 2008
The girls down the road, aged about 8 to 12, look well cared for, clean and neatly dressed, if a little ravenous and rough-mannered at times. They're always grateful, though, when you give them food to take home... Never mind the incentivising; it's time to think of the children, says Tapu Misa.
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8 Dec 2008
Poverty, the resources parents can bring to their children’s schooling, and the aspirations and expectations held by both parents and their children all count towards achievement at school, says CPAG's Prof. Martin Thrupp
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9 Oct 2008
The Domestic Energy Users Network (DEUN) outlines key issues around household energy. Analysis shows decreasing affordability for low-income households, as domestic users subsidise others.
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22 Sep 2008
The Ministry of Social Development has released its 2008 Social Report. CPAG's Donna Wynd notes where progress has been made and outlines remaining gaps.
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9 Sep 2008
Particularly on behalf of children living far below the unofficial poverty line, Christian social service organisations have urged political parties to outline actions they will take towards better utilising our nation’s prosperity to reduce poverty.
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31 Aug 2008
Frances Morton of Metro magazine talked to a Mangere family who just manage to make ends meet but are working hard for a better future.
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30 Jun 2008
CPAG supported repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act in 2007, because it provided a legal defence for serious assaults on children in the name of parental discipline. In this briefing sheet, key arguments are provided by similarly supportive NGOs in response to vocal groups opposed to the newly amended law.
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28 Apr 2008
Edited by Dr Susan St John and Donna Wynd, and written by a range of experts this report outlines how increasing inequalities are harmful to children and society at large - and what to do about it. Download the executive summary here, or write to admin@cpag.org.nz to request a copy of the full report (~180pages). Suggested purchase price is $25 - for those able to afford it. Most important is that our information gets to where it needs to go!
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31 Jan 2008
Donna Wynd says coming to grips with some of the larger economic forces to which your family will be subject over the next year can be daunting. She gives some pointers on what to look out for in 2008.
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8 Jan 2008
Rotorua People's Advocacy Centre's new report finds that sole parents are often in relative poverty and have real difficulty getting a good work life balance whether they are in paid work or not. It calls for less punitive abatement rates of benefits.
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