News and Events

Budget Doesn't Address Inequality

(20/05/2010)

“The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) is concerned with the increasing disparity between the worst-off and the best-off within New Zealand society”, says Shaun Robinson, President NZCCSS. “We have always prided ourselves on being an egalitarian nation but for the last 20 years the differences between poor and rich New Zealanders has grown and grown. We know from international comparisons that in developed countries more equal societies almost always have happier and healthier citizens with fewer prisons and better support services. This is what we should be striving for”.

“The major changes in taxation, particularly the increase in GST, will still fall heaviest on those least able to bear it. While we acknowledge that the reduction in tax rates for middle and lower income earners was slightly more than expected this will not make a significant impact on the disparities that have become a feature of our society”, said Robinson. “This restructuring of our taxation system has been a wasted opportunity to redress the balance and begin to return New Zealand to its traditional values of equality and a fair go for all”.

 
Funding for Community Services
“The Community Response Model demonstrate a dramatic shift to a new way of working with communities in order to help these communities address their issues”, said Trevor McGlinchey, Executive Officer NZCCSS. “Moving from a ‘Wellington knows best’ model to one that empowers communities to work together to find solutions that work for them is exciting and challenging”.
 
“While we will be keeping a close eye on the roll out of this way of working, it is in line with recommendations made by the Community and Voluntary Sector Advisory Group formed by Minister Bennett in the run up to the Budget”, said McGlinchey. “NZCCSS was represented on this Advisory Group and is pleased the Community Response Model appears to reflect many of the Group’s recommendations”.
 
“It is good that over 90% of the Pathway to Partnership money set aside to “fully fund” social services by the last government has been retained for social services. The CPI increase for providers is an important acknowledgement of the financial pressure the sector is under”, said McGlinchey. “We would have been even more pleased if genuine increases in funding for currently provided services were included in this Budget. The ring fencing for Vote Social Development of $86.6 million of the Pathway to Partnership fund gives us some hope that the chronic underfunding of the sector may soon be given some priority.”
 
“Some new Budget programmes, such as Whānau Ora and the Whāre Oranga Ake kaupapa Māori initiative to successfully reintegrate prisoners into their communities, are excellent’, said McGlinchey. “However, we continue to examine the Budget and have concerns over potential cuts to some of the funds our members use to support families and communities to be more resilient. We will be seeking further clarification of this and other issues.”
 
Contact for further information:
Shaun Robinson, NZCCSS President – (027) 444 6382
Trevor McGlinchey, NZCCSS Executive Officer – (027) 286 9393 – (04) 473 2627
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