Wellington Launch of CPAG's 2014 Flagship Publication
"Our Children, Our Choice: Priorities for Policy"
with special focus on incomes
Light refreshments provided
Contact
Mary MowbrayChild Poverty Action Group Wellington Network
wgtn@cpag.org.nz
Wellington Public Discussion Summaries:
Find out what happened at previous discussions and use them to spur on action in your own communities!
Part 1: Big Ideas and Actions
Part 2: Education Discussion
Part 3: Housing Discussion
Child Poverty Action Group’s latest flagship publication Our Children, Our Choice: Priorities for Policy calls for cross party agreement to underpin an action plan to reduce child poverty in New Zealand.
Our Children, Our Choice brings together five policy papers released by CPAG in the lead up to the election: on health, education, housing and household incomes. Each paper gives an overview of the current situation for the poorest children in New Zealand and makes key recommendations on policies to reduce child poverty and mitigate its effects.
It is not inevitable that a quarter of New Zealand children should grow up in poverty. As a society, we could choose a different outcome – as New Zealand did in the past and as other countries do. We could protect our children from hardship as we protect our elderly. These are our children – this is our choice.
Guest Speakers:
Brian Easton: Respected New Zealand Economist, widely known for his economic commentary including columns in the Listener. Brian is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society, a Member of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and a Distinguished Fellow of the New Zealand Economic Association. He was appointed to the Prime Minister’s Growth and Innovation Advisory Board during its entire existence from 2002 to 2009, and in 2009 he was made NZIER Economist of the year. He is currently Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology, Honorary Fellow of SHORE (Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation), Massey University and Honorary Fellow of the Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago.
Dr M. Claire Dale: Chief editor of Our Children, Our Choice. Claire is a long time CPAG contributor, having authored and co-authored many CPAG publications including being chief editor and contributing author to CPAG's 2011 flagship publication Left further behind: how policies affect the poorest children in New Zealand. She is also widely known for her work on microfinance and problem and is founder of the Nga Tangata Microfinance Trust which recently won the Supreme Award at the NZI Sustainable Business Awards. She currently works as a research fellow at the Retirement Policy and Research Centre based at the University of Auckland's Business School.
*PLUS*
Comments from community speakers
followed by a discussion on solutions and actions
MC: Ian Harcourt, actor and comedian
Light refreshments provided * Koha appreciated
Childhood poverty has lifelong consequences on health, education, and social and economic participation. CPAG believes child poverty is a moral and ethical issue and every sector of the community must work together to improve the wellbeing of our children.
CPAG is looking for a firm indication from political leaders that they are committed to the steps needed to give all children a fair go so they can reach their potential. Any real and sustained change to our disgraceful child poverty rates must be underpinned by a cross-party agreement.
Join us in taking steps against child poverty @ http://www.cpag.org.nz/in-focus/take-steps-against-child-poverty-campaign/join-the-march-to-end-child-poverty/