Children's Policy - Policy Summary

Note: This was the policy released for the 2005 election. An updated policy for the 2008 election will be released shortly.

Go to full Children's Policy.

The Green Party believes that every child deserves the best possible start in life. Priorities include:

End child poverty

• Work towards eliminating child poverty by 2010, including through a cross-party accord in Parliament.

• Introduce a Universal Child Benefit, at a rate of at least $15 a week for the first child, $10 a week for the second and subsequent children — like the old family benefit.
• End structural discrimination against the children of beneficiaries, including through removing the discriminatory aspects of 'Working for Families'.
• Increase the minimum wage to $12 an hour immediately.
• Work towards setting core benefit levels at amounts people can live on; meanwhile, don't abolish the Special Benefit as Government plans in 2006.
• Increase the rate of state house provision, and improve support to community sector, hapu, iwi and pantribal social housing initiatives.

Parents able to spend a lot more time with their babies and children

• Encourage a far more child-friendly workplace culture, including through flexible working hours, breastfeeding facilities, and tax incentives to employers.

• Green MP Sue Kedgley currently has a Private Member's Bill before Parliament which would give parents of young children the right to negotiate with employers to work flexible hours.
• Bring forward the introduction of four weeks' annual leave.
• Defend the right of sole parents to remain on the DPB while children are growing up.
• Income-related measures such as those mentioned above will also assist.

A home life free from violence

• Repeal Section 59 of the Crimes Act so that parents may no longer use the defence of 'reasonable force' when they beat their children, for example with canes, whips or pieces of wood. Green MP Sue Bradford has a Private Member's Bill before Parliament at present aimed at full repeal of Section 59.

• Decrease children's exposure to violence on TV and through computer and video games.
• Improve resourcing for community groups who work to advise and support families.

Other key aspects of our Children's Policy include:

• Ensure the interests of children are protected and promoted at a public policy level.

• Improve children's diets.
• Free health and dental care.
• Free, quality education.
• Creating a safe, natural environment in which children can learn and play.