New fridge won’t help feed hungry kids
May 17, 2013 Comments Off Barbara WardThat the Government can find $40 million to help fund private schools but won’t spend just a third of that to feed hungry kids is nothing short of obscene, Labour's spokesperson for Children, Jacinda Ardern, says. “This budget was hyped by the Government as being one that might finally address child poverty. “It doesn’t. Instead it offers ...
Continue ReadingAppalling CYFs case may not be isolated
May 15, 2013 Comments Off Barbara WardThe appalling case of abuse and neglect of four young Lower Hutt children may be indicative of wider issues within Child Youth and Family, which Paula Bennett must address, Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says. “Ms Bennett confirmed today that CYFs knew about these children. “If it was monitoring the case, then it knew about the ...
Continue ReadingSmall change will make a big difference
May 13, 2013 Comments Off Barbara WardLabour is looking to help Kiwis on low incomes become financially independent with a new social lending initiative. “We know some 44 per cent of Kiwi families are living pay day to pay day,’ Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says. “A social lending scheme - run through a private-public partnership – will help ease the pressure ...
Continue ReadingStudents’ stories show StudyLink stinks
May 6, 2013 Comments Off Barbara WardStudents are having so much trouble with Government loan adviser StudyLink that National’s own youth wing have had to launch a campaign highlighting its poor service, Labour says. “Young National’s ‘easy does it’ approach and polite press release won’t ruffle Steven Joyce’s feathers, but students’ stories definitely will,” Labour’s Tertiary Education spokesperson Megan Woods said. "StudyLink is ...
Continue ReadingMusic month a reminder to keep foot on pedal
May 2, 2013 Comments Off Barbara WardNew Zealand Music Month provides the perfect opportunity to kick-start a national conversation on how to best support Kiwi musicians both here and abroad in a constantly changing environment, Labour’s Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says. “We know that events like May’s Music Month make a difference. Last month’s Record Store Day, for ...
Continue ReadingBennett must respond to demand she created
May 2, 2013 Comments Off Barbara WardNews that the Salvation Army may lose staff in-spite of a huge increase in demand for its services should come as no surprise to the government, says Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Jacinda Ardern. The Salvation Army, along with many other community based organisations, look set to lose the temporary Community Response Funding (CRF) when it comes ...
Continue ReadingAbuse of children in care can’t be ignored
May 2, 2013 Comments Off Barbara WardA report on the work of the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service should be enforced reading for anyone involved in keeping children in state care safe, Labour’s Social Development spokesperson and Spokesperson for Children, Jacinda Ardern says. The service was established in 2008 by the Labour government to provide assistance for people who allege abuse or ...
Continue ReadingJacinda Ardern to the Minister for Social Development 11/4/13
Apr 12, 2013 No Comments ›› Barbara Wardhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeMkg3kGjhA
Continue ReadingGovernment left red-faced? Probably not
Apr 10, 2013 No Comments ›› Barbara WardUNICEF’s latest report card on the well-being of children should embarrass the government into rethinking its stance on child poverty, Labour’s Social Development spokesperson and Spokesperson for Children, Jacinda Ardern, says. “New Zealand is one of just six countries that doesn’t collect enough data to fully measure how well our kids are doing compared with the ...
Continue ReadingWelfare Reforms mark the end of social contract
Apr 10, 2013 No Comments ›› Barbara WardThe passage of welfare reforms through Parliament last night deals a death blow to the ‘social contract’ and moves New Zealand closer to the kind of punitive system being adopted by the Conservatives in the United Kingdom, says Labour’s Social Development Spokesperson Jacinda Ardern. “Our social security system has always been a two way street. Those ...
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