When will the bill be up for its first reading?
The bill has moved down the agenda (‘order paper’) as a large number of Members bills have been reported back from select committee for second reading – and second readings take precedence over first readings on Members days. At this stage we’re anticipating it will come up in late May/mid-June.
Is it likely to have the votes to pass at first reading?
We need 61 votes and we currently have 60! Hone is continuing to meet with National Party MPs to try to get it passed but National is holding to the line that the KickStart breakfast programme they partially fund is enough. Our analysis shows it feeds about 12,000 of the 100,000 children estimated to go hungry each school day – so it’s not enough at all. We’re still hoping someone in National is able to do the maths and agree to support the bill.
What else has been done to build support?
Hone has continued to promote the bill and recently hosted two events at Parliament (see the MANA website, for speeches and media statements and http://www.feedthekids.org.nz for news stories and photos):
The first was a morning tea to thank the 30+ organisations who’ve supported the bill as part of the Community Coalition for Food in Schools, and helped make it the major policy news story of 2013. Many thanks to the guest speakers, Deborah Morris-Travers (Unicef), Kiri Smith (NZEI), Angela Roberts (PPTA), Lisa Beech (Caritas NZ), Major Pam Waugh (Salvation Army), Rawiri Wright (Ngā Rūnanganui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa), and Katherine Rich (Food and Grocery Council).
The second was a lunch event with 50+ senior students of Naenae College who help run the school’s breakfast club. The students fielded questions with the media, went on a tour of Parliament, and attended question time to watch Hone challenge the government to do more to support the 100,000 students who go to school hungry each day.
What can I do to help?
Continue to lobby your local MP, and especially if they’re John Banks, Peter Dunne, or a National MP!
See here for info and further suggestions.
Pat O’Dea is a MANA candidate and passionate social justice activist who has been fighting for the rights of state house tenants.
We need just two more MP’s to get this across the line -do it for hungry kids.
It is a shame that amongst the sleaze of corruption circulating around Collins, that the truly important problems confronting our society are being side-lined…
Food.
Homes.
Jobs with liveable incomes.
Happiness.
+1
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