Carter KahurangiKAHURANGI CARTER (Green): I take this call on behalf of the Green Party to stand alongside tamariki across the country in the collective hope for a better future. I want to start my kōrero by reminding the Prime Minister of his very words at the National Party conference in 2022: The lives of all children and the circumstances in which they raise their own families will be shaped by the decisions political leaders are taking right now."So let's look at the reality tamariki face growing up in New Zealand today: over 200000 children live in households below the poverty line. That is one in every six children; one in every five for tamariki Māori. The royal commission of inquiry into abuse in care concluded just last month that 200000 kids had been abused by the State in care. On average one child dies every five weeks in New Zealand from abuse. Of the 5977 tamariki and rangatahi currently in the State care system only 56 percent of these tamariki are enrolled with a primary health organisation. Of the annual year 9 to 13 enrolments 15000—around 5 percent—are regularly missing school needing to work to provide for their families. This is not inevitable. Tamariki born into poverty is not inevitable. Tamariki having the connection to their whakapapa ripped away is not inevitable.Again in the words of our Prime Minister "for every kid walking into school tomorrow morning backpack on ready to take on the world my message is simple. I cannot change the choices you make or the home you were born into but I will move heaven and earth to give you the best possible start [to] life".So let's look at "decisions political leaders are taking right now." The Government indexed main benefits to inflation which their own officials warned could place as many as 13000 more children in poverty. Just last month the Government diluted child poverty targets showing the Government is comfortable putting a further 17000 tamariki into material hardship. The Government plans to remove section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act which will destroy connection of tamariki to their whakapapa. Last month the Government launched boot camps just five days after the royal commission of inquiry released its findings on horrific abuse at State boot camps. The cutting of $120 million over four years to Oranga Tamariki contractors across the country—and they were kept in the dark about specific decision-making rationale. The reintroduction of charter schools is designed to take away accountability and oversight. The decisions this Government makes every day reinforce the same system that enabled the ongoing abuse in care where the Prime Minister said "You are heard you are believed" in this very House just 14 days ago. We know actions speak louder than words.This attack on tamariki by the Government is targeted and deliberate. There is so much happening and it is designed this way so people switch off because it's too painful it's too hard to bear witness to. This is an intentional strategy to collectively exhaust the public. Kiwis will remember this Government placing the profits of landlords over tamariki and will hold the Government to account for the "decisions political leaders are taking right now."But let me be clear: this will not go uncontested or without a fight. We have seen the hīkoi activations across the motu and right here on this Whare's doorstep by Ngāpuhi on Monday and this Saturday in Christchurch. We have seen almost 3000 submissions to the Social Services and Community Committee on the removal of 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. Today in select committee hearings Māori rangatahi from VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai with care experience said "We have not been consulted with." We have heard from hundreds of Oranga Tamariki community providers whose funding is being cut. We live in a country of abundance. There is enough for everyone. We can and must ensure our tamariki have everything they need to thrive."