What kind of country are we living in when...

[Edbear]

"Economists have proven it's cheaper to let Maori children die than spend money to provide equitable health treatment.

Maori children have some of the worst health outcomes in the country.

They make significantly fewer outpatient calls to hospitals, visit the doctor less, make fewer ACC claims, have fewer drugs prescribed, and undergo fewer lab tests than other groups.

Auckland University researchers say the health sector would "save" almost $25 million by doing nothing to improve the children's health outcomes, calculated on an annual basis.

There is no suggestion those involved in the study advocate such a position, and Northland doctor Clair Mills, who worked on the study, said the research found the social and long-term economic implications of doing nothing would be a far greater burden on the country to carry.

“The facts around inequities in child health of Maori are not new. It is the persistent ugly outcome of the whole way our society operates"."

At least the headline no longer reads as it did when I first read it this morning ("cheaper to let Maori children die than pay for their long term medical care"). I couldn't believe that a headline like that could appear, sure enough when i went to show my husband it had been changed to something along the line of "inequalities in healthcare for Maori children".

The media are in a ratings war and as with most wars the innocent civilians are the casualties along with the truth.

Yes, in most countries the indigenous people are in similar circumstances. They have been in this state for so many generations it will take a concentrated effort on all sides to change.

I know many of all races who are doing very well and interaction with those at the bottom show a major attitude problem which Psychologists refer to as "learned behaviour."

[Edbear]

You take that back, you take it back right fuckin now church boy!

And if I don't...?

[Drew]

And if I don't...?

Oh there'll be bad rep, baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad bloody rep!

[Edbear]

Oh there'll be bad rep, baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad bloody rep!

:

[schrodingers cat]

This isn't news. Compared to pakeha, minorities tend to have worse health and live in poorer conditions .

Now I'm not necessarily Mr Smokeu's biggest fan. He disappointed this time with what I though was a fairly balanced reply and moderate reaction to the flaming he has endured since. I was looking forward to a real shocker...

Anyhoo - with a bit of tweaking I've improved his post to convey the same sentiment without upsetting all the touchy feelies

I'd like everybody to try a whole lot harder trotting out things to be inscened about. Important issues like 'gingernut recipe changed' or 'Australia claims pavola it's own'. Shit that kiwis should really get burned up about!

[PrincessBandit]

And still I ask "what the hell kind of country are we living in when...:" (both articles on stuff's homepage tonight)



“A beaten and starving child was found by Greytown teachers foraging in rubbish bins for food after her adopted family barely clothed or fed her, a court has heard.
Russell Guy Kenneth Kennedy, 63, and Leonie Kennedy, 59, both of Wairarapa are both charged with cruelly ill-treating and wilfully neglecting a girl under the age of 16 between September 16, 1983 and July 6, 1987 in Greytown.
Both have pleaded not guilty. “
And then this:
“Children are alleged to have been tied up and insects, a snail and a spider put in their mouths at a Porirua house.
The parents of eight children have gone on trial in Wellington for neglecting them and committing sexual offences against them.
As well as sexually abusing the children, the father, 55, is accused of tying the children to a clothes line at their home and spinning them around.
He is also accused of using a knife to sexually assault three of his daughters and tying up some of the children and putting insects, a snail, and a spider in their mouths.
In the High Court at Wellington today prosecutor Geraldine Kelly said one of the children was raped on the kitchen table while the mother, 42, watched and two "uncles" took part in the abuse.
The mother is also accused of sexually assaulting both her daughters and her son.
The parents and "uncles" aged 39 and 56, have name suppression.
They have pleaded not guilty to a total of 51 charges…
Lawyer Paul Surridge, for the other "uncle" said the children did not come from a rosy home environment and might be saying some things to get attention for their plight.
The evidence came from dysfunctional children who were either untruthful or unreliable, he said. “

FFS! It just keeps getting more and more vile. Yes, it falls to the parents or guardians (hahahaha what fucking laughable terms for some) to care for the children of this country. No one wants a nanny state or big brother keeping the big eye on them but no one seems to be able to do a damned thing to stop this from continuing. Aaaarrggggh - makes me want to shoot the breeding arsewipes. Yeah, I don't usually swear like this but it rarks me up so badly.

[Drew]

I'm confused by the first article. This malnourished kid in the Wairarapa was 20 years ago, how are the parents just now coming infront of a court?

I still don't think it's the countries fault, but it makes me wanna vomit.

[onearmedbandit]

It's no different from people blaming KB for the things posted here. It ain't the sites fault, it's simply the members who do the postings. Should all the other members of KB be made to be responsible? Should SM and MT? Just the same as the issue at discussion here. It ain't NZ's fault. Nor is it the leaders of the country. Nor is everyone else responsible for it. It's the people doing the shit.

[Oakie]

For me the 'news' item originally quoted lost a fair chunk of credibility with it's first word. "Economists....".

[PrincessBandit]

It's no different from people blaming KB for the things posted here. It ain't the sites fault, it's simply the members who do the postings. Should all the other members of KB be made to be responsible? Should SM and MT? Just the same as the issue at discussion here. It ain't NZ's fault. Nor is it the leaders of the country. Nor is everyone else responsible for it. It's the people doing the shit.

I agree with you to a degree, but the end result is that these scumbags continue to abuse their kids at will with nothing to apparently stop them - they sure as hell ain't gonna stop of their own accord are they.

[Edbear]

I agree with you to a degree, but the end result is that these scumbags continue to abuse their kids at will with nothing to apparently stop them - they sure as hell ain't gonna stop of their own accord are they.

Sadly there is no easy answer. Neighbours usually know something is not right next door but either don't know how serious it is or are reluctant to get involved. All society can really do is publicise the issue to the same degree as smoking, alcohol and drug abuse is now. Make it publicly unnacceptable to do these things and encourage people to make the call.

[onearmedbandit]

I agree with you to a degree, but the end result is that these scumbags continue to abuse their kids at will with nothing to apparently stop them - they sure as hell ain't gonna stop of their own accord are they.

So what do you propose we as a society do then? The only actions I could see working would be, nah sorry no matter what we do it will still occur. I'm not saying that is acceptable, but I'm being a realist here. Even my old fall back, 'breeding licenses' would not stop it. The only thing that might work is the 'pre-cogs' from that Tom Cruise movie.

[mashman]

No one wants a nanny state or big brother keeping the big eye on them but no one seems to be able to do a damned thing to stop this from continuing.

Unfortunately this is likely to be the only "answer". The only alternative is to house, cloth and feed these children, as you say the guardians likely aren't doing a very good job of it. Who else will? As a society we aren't equipped to deal with this sort of thing because it all comes down to money. No I'm not harping on about the $$$, but that is very much the bottom line and if the "institutions" that we put in place to help these kids are run on a shoestring then we're likely to see these kids leaving their "home" and ending up on the streets (not necessarily homeless, but becoming streetwise). It's likely been said before and unfortunately will likely be abused by kids wanting away from their parents just because they don't like them, but kids need to know that there is somewhere safe they can go. We, as a society fail these kids just as much as the parents. Oh I know that 99% of you will harp on about the useless parents, and I agree with that whole heartedly, but that does not mean that the abuse hasn't happened and that it will stop and never ever happen again. We fail these kids because we do not provide a solid backup for them and at that point in time of their lives WE are responsible for them whether we like it or not.

Until we have the solid backup and these kids feel brave enough to out their parents, we will end up with pieces of shit getting away with fucked up despicable acts. We're not responsible for the abuse, but we could do a damn site more to keep its affects to a minimum... but as it takes $$$ to looks after hundreds/thousands of abused kids through to adulthood. I hold out little hope that we will be the society that made a realistic start.

[300weatherby]

"Economists have proven it's cheaper to let Maori children die than spend money to provide equitable health treatment.

Maori children have some of the worst health outcomes in the country.

They make significantly fewer outpatient calls to hospitals, visit the doctor less, make fewer ACC claims, have fewer drugs prescribed, and undergo fewer lab tests than other groups.

Auckland University researchers say the health sector would "save" almost $25 million by doing nothing to improve the children's health outcomes, calculated on an annual basis.

There is no suggestion those involved in the study advocate such a position, and Northland doctor Clair Mills, who worked on the study, said the research found the social and long-term economic implications of doing nothing would be a far greater burden on the country to carry.

“The facts around inequities in child health of Maori are not new. It is the persistent ugly outcome of the whole way our society operates"."

At least the headline no longer reads as it did when I first read it this morning ("cheaper to let Maori children die than pay for their long term medical care"). I couldn't believe that a headline like that could appear, sure enough when i went to show my husband it had been changed to something along the line of "inequalities in healthcare for Maori children".

Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars have gone into the pockets of those that "represent" moari. Funny how it doesn't trickle down to the lowest common denominator- go and give your local iwi shit about it and stop wanting to dig in my taxpayer pocket claiming discrimination- my kids get healthcare because I will go without fags, booze, pokies and I have standards.

There is no "inequality", go get the dough from your cash laden moari greivence gravy train, good luck with that by the way............

[jellywrestler]

And then this:
“Children are alleged to have been tied up and insects, a snail and a spider put in their mouths at a Porirua house.

That's cause the government put the smoke prices up and they can't afford proper food!