Changing Faces Of New Zealand Parenting

Hon Heather Roy speech to Parent Centres New Zealand Inc National Parenting Forum; Te Papa, Cable St, Wellington; Saturday, September 18 2010.

Good morning Parents Centre Executive, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for the invitation to participate in your Political Panel, and to present the ACT party’s policies relevant to the changing faces of parenting in New Zealand.

My Parent Centre days are now behind me but I look back on them with the fondness associated with bringing our children into the world, full of hope for them and their futures.
 
The information gained from Parent Centre ante-natal classes was much valued and, alongside it, the contact with other parents at the same stage in life as myself.  Many of these parents became good friends and great support during the challenges that inevitably occur while our children grow up. Your organisation has provided these services and opportunities for so many New Zealand families.

Change happens at a number of levels.  It is important that the Government recognises change, and then develops policies that are consistent with the current situation.

Demographics are constantly changing.  It was just a few decades ago – during the 1950s and 60s – when we had a rapidly growing young population.  Now we have an aging population when we consider the total picture of the New Zealand populace.  However, when broken down into ethnic groups the picture is variable.  Maori and Pasifika populations are still predominantly ‘young’.  We have too a rapidly growing Asian population, and our migration statistics must be constantly monitored to take account of the total population make-up.

It is important that politicians and policy-makers take this into account when making decisions that affect children, families and the elderly – our most vulnerable groups in society.  The particular challenge policy-makers face is not being so prescriptive that it disadvantages any one group.

That’s why principles are important, and policy must be built on these – not ad hoc ideas put in place to please the majority of a particular voting block.

Society is also constantly changing. My mother married in 1962. She was a Plunket Nurse living in a small rural community in Otago. Women then were expected to give up work when they married.  The Plunket Nurse to replace my mother wasn’t due for another six weeks, so she was given a special dispensation to continue working for the additional six weeks.  We laugh at such things now, but they are an example of how societal norms have changed.

When my children were small I was fortunate enough to be able to work part-time, mainly because my husband and I were earning sufficient to give us choices that others didn’t have.  For me this was a win-win situation, but not everyone is this lucky.  Many parents who would like to stay at home to be full-time at home parents can’t because they need to work to make ends meet.  And there are others who would like to work but can’t because they can’t get jobs.

Again, as policy-makers, we need to ensure that policies don’t disadvantage any particular group.

So, what is it that families most need?  What is it that New Zealanders most value?

The answer to both questions is the same – choices and options that allow them to live they lifestyle they choose for themselves.

We don’t have to look far to see how we achieve this.  Countries we like to compare ourselves to provide their citizens and families with more options because they are wealthier.  They have strong economic growth and high productivity, yet they work fewer hours on average and have governments that are more generous to their citizens.

Standard of living and quality of life are directly correlated to a country’s wealth.

That’s why ACT constantly talks about the importance of economic measures such as lower taxes, efficient government spending, higher productivity, better economic growth and themes like ‘Catching Australia by 2025’. These are not merely slogans; they signify what can make life easier for us all.

Of course, wealth isn’t just financial.  Kiwis also greatly value wealth of spirit – having choices, choosing lifestyles, realising dreams.  That’s why many New Zealanders are prepared to sacrifice some income for the lifestyle we recognise as ‘Kiwi’.  That’s why we have a fundamental belief that we should make a contribution to those less well-off than ourselves.  But we only have the luxury of doing this when government makes the right decisions on behalf of its citizens.  In my opinion, it is the economy and educational opportunity that provide the right environment.

Until a month ago I was Minister responsible for Special Education.  It was very obvious to me that we hadn’t been good at putting our children first, at formulating packages of care around our children with extra needs.  In order to do this we need to be better at ‘Whole of Government’ decisions and breaking down silos between the social agencies of health, education, welfare, disability and ACC amongst others.  We are making progress, but have a way to go yet.

ACT believes that governments can make life easier or harder for families, depending on the decisions they make.  We must remember that every child counts, provide families with choices and that people are best placed to make the right decisions for themselves.  There is no place for anything else in this changing modern world.

This is the principled base that ACT works from.

ENDS