Cartoon by Emmerson
Most of us take it for granted that when we go to sleep at night it will be in a bed, but for a number of our children – not just one or two but several thousand- a mattress on the floor, sleeping on the couch or sharing a bed is the norm. I see, for example, there is a Beds for Christmas campaign running in Whangarei to get some beds for kids who don’t have one.
I first heard about this problem a couple of years ago from a school principal in Nelson who had looked into why a child at their school was so tired at school.
Back then, my documentary about Child Poverty in our country was still being criticised by people who believed it was simply the parents fault that a child did not have enough to eat or a bed of their own, but as time has gone on those snarling condescending voices have become fewer and fewer.
Why? Because with each passing year more of us are feeling the bite of neoliberalism to the point where many working people are now finding it hard to make ends meet.
It’s a situation that, thus far, has gone unchecked by the current Labour led coalition who are still practising an economic austerity policy that benefits the few at the expense of the many and the interim Tax Review report tells us its something they don’t plan to change anytime soon.
The latest Stats NZ Household wealth survey is shameful . It shows that in the last 3 years the richest 20% of New Zealander have reached the point where they now own 70% of the wealth of our country while the bottom 40% have had no increase in wealth at all.
But, for me, a more down home measure of the government’s failing economic policy is to be found in the growing numbers of New Zealanders having to rely on food banks to get by ( eg up 45% in Christchurch since last year according to City Missioner Matthew Mark) and good folk having to run a campaign to get beds for kids in Whanagrei.
(PS If you live in Northland and would like too help the Beds for Christmas campaign being run by Habitat for Humanity and Manawa Ora Healthy Home Initiative bedding Items can be delivered to ReStart, 50B Kioreroa Rd, Whangarei, or pick-ups can be arranged in the Whangarei area by calling (09) 438 2250 )
Bryan Bruce is one of NZs most respected documentary makers and public intellectuals who has tirelessly exposed NZs neoliberal economic settings as the main cause for social issues.
very sad indeed and it upsets me when I see this happening in our country
Me too Michelle – what really gets me are the number of my “friends” who so openly spout that they are National supporters – people who I previously thought were good people – now I think – Bloody Selfish Idiots.
Whangarei?
Well here’s why kids have no beds in that city – parents who spend all their money on booze, cigarettes, SKY TV, the TAB, cars and weed.
I know – I’ve lived there so I’ve seen how these ‘poverty’ families live. I’ve been in their houses and seen what they do with their income.
It’s the same reasons why kids don’t have shoes, don’t have schoolbooks, don’t have raincoats, don’t have breakfast, don’t have lunches…
Hell, the list just goes on and on.
I realise there are exceptions – good parents who try their best but still come up short each week after paying the essentials. These people do need help, but there’s a large percentage who don’t have their priorities straight.
Every child in this country should have a bed to sleep on.
It may not be new off the showroom floor, but there are dozens of beds out there that can be had for next to nothing and they are quite usable.
I’m not suggesting by any means that a kid should have to sleep on an old worn out bed, but visit any recycle centre and you will find fairly good ones and the price is generally less than $20. Even those struggling on a benefit should be able to save a dollar a week for 5 months to buy a bed for their kid.
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