Child poverty in NZ (TV3 22/11)

[JimO]

cant help wondering why the people who are least able to look after and care for their kids have so many

[MIXONE]

cant help wondering why the people who are least able to look after and care for their kids have so many

I wonder too.Maybe condoms are too expensive.

[Usarka]

level of intelligence probably plays a part. Not PC sure, so sue me.

[Madness]

It's partly a money thing I reckon. For generations under our welfare system it's been a case of the more kids, the more money Winz gives you. End up with too many? - Just farm a few out to rellies

[Paul in NZ]

It's partly a money thing I reckon. For generations under our welfare system it's been a case of the more kids, the more money Winz gives you. End up with too many? - Just farm a few out to rellies

Sadly this is too true. Bonus points for a disability and extra dosh if the kids not yours....

[MisterD]

Why the fuck was blatant electioneering like this allowed in the last week of the campaign? Should have had a promotor statement...

Anyway here's the estimable Lindsay Mitchell.

Putting aside non-fatal preventable disease, as I pointed out earlier, in 1960 the infant mortality rate was 23 per 1,000 infants. Today the figure is 4.8.

So let's frame those statistics in Bryan's terms when he says, "150 babies died in New Zealand last year who might well be alive if they had been born in Sweden, Japan or even the Czech Republic."

1200 children born today might well be dead if they had been born in the 1960s. Born into that socialist era when New Zealanders, as he put it, owned everything including electricity and the rail, and our agricultural products had guaranteed access to the British market.

[Usarka]

There's been huge advances in medicine since the 1960s, your argument is invalid.

[ynot slow]

There's been huge advances in medicine since the 1960s, your argument is invalid.

Damn right,my mums dad had lung cancer and died in 1965ish,I had cancer and would've died in the 60's,but in the present era survived.And also had lung cancer recently,most certainly had been history back in the 60's.

The thing is food in schools,the Swedes have it sussed,good wholesome food for lunch,kids able to learn with energy and not worrying about tiredness due to hunger,hell the parents could get away with having a huge tea for them.How often after school did we all grab a sandwich or toast,biscuits etc at 3-3.30 after school only to be full at tea time lol.

Also why the schools can't recieve funding to buy a few crates of bread from the supermarkets,especially the bread due to be returned to the bakers for credit,the bread is then made into bread crumbs anyway,and is still only less than 2 days old,and great for toast, surely fonterra could supply butter and milk at a discount.The funding could even come from the pokie trusts,or lotto funding a bloody worthwhile cause.

[SMOKEU]

If you have a look at any black culture it's in their nature to breed like rabbits.

[caspernz]

Child poverty is quite a simple issue. Personal responsibility has gone by the wayside. Governments can't solve all problems for those too dumb to think for themselves. It's not a racial issue as much as it is lack of general education/intelligence. The DPB was meant to solve a problem, instead it has turned into a lifestyle choice for some. Perhaps the Chinese approach had merit after all?

[oneofsix]

Child poverty is quite a simple issue. Personal responsibility has gone by the wayside. Governments can't solve all problems for those too dumb to think for themselves. It's not a racial issue as much as it is lack of general education/intelligence. The DPB was meant to solve a problem, instead it has turned into a lifestyle choice for some. Perhaps the Chinese approach had merit after all?

cool no Sir Boib Jones and no John Keys. All problems solved. Well done Casper.

[White trash]

At the risk of getting flamed the fuck out of, here's my thoughts.

The Swedish model is something that should be thoroughly investigated and set an example to how New Zealand should be. What's wrong with $20 a week less for each child from Working For Familys credits in return for a healthy cooked meal for every child at school for lunch? What's wrong with a school nurse full time and GP visits twice weekly at each school?

All you cunts that jump up and down about bludgers with kids, why should they get handouts etc etc. Guess what, I work hard. Fucken hard in fact. About 65 hours a week all told. My family doesn't have the spare cash most weeks to pay $58 for an after hours doctors visit should one of the kids need it. I thought NZ was supposed to have a free healthcare system? Isn't that one of the many things that makes this country awesome? So make it properly free for the kids, as Mr Gareth Morgan pointed out. For every dollar spent early on in health care on prevention, you'll not spend $3 later on.

I'm struggling to see why this is a bad idea.

[oneofsix]

At the risk of getting flamed the fuck out of, here's my thoughts.

The Swedish model is something that should be thoroughly investigated and set an example to how New Zealand should be. What's wrong with $20 a week less for each child from Working For Familys credits in return for a healthy cooked meal for every child at school for lunch? What's wrong with a school nurse full time and GP visits twice weekly at each school?

All you cunts that jump up and down about bludgers with kids, why should they get handouts etc etc. Guess what, I work hard. Fucken hard in fact. About 65 hours a week all told. My family doesn't have the spare cash most weeks to pay $58 for an after hours doctors visit should one of the kids need it. I thought NZ was supposed to have a free healthcare system? Isn't that one of the many things that makes this country awesome? So make it properly free for the kids, as Mr Gareth Morgan pointed out. For every dollar spent early on in health care on prevention, you'll not spend $3 later on.

I'm struggling to see why this is a bad idea.

you are thinking long term. the cunts that jump up and down about bludgers with kids only tend to think short term and self centred. There should be no such thing as working for families, wages should be high enough to not require it. Higher wages more money on the go around instead of stuck in some fat cats investment account or being spent oversea by same fat cat.

[Maha]

It will take a generation (minimum) to see even the slightest move away from poverty in some homes.
In many cases, its inbred (from generations prior) into the children, that this is life.
During the mid 90's I worked in houses that were considered ''poverty strickened''.
Day after fucking day I saw shit that (in the end) done my head in..it was a six month contract and when it came time to renew said contract...I declined.
One little boy, possible 5-6 years old...cold -3 deg Rotorua morning, had his arse kicked out the door by his ''father'' and was told to'' stop fucking crying get to fuckin school''...little chap only had shorts and a shirt on..no shoes, no jersey...snot hanging out his nose yelling that he hasn't had breakfast.
Did that bother his old man?....na.
Within minutes, the childs parents were sitting at the table, coffee in hand and rolling a joint.
They asked if I minded?
I said ''I dont give a shit mate''...
Packed up my gear and fucked off...

That little boy will be an adult now...
Possibly have kids of his own...who are now getting the same treatment.

[Scuba_Steve]

I would say 1 of the differences between the NZ vs Sweden models was Sweden puts the money towards services that directly benefit the kids, we give the money to the parents & hope they use it to benefit the kids and we all know how well that's working...