Readers might like to watch the following video from Deborah Morris-Travers, from UNICEF and Every Child Counts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxnKtVHEmWg

Deborah says: “We must be constant in our calls on the Government to meet its obligations to our children… just as we work tirelessly in our homes and communities to meet our own obligations to children.

There is important work underway but we really need all New Zealanders paying attention and helping us create the momentum for change. It’s time to innovate and work together to fix one of the biggest problems of our generation…”

On April 1, CPAG will be launching a campaign ‘Fix Working for Families’ asking the Government to strengthen the Working for Families income support by making the In-Work Tax Credit (IWTC) available to ALL low income families. The impact the extra income ­- $72.50 per week as at April 1 ­- would make to families in poverty would be huge.

Your financial support now can help to make the sure we have the resources to build campaigns for fairer support for ALL children in the coming year.

CPAG receives no government funding which allows us to continue as a strong and independent voice. Nor do we accept or apply for funds from the profits of gambling. CPAG’s work has been made possible only through the generous support of many organisations and individuals who share our values and vision. Please help us continue the vital research, education and advocacy for the most vulnerable children in Aotearoa-New Zealand .

Please donate before the end of the financial year and also consider returning your rebate to CPAG. For every donation* you make to Child Poverty Action Group you are eligible to receive a 33.3% tax rebate.

Easy ways to donate to CPAG :
Direct Debit
Name of account: Child Poverty Action Group Inc
Account number: 38-9003-0066858-00
Reference: your name and DONATION
Cheque
Make your cheque out to: Child Poverty Action Group (Inc) and post to PO Box 56 11, Wellesley St, Auckland 1141.
Credit or debit card
Using our givealittle fundraising site

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

The CPAG Team

Children’s rights: towards social justice

You are warmly invited to a seminar celebrating the launch of Children’s Rights – Towards Social Justice, a new book by Emeritus Professor Anne Smith.

This seminar, which is being hosted by the Child Wellbeing Network and Variety – the Children’s Charity, will be an opportunity to network and discuss children’s issues with a wide range of people committed to promoting child wellbeing.

12 April 2016, 12.30-1.30pm

Aronui Lecture Theatre
The Royal Society of New Zealand
11 Turnbull Street, Thorndon
Wellington

Find out more.

Tick for Kids is a coalition of organisations and individuals working to make children’s rights and interests a central focus for all MPs.

The coalition is in the process of setting up Tick for Kids groups in different areas across the country where people interested in advocating for better policies for children can connect, campaign and advocate locally (and help roll out national Tick for Kids campaigns in their area).

We’re looking for people interested in helping set up a group in their area – though you won’t have to do it alone as interested people will be connected with others. If you’re interested in finding out more please contact Lisa at Every Child Counts – 021 1228 273 / [email protected]

Or if you know of a network already operating in your area that would be useful for Tick for Kids to connect with, it would be great to hear from you.

Auckland Actions Against Poverty (AAAP) is accepting applications of interest to volunteer at its 2016 Benefit Impact at the Mangere Work and Income, on Tuesday 5, Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 April.

During this Impact AAAP, in conjunction with advocates from around the North Island, aim to provide one-on-one advocacy to over 500 beneficiaries and low paid workers from Mangere and the wider Auckland area to ensure they are receiving their full legal welfare entitlements.

The group aims to work with approximately 50 advocates plus other volunteers each day to provide first class advocacy. They would like to invite you to register your interest in volunteering as either an advocate, runner, political worker or supporter/food/catering (see attached for role descriptions). The Ministry of Social Development will put on approximately 20 staff each day to cope with the influx.

This will be the fourth Impact event that AAAP has hosted. It hosted the first Impact ever held in the Auckland region at the Onehunga Work and Income office in December 2012. In 2013 at New Lynn Work and Income 257 people were supported to access their full and correct benefit entitlements, and in 2014 in Mangere they worked with over 500 people. This would not have been possible without support from advocates and other volunteers who came to Auckland from as far away as Dunedin to support this event.

AAAP’s ongoing work continues to uncover the real and persistent need for further advocacy throughout Auckland. It aims to work with as many people this year in an attempt to address some of this ongoing need – especially in light of the appalling effects of this government’s welfare reforms.

 Volunteers are asked to donate 1 day of their time at a minimum. If you are interested in volunteering on this event, please register your interest by emailing the AAAP Coordinator, Sarah, on [email protected]. Sarah will then be in touch with further information. Please note, for various reasons we will not be able to take on all of those who register their interest to volunteer. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

The Mental health Foundation is doing a survey to research project focusing on young women. This is part of the research phase of a potential new project which will focus on positive mental health and wellbeing information for young women aged 18-24, who have no children.

As part of the initial scoping phase of this project, the foundation is conducting a short survey to find out how young women get help when they’re feeling down, what types of resources and information would be most useful, and the best way to reach them with this information.

The online survey is at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MSNXX6C . The survey closes on Friday January 29th  2016. All those who participate and choose to leave their first name and contact details will go in the draw to win one of three Dr. Hauschka Harmony kits.

If there are any queries regarding the survey, please email [email protected].

Organisations campaigning for greater equality are urged to support UNICEF New Zealand’s new child rights campaign, called ‘Make My Future Fair’/ Meinga tōku āmua kia tika.

Make My Future Fair is a call for all New Zealanders to stand up for our children. It uses an interactive website to tell the story of New Zealand’s record on children’s rights, focused on health, education, violence, youth justice and family – at FairFuture.nz

“Every child in our country is a citizen with rights, needing special protection. Through Make My Future Fair, New Zealanders will be able to explore how well New Zealand is doing to uphold children’s rights and how this is impacting in real ways on children’s wellbeing,” said UNICEF NZ Advocacy Manager, Deborah Morris-Travers.

Rights are the foundation of a well-functioning society and economy for every nation and New Zealand is no different. The upholding of rights leads to collective progress for all citizens. Not realising these rights can lead to long term negative consequences for individual citizens, especially children.

“We know there are high levels of public concern about issues impacting on children. At the same time there is an unprecedented government focus on children, with the potential to deliver real improvements in wellbeing if coordinated and underpinned by a child rights approach. We have brought together some critical information about the issues and solutions to inspire and challenge all New Zealanders to maintain a focus on our nation’s children and take action.

“When people visit FairFuture.nz the first thing they will see are statements children have made about their life in New Zealand. Through videos and other content, users will be able to learn more about the issues and how they can take action at home, in their own community and by writing to government ministers and MPs to urge them to prioritise children.

“22 years on, it is time for New Zealand to step up to its obligations under UNCROC to ensure fair treatment so that every child is healthy, educated, safe and able to fully participate in our society. This is about ensuring our children have great childhoods and grow to be healthy adults who can contribute to a future we can be proud of,” concluded Ms Morris-Travers.

It’s going to be another tough Christmas for Wellington City Council cleaners, whose pay rates are little more than the minimum wage. Living Wage Wellington invites you to join us for Christmas carols at Wellington City Council, to support council cleaners and call for them all to be paid a Living Wage.

Some of the St Andrews Singers will lead us in song, and Deputy Mayor Justin Lester will host us and take our message back to Wellington City Council.

Wear a Living Wage T shirt (or red, if you don’t have one) and lend your voice for our wonderful cleaners this Christmas.

Tuesday 15 December,  12.30-1pm

Wellington City Council foyer (Wakefield Street)

New Zealand Health Strategy – consultation phase

The Ministry of Health is consulting on the draft update of the New Zealand Health Strategy until 4 December 2015.

The draft update includes a Future Direction document, and a Roadmap of Actions.

The strategy is based on eight guiding principles, several of which have direct relevance to inequality:

1. the best health and wellbeing possible for all New Zealanders throughout their lives
2. an improvement in health status of those currently disadvantaged
3. collaborative health promotion and disease and injury prevention by all sectors
4. acknowledging the special relationship between Māori and the Crown under the Treaty of Waitangi
5. timely and equitable access for all New Zealanders to a comprehensive range of health and disability services, regardless of ability to pay
6. a high-performing system in which people have confidence
7. active partnership with people and communities at all levels
8. thinking beyond narrow definitions of health and collaborating with others to achieve wellbeing.

Have your say

You can submit feedback by:

• completing an online survey
• emailing your feedback to [email protected]
• posting your feedback to:

New Zealand Health Strategy Update Consultation
New Zealand Health Strategy Team
Ministry of Health
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6145.

You may find the submission form helpful, although you’re not required to use it.

Auckland Action Against Poverty move from the streets to the stage hosting a Fundraiser Gig next month. Street Chant and LarzRanda will be joined on-stage by Tourettes, Rackets, Cool Runnings and SoccerPractise.

When: Friday 6 November, doors from 8pm
Where: Kings Arms, 59 France St, Eden Terrace, Auckland
Tickets: $15 waged/$10 unwaged available on the door and from Undertheradar
Facebook info: here

If you can’t make it but would like to support the kaupapa then please consider donating the cost of a ticket(s) so we can have some free places on the door – because, as we are all aware, $10 is a lot for many of us who are unemployed. If you’re interested in this, please email Sarah on [email protected]