Forum on poverty
A forum on poverty in Wellington hopes to raise awareness of the issues facing some of the poorer residents of our city.
Organised by the former Bishop of Wellington, Richard Randerson, the Response to Poverty forum will feature guest speakers Stephanie McIntyre of the Downtown Community Ministry and economist Brian Easton.
Randerson says rising unemployment and government policies are creating a greater gap between New Zealand’s rich and poor.
“New Zealand is a very unequal country at present and has one of the highest income gaps between the rich and the poor amongst OECD countries.”
He says the economic climate is also affecting different groups disproportionately.
“It’s particularly hard on the young, Maori and Pacific Islanders. While the national unemployment rate is around six percent youth unemployment is at 20 percent, and while eight percent of Pakehas are unemployed the figure for Pacific Islanders is 14 percent, and for Maori 17 percent.”
McIntyre says the Downtown Ministry has seen a steady increase in Wellingtonians coming to the Ministry for assistance. She says a rising number are people either on a benefit or on low incomes and who live alone.
“There are more people now living alone and with astronomical rents and high utility costs they are finding it increasingly difficult to get by,” McIntyre says.
About 75 percent of people who come to the Ministry do so for food assistance, but McIntyre says most also have underlying issues such as health problems or power account arrears. A big problem for many, particularly those born outside New Zealand, is they don’t have identification so cannot access many state and health services.
“If you don’t have a birth certificate or a passport it’s a huge barrier. Even finding a rental property can be impossible for a person without i.d.”
Randerson says he has organised the poverty forum to raise awareness of the issues around poverty and to advocate for government change and policy formation.
“We have an election coming up and the Rugby World Cup has been a major distraction. But it’s imperative we give thought to how policies are impacting on the poor.”
The forum, which is open to the public will be held at St Peter’s Church, on the corner of Willis and Ghuznee Streets, at 6pm on October 17.
Organised by the former Bishop of Wellington, Richard Randerson, the Response to Poverty forum will feature guest speakers Stephanie McIntyre of the Downtown Community Ministry and economist Brian Easton.
Randerson says rising unemployment and government policies are creating a greater gap between New Zealand’s rich and poor.
“New Zealand is a very unequal country at present and has one of the highest income gaps between the rich and the poor amongst OECD countries.”
He says the economic climate is also affecting different groups disproportionately.
“It’s particularly hard on the young, Maori and Pacific Islanders. While the national unemployment rate is around six percent youth unemployment is at 20 percent, and while eight percent of Pakehas are unemployed the figure for Pacific Islanders is 14 percent, and for Maori 17 percent.”
McIntyre says the Downtown Ministry has seen a steady increase in Wellingtonians coming to the Ministry for assistance. She says a rising number are people either on a benefit or on low incomes and who live alone.
“There are more people now living alone and with astronomical rents and high utility costs they are finding it increasingly difficult to get by,” McIntyre says.
About 75 percent of people who come to the Ministry do so for food assistance, but McIntyre says most also have underlying issues such as health problems or power account arrears. A big problem for many, particularly those born outside New Zealand, is they don’t have identification so cannot access many state and health services.
“If you don’t have a birth certificate or a passport it’s a huge barrier. Even finding a rental property can be impossible for a person without i.d.”
Randerson says he has organised the poverty forum to raise awareness of the issues around poverty and to advocate for government change and policy formation.
“We have an election coming up and the Rugby World Cup has been a major distraction. But it’s imperative we give thought to how policies are impacting on the poor.”
The forum, which is open to the public will be held at St Peter’s Church, on the corner of Willis and Ghuznee Streets, at 6pm on October 17.
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