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Pennies from Heaven – Why cash works best to ensure all children thrive

Jess Berentson-ShawMarch 2, 2017Tax and Welfare

Today the Morgan Foundation’s new book Pennies from heaven is released. In it we propose that all New Zealand families with a child under 3 years of age receive $200 a week unconditional payment called a “Thriving Child” payment. We … Read More

Employment Policy Built on Quality Evidence or Reckons?

Jess Berentson-ShawMarch 1, 2017Tax and Welfare

Recently the Prime Minister Bill English followed in the tradition of the previous Prime Minster John Key and suggested the reason we had a skills shortage was because young people could not pass drugs tests . He said this was … Read More

Gisborne – do you want cats to be managed in your area?

benmather2@gmail.comFebruary 22, 2017Environment

Gisborne District Council is currently consulting on its Regional Pest Management Plan. If you want cats to be managed effectively in this region then this needs to be included in the plan. GDC will only do something if people stand up … Read More

Where is the vision for thriving lives for all Kiwis?

Jess Berentson-ShawFebruary 8, 2017Tax and Welfare

Today the Salvation Army released its annual state of the nation report. It highlights particularly the lack of evidence that crime is on the rise, and questions the focus of spending on policing and prisons. Instead it asks why is … Read More

New energy strategy sets NZ up to fail

Paul YoungFebruary 6, 2017Environment, Uncategorized

Imagine you are a policymaker. You are told by your officials there is an opportunity to save the country up to $3.6 billion annually, achieve major cuts to carbon emissions, and increase our economic and social resilience. What do you … Read More

Our hottest year on record, but there’s cause for hope on climate change

Paul YoungJanuary 12, 2017Environment, Uncategorized

It’s official: 2016 was the hottest year on record, not just globally but for New Zealand too. NIWA released its annual climate summary on Monday with the headline that 2016 was New Zealand’s hottest year since reliable record-keeping began in … Read More

We Can Improve Children’s Lives if We Choose: We Need to Understand these 6 Things

Jess Berentson-ShawDecember 13, 2016Tax and Welfare

The latest child poverty monitor has been released, but nothing has changed. Let me predict: commentators & politicians will argue over poverty measurements, the ‘real’ numbers, parents will be blamed, social investment mentioned and our focus will slide oh so … Read More

2016: The Year Climate Change Got Crazy

Paul YoungDecember 9, 2016Environment

2016… it’s felt like living in a history book at times. The spate of iconic celebrity deaths. The earthquakes. And of course, the disruptive politics of Brexit, Donald Trump, and now for New Zealanders, the unexpected resignation of our Prime … Read More

Does the State Have a Clue how to Look After Children Yet?

Jess Berentson-ShawDecember 2, 2016Tax and Welfare

The abuse of children while ‘in the care of the State’ in the 1950’s, 60s and 70’s in New Zealand is a dirty smear on our system of so called ‘child protection’. The excoriating interview of Social Development Minister Tolley … Read More

The Case for A Basic Income for Families with Children in New Zealand

Jess Berentson-ShawNovember 18, 2016Tax and Welfare

It is amazing what a difference a few miles (and a totally different political paradigm) can make to the vulnerable in society. While in the US life looks like becoming a lot harder for those on low incomes with the … Read More