Oranga Tamariki (New Zealand’s Ministry for Children), at this government’s behest to slash expenditure, has made a decision to suddenly cut funding to 190 social service community providers across the motu (country).
As someone who worked in suicide prevention for many years, I know the vital role that local social service providers, accountable to their own communities, play in supporting, protecting and lifting up those most vulnerable in our communities.
A just and stable society is one which respects and protects everyone , but most particularly, those who are most vulnerable. This government’s strategic policy of bashing the most vulnerable and enriching the rich reflects their simplistic understanding of what makes a good society -it is most certainly not wealth alone.
We need to ensure that not only do we individually all do our best to respect and protect those around us who need that support, but that we also have a range of accountable community and state agencies who have the resources to support the many and varied needs of our communities.
New Antarctica 