As we celebrate a magnificent political win – let’s remember those who could not survive National’s 9 years in office
We should be ecstatic. Big money, big corporate farming and big business interests have been defeated by a Leader like Jacinda who chose not to use lies and falsehoods to campaign on, but who put compassion and optimism first.
The Labour-NZ First-Green Government was a dream, an illusion with no fixed reality 10 weeks ago, yet here we are after MMP with a mandate for change and a functioning Parliamentary majority.
This is indeed a time for us to rejoice and feel empowered by our democracy.
But after we have celebrated, let’s remember those who could not endure National’s 9 years in office or who were crushed into apathy by their brutal policy decisions.
We need to remember those who have suffered and have been beaten into submission as well as those who have succumbed to suicide. We need to remember that 300 000 children live in poverty, that 550 000 New Zealanders suffer from extreme hardship, that over 10 000 are in prison, that 1200 die from the cold, that 41 000 are homeless and tens of thousands locked out of home ownership, that our suicide rate could be as high unofficially as 1500.
We need to remember how seriously ill Tauranga man Timothy Dalton-Edwards was thrown out of his home and is now living in an emergency motel. We need to remember the millions and millions blown out for such emergency motels. We need to remember why that’s happening as we privatise state housing. We need to remember how the Ministry of Social Development hounded a young woman into suicide after wrongly chasing her for a ‘fraud’ amount. We need to remember the tens of thousands who have been historically abused by the state. We need to remember that 20% of renters are spending 40% of their income on rents. We need to remember how staffing cuts in mental health have left a system that is functionally broken. We need to remember how WINZ refuse to tell beneficiaries of their entitlements so that they can be kept from them.
We need to remember how spite,hate and anger have shaped our social policy into an ignorant cudgel used to hurt and frighten rather than heal and support.
If we forget the pain of the last 9 years we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
I will sing and jump with joy as I gather with friends and whanau over this weekend. But I will also say a silent prayer to those who could not hang on and those who have suffered.
We must do better to honour them.
First published on Waatea News:
Very well said there Martyn,
We must do right by those who need our support as many we know had given up any ope of seeing a new dawn they used to know was there. also we must work to make our future meanful in memory of those who took their live in dispair of hopelessness also.
Yes.
Suburb article Martyn that said it all.
imo Martyn Bradbury is one of New Zealand’s finest journalists!
He certainly motivated me to turn my hand to blogging back in 2011, RB…
An excellent piece of journalism Martyn. Thank you.
We have to remember those who fell victim to the dreadful failings of the National government. The suffering of the impoverished was the main reason we demanded a change of government.
Even though far too many of those poor Kiwi souls are not with us now, our future political aims and objectives can always be done with their plight at the fore in our minds, in the hope of making sure no more Kiwis fall through selfish, uncaring government policies.
Well said Bomber. I’ve been through almost as much grief as celebration in the last few days.
40% on rent? Luxury! If my wife and I could afford to rent a room each, instead of sharing a single room as both bedroom and office/ studio, we would be spending more like 60%. We live in Ĺtepoti (Dunedin), and I have no idea how people on a benefit with kids have been affording more expensive rents in larger cities. Can’t wait to see the social safety start to be mended, ideally in ways that make it harder for future governments to tear down again.
Thank you Martyn. I don’t think that we who did not support National will forget why we did, even if others fail to understand. What you outline here is a govt displaying the worst aspects of feudalism, where those without money and power are dispensable peasants who simply do not matter. Everyone matters – the tragic people topping themselves at record rates, they all mattered, but somehow we as a community have failed them terribly.
Many years ago when I went to live in London I saw people sleeping in streets for the first time. We rang the police when we found them on our front steps. I remember being very proud learning that Shelter, now a major UK housing charity was founded by Des Wilson, a journalist from Oamaru, who like us, was shocked by what he saw, and he did something about it. So it was a journo like you who achieved something which at that time no politician had.
There will be government inquiries.
Jacinda and her coalition are smart. They will pick the battles they can win.
The plan of action for the first 100 days is out and will set the scene.
We need to give feedback through the internet and to our mps.
We need to challenge lies and false news.
Most of all, those still needing support need us to ensure they get it.
Yes.
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