Ngaro Alfred: Social Security (Clothing Allowances for Orphans and Unsupported Children) Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNgaro Alfred: Social Security (Clothing Allowances for Orphans and Unsupported Children) Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 06 May 2015. Volume:705;Page:3295. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]ALFRED NGARO (National):It is a privilege and an honour to take a call on this third reading of the Social Security (Clothing Allowances for Orphans and Unsupported Children) Amendment Bill. I just want to acknowledge Tracey Martin who is the sponsor of the bill a member’s bill. The words that she has shared with passion and with desire and with commitment are reflective of Mrs Martin and her desire to see that this bill is championed not only in the select committee but also through legislation so that it does achieve the intended result which is to have clothing parity.If we were to simplify the bill—and it is not a large bill but it is a bill that makes amendments that are actually very important—the amendments are not large; they are small but they are effective. I suppose it is reflective of the children Mrs Martin is talking about. There are often children who are unseen and unheard and they are vulnerable and yet although they are small they are actually very important. So I think—and we acknowledge—that the bill is important.Although Mrs Martin talked about politics politics is also about leadership and I think that is what is important here. It is the leadership that is shown to be able to take up that response. At the same time too it is the sort of leadership that politics has and I want to state this on the record for those who are listening out there because it actually reflects on both sides of the House. Whoever is governing at that point in time is weighing up a number of different options. So you have got kin carers you have got unsupported children and orphans—vulnerable children—and on the other hand you have got education and you have got health. There are lots of demands where you have to balance the aspect of where you put your resources to best reflect the needs in regard to where they are at.So I want to take up the points that Mrs Martin has put around that. Actually the Hon Paula Bennett did take up the concern and champion the cause to ensure that $10 million was set aside to ensure that the kin carers and also grandparents raising grandchildren were actually represented. One of the things that both Mrs Martin and I did work on and she made it very clear was the ministerial reference group. That was chaired by Katherine Rich and also Diane Vivian was there who was a bundle of energy and joy. But at the same time too she was constantly advocating and I think if there is one person I know who is such a strong advocate it is Diane Vivian. And I too want to acknowledge Diane Vivian for her role in the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust. She actually conducted a survey and in regard to the results of that survey she wanted to say that her points were evidence-based. I think that was really important because that was also what she put on the table as well.I want to acknowledge Linda Surtees from Fostering Kids who again was also a very strong advocate and when we were talking about clothing parity for foster carers and kin carers she too understood the importance of ensuring that was there as well. Also the famous Katie Murray from all the way up in the far north who reminded us very clearly that there are a number of Māori children who were actually in this situation and who were vulnerable. In fact they made up the largest proportion of children who are in care. Of the 12000 who are in care at least a third if not more of those children were Māori and were actually part of Māori whānau and family as well. I think that her advocacy along with the others was absolutely important to this.Along with the reference group though—I want to make mention of this—Mrs Martin made it really clear that all of the things that we were doing the Extraordinary Care Fund and so forth were not around the clothing parity. She made sure that the bill would find a passage so that it actually had a way of addressing those areas of concern as well.I too want to commend Mrs Martin and I want to talk just briefly about some of the points that we have been sharing here. One of the ones is around kin carers. We know that there are 12000 children who are in care. I think the thing is that the issues that have been the cause of that also need to be of concern. These are vulnerable children whether it be because of the death of parents either both or one or whether it be through the breakdown in the family. It could also be through abuse and neglect. Often we heard the stories of when there was a knock on the door and there were these children who were bundled up and taken over to the care of grandparents who often then had to readjust their own lives to be able to accommodate the care of these children. We believed that it was really important that we needed to address this as well. So in acknowledging kin carers and this bill has brought them to the forefront we can now acknowledge that not only are there foster carers but there are kin carers and we acknowledge the role that they play.I also want to talk about the Toolbox parenting groups that Mrs Martin has been talking about because I think that is quite critical. So along with the Grandparents Raising Children Trust and Parenting Place one of the things that Diane Vivian talked about was the fact that often carers are in their twilight years. Here are grandparents heading towards retirement and all of a sudden they are faced with having to raise children again. So they then have to readjust their lives so the work that has been done through the Government and through the Ministry of Social Development is to be able to partner with The Parenting Place to set up Toolbox parenting groups that allow them to have what they call a refresher course really. I know that a number of grandparents have appreciated that as well.The other area that I think has been important which is relating to the bill and is in support of the bill is in regard to the Extraordinary Care Fund. I do remember that in one of our reference group meetings it was actually Katie Murray who brought up this point. She said that when we have these children in our care there comes a time when you want to lift them out of the challenges that they face. They are often emotionally physically and psychologically traumatised. So how do you then find a pathway for them to be able to reach their full potential? That is what she talked about. She then said: “What if there was an opportunity to have a fund that allowed them to do extra things that would support the development of these children’s potential?”. That is actually what has happened out of that. One of the recommendations was the Extraordinary Care Fund.I am happy to report to the House that 300 children and young people have benefited from this. In fact the fund now gives grants of up to $2000 per child and in this round of funding we have distributed 360000 of those. The areas that the fund goes towards are extra tutoring for kids who are struggling in school for instance or orthodontic work not funded by the Ministry of Health. It covers costs to attend national and regional sports tournaments. In fact Katie talked about that and that for the children she was caring for and other carers whom she knew of there was a chance that they could actually then maybe represent a regional sports team. This was a great chance to be able to give them confidence. It was an opportunity to be able to build on their potential and then hopefully out of their confidence and their potential it would bring them out of the trauma that they were currently facing and experiencing and actually give them a sense of hope to be able to develop their full potential as well and we think that is important.One of the things the fund has also gone towards is music lessons where the child can progress ahead of their peers as well. Only 36 of those applicants were unsuccessful in the inaugural funding round and so we think that has provided extra support to these children. Again the key areas that have come out of the words of the grandparents raising grandchildren and the kin carers is this: they want their children to thrive they want them to achieve and they want them to belong and that is really important as well.One of the other areas of support that goes with this bill is around the dedicated person at Work and Income. This actually is important because although we have got the bill that is in place one of the complexities and challenges that have come out of the ministerial reference group’s conversations was often them going to explain their situation to Work and Income. Grandparents were unsure because it was often their own children obviously and how would they explain some of the challenges that they faced—that there was a breakdown in the family or abuse and neglect? So what has actually happened is that the Government has ensured that Work and Income has assigned a manager at the national office to work with the grandparents raising grandchildren and field officers to ensure that there is sensitivity and understanding but also that the pathway to receiving the support is one that is a lot more seamless and that the grandparents will receive the support that they need as well.I just conclude my remarks—and I do take on board what Mrs Martin has said which is that there is a commitment that has to be made—a promise has been indicated in this bill. Yes we know that the start date for this bill has been delayed to 2018. I think that is a good omen obviously for the 2017 election for the National Government which will continue to keep its promises—not only to Mrs Martin because as she said this bill is not about her; actually this is about the children it is about the grandchildren and it is about the kin carers.So I conclude my remarks by acknowledging you Tracey Martin for your advocacy and your championing and also acknowledging Diane Vivian a champion for grandparents raising grandchildren; Linda Surtees for Fostering Kids; Katie Murray up in the far north; and also all of the other grandparents raising grandchildren and kin carers who are out there. We desire and hope that all the support that has been given even through this bill will be of much support. Finally as I said these children will not only reach their full potential but they will thrive they will achieve and they will belong. I commend this bill to the House.