Bradford Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Bradford Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 10 June 2003. Volume:609;Page:6056. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
7.  
SUE BRADFORD (Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What reports on the quality of life of New Zealand children has he been informed are to be presented to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child this week? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 My colleague the Minister of Youth Affairs and I have been informed that a report prepared by Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa is to be presented to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child this week. The Government has provided grants of $17875 as a contribution towards development and travel costs for those presenting the report in New York. 
Sue Bradford 
: Given the Government’s support for the mission to Geneva does the Minister stand by the Government’s vision to end child poverty as expressed by the 2002 “agenda for children”; if so why did he take no steps in the Budget to allocate any further funding to alleviate child poverty? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Yes and in the Budget I would list such things as significant investment in health in decent affordable housing in early childhood education in new jobs in the establishment of the Families Commission and finally a whole range of policies that are working through the benefit system that will be of use to those children. 
Dianne Yates 
: What progress has the Government made in responding to recommendations of the United Nations Commission on the Rights of the Child? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: New Zealand is to present its next periodic report on compliance with the UN convention in September this year. The report will address specific items such as the action to implement the  
A World Fit for Children 
 outcome document adopted by the UN General Assembly special session on children current New Zealand reservations to the United National Committee on the Rights of the Child and previous recommendations to the UN committee. The report also provides an opportunity to highlight such areas as education health housing employment and social services where New Zealand has acted to improve the circumstances of children and their families. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: In the light of the statement made by Alison Blaiklock chairperson of Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa that: “The Agenda for Children came out a year ago but the Budget did not contain the investment to actually implement this agenda.” can he explain why the Budget did not contain anything to address child poverty but $34 million for a yacht race and in what way is that consistent with his and the Prime Minister’s involvement with the Hikoi of Hope or is this just another “Mahareyism”—doing one thing in Opposition and the opposite in Government? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The Agenda for Children is a document that was produced and then sent to departments. They have been making bids through their budget round for their particular areas of health education and so on; and Mrs Blaiklock knows that. That is the way in which this matter will be implemented. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Can the Minister explain his reservation about implementing the recommendations contained in the UN report particularly the repeal of section 59 of the Crimes Act and amending the Children Young Persons and Their Families Act to include all those aged under 18 years given that these recommendations have been highlighted on previous occasions? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: There are no reservations around those issues. The Government has mapped out a programme of work in relation to say section 59 which I fully endorse and have argued for—that is we need to have an education programme in this country in terms of alternatives to physical discipline. It would be premature to act now to change the legislation but somewhere down the track no longer than a couple of years once that programme is in place I think would be the right time to move. 
Hon Matt Robson 
: What has the Government done to address issues raised in the Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa report? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: We have worked closely with our Progressive coalition partner—in particular Mr Matt Robson—on these issues and between us we have been able to advance issues in the area of health including low cost for children and young people; providing decent and affordable housing; education through early childhood to tertiary education; 123000 new jobs. We have worked with United Future to establish the Families Commission supported by the Progressives. We have a good record. 
Sue Bradford 
: What steps is the Government taking to improve the incomes of families who live in poverty thereby helping to redeem New Zealand’s international reputation as a great place to bring up children? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: We have done a range of things. I point to the lifting of the minimum wage both for youth and adults. I look at the rising wage for people who are in jobs; and of course 123000 more of them have been put into jobs over the last little while because of the Government’s policies. I point to the expansion of the use of the special benefit which means that something like 32000 people compared with 7000 when we came into power are now receiving an extra $40 a week. I point to things like income-related rents—the Speaker wants me to wind up so I will.