Contact: Betsan Martin Email: [email protected] Ph: 04 473-2627/ 021-388-337 Public Questions Network News December 2011 May 2011 Kia ora, Advent and Christmas greetings friends Contents: Methodist Conference Inequality Elections and Public Questions media release Environment - fracking Green Paper and Welfare Reform Item for Parish newsletters Methodist Conference President John Roberts gave a very strong lead on social and environmental justice in his induction address. He re-ignited the ‘preferential option for the poor’ as a gospel based focus on justice, and highlighted that the growing inequality in Aotearoa-New Zealand is an affront to growing a fair society. Council of Conference Mission Priority, which was agreed to at Conference is: ‘let the Children Live, ending child poverty, child abuse and youth suicide in New Zealand.’ During the Public Questions session at Conference we asked for discussion on two questions: 1. What would you like to say to political leaders about poverty and inequality? 2. What do you suggest that churches can do about poverty and inequality? We produced a resource for parish discussions from the Conference discussion. This is on the Public Questions website< www.methodist.org.nz/public_questions_network > Elections and Public Questions Media Release Elections have delivered us a National led government in coalition with the Māori Party, United Future and Act. This gives the Government 64 seats – a little more than the majority of 61 needed for the Government to pass legislation. Some portfolios are the same, such as Bill English as Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister. Paula Bennett as Minister of Social Development is promoted to the front bench. Changes in the Cabinet and portfolios show the priorities of this government on an up-skilled and competitive economy and on lifting productivity. Steven Joyce is fourth in Cabinet with responsibility for economic development, science and innovation, tertiary education and employment. Hekia Parata is Minister of Education. Some of the interesting things to note are that the Accord with the Māori Party includes agreement for a Ministerial Committee on Poverty chaired by Bill English, with Tariana Turia as Deputy Chair. The Committee is to include Health, Housing, Education, Maori Affairs, Social Development and Employment. This collaborative approach is one of the keys to tackling the complex issues of poverty effectively. Six monthly reports will provide accountability for the effectiveness of these measures. The Accord includes some very important environmental agreements, including restoring funding to Enviroschools and Kura Taiao, and to working on the recommendations of the land and Water Forum. This is to clean up New Zealand waterways – rivers, lakes, seas and rural water supplies, and attend to the big issue of water allocation. 1 In terms of other agreements, United Future have got agreement that new Zealand will hold 51% of shares in the sale of any State Assets in the model of mixed ownership. They have also introduced the possibility of flexibility in the retirement age. Act have won concessions on spending constraints and agreement to the introduction of Charter Schools. These schools may receive government and private funds but their regulations provide more autonomy than state schools. They do not charge compulsory fees as private schools do. The autonomy gives flexibility in the curriculum they offer and the staff they employ- possibly unregistered teachers. Charter schools signal a market reform in education, and further entrenchment of free market principles of choice and efficiency. President John Roberts agreed to a Media Release going out to commend the initiatives of the Māori Party. In the statement we noted the value of MMP in allowing for concerns such as poverty and environment to come to the surface through the constituency interests of minor parties. There is an inherent contradiction between the economic priorities which continue the free market model and poverty reduction because the free market is producing growing inequality. The media release did note that poverty reduction does not sit easily with the priorities of economic development and deficit reduction, but was able to express President John Robert’s statement that ‘The Methodist Church has high hopes that this committee will start us on a pathway to reducing poverty’. Read more at www.methodist.org.nz/public_questions_network A RadioNZ interview with Bill English 16th Dec. gives clarity that there will be no increases in Benefit levels. The Government will use existing resources to improve outcomes at local levels to reduce the effects of poverty. It is focussing on improving skills and chances for work. More details in 2012! 16 Dec. Podcast: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon Green Paper and Welfare Reform The Council of Conference Mission priority ties in with the Green paper focus on vulnerable children and child abuse. Minister Bennett has asked for public discussion on what the Government should do to reduce the shocking levels of child abuse and vulnerable children in Aotearoa NZ. Several parishes have agreed to host a discussion on this early in February. Public Questions will prepare some key points for discussion and support for sending submissions. These are due 28th February 2012. Please let me know if you would like to be involved. Social Service Providers Aotearoa Seminars are hosting seminars on the Green paper for Vulnerable Children. See attached flyer Dates, Times and Venues: Auckland 1 February, Waipuna Lodge, Derrick Cole Theatre, Mt Wellington, 10.30am to 4pm Wellington 2 February, St Johns in the City, at the corner of Willis and Dixon St, 10.30am to 4pm Christchurch, 8 February, St Albans Baptist Church, 64 McFaddens Rd, St Albans, 10.30 am to 4pm Dunedin, 9 February, Hutton Theatre, Otago Museum, 10.30am to 4pm Fees: Free to SSPA members. $20 for non-SSPA members to assist with catering costs. Registration: Please register with Marama Jackson at [email protected] It is expected that the Green Paper will be a basis for the Welfare reforms that have been signalled. Closer Together Whakatata Mai – reducing inequality in Aotearoa Paul Barber being interviewed on Breakfast – video and text: http://tvnz.co.nz/national- news/nz-s-rich-and-poor-gap-huge-wake-up-call-expert-4608382 An OECD Report is underscoring the rise in inequality associated with free market 2 economic growth. It emphasises that lack of skills is a key contributor to poverty and economic vulnerability. Two chapters of the Report are on the Public questions website… Sign up to the Closer Together Whakatata Mai Choice to send a message to decision makers and politicians that we believe it is better for us all to reduce inequality and be closer together. www.closertogether.org.nz The Occupy Movement is a protest against inequality and large parts of society who are disengaged from communities, and from work and education. 1% of people own 66% of wealth in the US! Environment and Economic Development We have drawn attention to the environmental and health risks of hydrolic fracking for natural gas extraction. A new fact sheet on the process of hydraulic fracturing - or fracking is at: http://www.justice.net.nz/justwiki/just-facts-fracking For Parishes Excerpt from the Public Questions Media release 16th Dec. The Methodist Church welcomes the Ministerial Committee on Poverty, announced in the Relationship Accord between The Māori Party and the National Party. The Methodist Church has high hopes that this committee will start us on a pathway to reducing poverty. At the recent Annual Conference the Methodist Church President John Roberts said ‘the pay gap is the moral issue of our time’. At the Conference there was discussion of inequality with a strong message that the poverty currently in New Zealand is an affront to a fair society. Methodist members supported ways of redistributing wealth to ensure that people can participate and meet their basic needs. The Methodist Church applauds the way the Committee is set up to include Health, Housing, Education, Maori Affairs, Social Development and Employment. This collaborative approach is one of the keys to tackling the complex issues of poverty effectively. The 6 monthly reports will provide accountability for the effectiveness of these measures. The recommendations of the Land and Water Forum are also a feature of the Accord, which highlights the action needed on water quality and water allocation by Government. Best wishes for the Christmas season Betsan and Public Questions convening group, Mataiva Robertson, Soana Muimuiheata, Opeta Amani, David Hanna. 3 .