Goodhew Jo: Debate on Crown Entities Public Organisations and State Enterprises — In Committee 
Goodhew Jo: Debate on Crown Entities Public Organisations and State Enterprises — In Committee 
[Volume:654;Page:3803] 
JO GOODHEW (National—Rangitata) 
: 
 I think it is helpful to reflect given that we have had a lot of feedback in the last 18 months or so from New Zealanders asking what the Families Commission is and just exactly what it does. It is an autonomous Crown entity whose functions include encouraging debate on issues that affect families. Certainly no New Zealander would say that that was not a good thing. The Families Commission is responsible for promoting and undertaking research about families and helping to shape Government policies that promote or serve the interests of families. It is important that it works in partnership with front-line services and non-governmental organisations to carry out those functions. That is an introduction to what the Families Commission does but where do we find that there are concerns on the part of New Zealanders? 
The Social Services Committee prepared a financial review of the Families Commission and it would be fair to say that the committee acknowledged that there were some things that were good but that it also had some concerns. I will briefly talk about what we as New Zealanders feel we deserve from the Families Commission but also about what does not stack up with some New Zealanders—those people who are feeling the squeeze and want to know that their taxpayer funding is going to very good effect. 
New Zealanders want value for money. New Zealanders want research that translates into action. What is wrong with that? Not a thing. New Zealanders want a voice for their families a voice that connects with how it feels to be in their family. There is no great surprise in any of that. In fact some would say there is no great surprise in some of the recent findings from research that the Families Commission undertook—such as the research that found that teenagers feel they spend enough time with their parents. Actually a lot of teenagers probably feel they spend way too much time with their parents and they would like to put a bit of distance between themselves and their parents. The research showed that teenagers feel they spend enough time with their parents. There was also the finding that as a result of the recession some people are working longer hours. Well hello! Did we need research to work that out? I am not so sure. 
There are also some examples of Blue Skies funding through the Families Commission that gave me cause for concern. I will read out the description of one particular example:  
Strengthening Rural Families: An exploration of industry transformation community and social capital 
. The description states: “This project seeks to understand how rural families adjust to changes in the social and economic landscape and how rural families participate in the accumulation and utilisation of social capital within their communities to bring about balance between paid work community commitments and family life.” I have to say that it sounds a bit waffly does it not? So I wonder what the researchers found out about rural communities other than the fact that rural communities just do. They get on with it. Rural communities do not wonder; they just pull together and get on with it. In terms of studying rural communities one should study what they do not have good access to such as general practitioners oral health professionals pharmacies or high-speed Internet access. Those would be good projects indeed for the Families Commission. But New Zealanders in rural communities in particular just get on with it. 
The Families Commission has a job to do. It needs to be relevant as an advocate for families and for family members. I have a really good example of something the Families Commission did that I believe was incredibly useful. There was a report entitled  
Elder Abuse and Neglect: Exploration of risk and protective factors 
. The Social Services Committee discussed this with the Families Commission and we were told that it was a really good example of the commission’s work having a practical effect because that research has been used by Age Concern in its work with rest homes and the community and in helping it to develop other pieces of work. It is absolutely vital in fact that the Families Commission is seen to be relevant. 
Probably never before in the last two or three decades have New Zealanders been so intent on knowing that their Government and Crown entities are making very good use of the money that New Zealanders pay in their taxes. Right now it is particularly important for those who have lost their jobs to know that their taxpayer funding—the funding that is actually going out there and being used by entities such as the Families Commission—is being put to good use.