Only the US, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway and Australia rank ahead on per adult wealth, according to the Global Wealth report from investment bank Credit Suisse. Continue reading

The report said some Pacific Island countries had taken to calling the dual salary system 'economic apartheid', with the ratio of expat to local salaries ranging from 2:1 to 10:1 for staff with similar qualifications. Continue reading

Boston says there are three myths about Child Poverty in New Zealand:

Myth 1: There is little or no child poverty in New Zealand.

Myth 2: Children are poor and deprived mainly because their parents are bad, mad, foolish or indifferent. In other words, children are going to school hungry, have worn-out clothes and shoes, and live in cold houses because of poor, incompetent parenting. Every family has enough income, it is claimed. The problem is simply that some people don't know how to live within their means.

Myth 3: We cannot reduce child poverty simply by increasing the incomes of poor families. Throwing more money at the problem, it is argued, doesn't work. For instance, it is claimed that the additional funding for low-income families provided via the Working for Families package, introduced seven years ago, has not reduced poverty.

Boston is professor of public policy at Victoria University and co-chair, together with Dr Tracey McIntosh, of the University of Auckland, of the Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty, established by the Children's Commissioner.

Over the past seven months the committee as been assessing the best available international and domestic evidence on how to reduce child poverty and mitigate its effects.

The Committee has also prepared 20 Working Papers on a multiplicity of policy issues. These are available on the website of the Children's Commissioner.

A Unicef report ranks New Zealand 20th out of 35 countries for child poverty.

Source

• The New Zealand Herald
• Image: TV3

A quarterly update on vulnerable families by the NZ Council of Christian Social Services has found that European median incomes have risen slightly despite the recession of the past four years, but those of Maori and Pacific people have dropped.

Berl economist Ganesh Nana said the figures were a natural consequence of worsening unemployment for low-income earners.

Continue reading

New Zealand families are under growing financial stress as stagnating wages and salaries prove inadequate to cover spiralling costs - and even top-tier earners are feeling the squeeze.

According to Statistics New Zealand's Household Income Survey, 29,200 more families now rate themselves as having incomes too low to meet their daily needs than in the same survey four months before John Key's first term.

In June 2007, the number of households rating themselves income-poor was 254,100. That number has now risen to 283,300.

While some of that is due to natural growth in household numbers, there is also a clear erosion in the belief by many households across the spectrum that their incomes are adequate.

In 2007, the proportion rating their incomes as "not enough" was 16.23%. It's now 17.57%.

Continue reading Rob Stock's article "New Zealand families feel the income squeeze".

• New Zealand families feel the income squeeze
• Image: Habitat for Humanity

Chris Glen claims he has slept in Aotea Square for 50 nights as part of the global Occupy protest. Glen is financially stable as an owner of two pubs and a cafe in Manchester in the UK and doesn't need to be working.

"Our members do not want to be constantly battling the symptoms of underinvestment in families", said Ruby. "Children deserve to live in families who have enough income to provide reasonable homes, food and clothing. Without sufficient support children from our poorest families will have a lifetime of physical, educational and social disadvantage".

Source:

• Voxy.co.nz
• Image: forgeignpolicyblogs.com

The project is targeted specifically at reducing poverty by addressing income inequality in Aotearoa New Zealand. The aim is to keep working for a just and compassionate society in New Zealand, giving priority to the poor and vulnerable members of our society.

If we were able to reduce inequality in New Zealand we could see the following changes:

• 40,000 fewer people with obesity (which causes diabetes and heart disease); half the amount of depression and mental illness;
• 2,000 fewer pregnancies meaning fewer abortions, and fewer young children and young mothers struggling with social problems;
• 4,000 fewer people in prison (half the current rate of 8,000); double the rate at which we recycle waste.

Archbishop John said "I encourage you to look at the website www.closertogether.org.nz There is plenty of good information and also suggestions as to what we can do to reduce inequality and build a better society.

Remember Pope Benedict's words in Deus Caritas Est, 14: Unless this Eucharist passes over into concrete acts of love it is intrinsically fragmented"

Archbishop John dew is the Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Wellington New Zealand

Source

• Archbishop Dew's Newsletter
• Image: theworldmarch.org