Media Release 3 December 2001 (Embargoed till 6 pm)
The Prime Minister and senior ministers in the Government met today with church leaders and advisors. This was another of the meetings between Government and churches instituted after the Hikoi of Hope in 1998, to inform each about their concerns.
Leaders from the Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic Churches and the Salvation Army, including representatives of Maori and Pacific Island communities, spent two hours with Helen Clark and Jim Anderton and the ministers responsible for health, social services, Maori affairs, housing and education.
To ensure a focus on some major community concerns, the church leaders presented three papers covering topics they particularly want the Government to address.
These are:
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income inadequacy for low-income New Zealanders the need for alternative housing solutions for families not in State houses, and the effects of the increase in gambling on communities.
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Each paper outlined areas for action, ranging from the short-term to the long-term. Work on hardship measures and child poverty reduction policies was requested, along with the need for management of debt recovery from low-income people across all government departments.
Proposals to enable low-income people to own their own homes were discussed. The church leaders emphasised that helping low-income people into home ownership contributes to stable and secure family life and should be part of Government action.
The rapid growth in gaming machines and the expansion of problem gambling among low-income people and school children is another of our concerns for people. Local communities have been excluded from decision-making about gambling provision and how the profits are shared, they said, and spending in gambling promotion far outweighs the resources of those who oppose it in their communities or mop up the social costs.
They ask that economic impact studies similar to those conducted overseas be conducted in New Zealand to analyse just who benefits from gaming and what it costs the community.
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Members of the church delegation:
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Rev Aso Samoa Saleupolu, President, Methodist Church of New Zealand Te Pihopa Whakahuihui Vercoe, Bishop of Aotearoa Te Pihopa Muru Walters, Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa Rev Michael Thawley, Moderator-Designate, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand Bishop Peter Cullinane, President, Catholic Bishops' Conference Colonel Robert Redhead, Chief Secretary, Salvation Army
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Adrian Whale, Executive Officer, NZ Coiuncil of Christian Social Services Gail Munro, Director, Methodist Social Services, Palmerston North Stephanie McIntyre, Anglican Social Justice Commissioner Arapeta Tahana, Advisor to Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa Rev Charles Waldegrave, Family Centre Anglican Social Services David Simmers, Churches' Agency on Social Issues Major Campbell Roberts, Divisional Commander, the Salvation Army Major Alistair Herring, Salvation Army
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For follow-up, contact
Stephanie McIntyre, 027 248 5018
Michael Thawley 03 337 5695
Bishop Peter Cullinane (Tuesday) 06 357 1980
Or, for further information
Julia Stuart, Churches' Agency on Social Issues, 025 44 22 44
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