Policy Priority: Bringing 100,000 kids out of poverty

Perhaps the most ambitious Green policy is to do something about the 270,000 children growing up in poverty.  This the sharp end of John Key's underclass he promised to address when he was campaigning in 2008.  An empty promise, as it turns out - he has now admitted that the underclass is still growing.

The Greens, OTOH, recognise that having 25% of our children in poverty is a major issue, one that will have consequences for years, if not generations.  Growing up in poverty leads to negative outcomes in education, crime, health and it's time we had a plan to address it.

The Greens have such a plan, which has 4 main planks:

1. Allowing families on benefits to receive Working For Families.  That's an extra $60/week for the poorest 140,000 families.

2.  Improved study support for sole parents and beneficiaries.  National effectively removed the training incentive allowance for university study (despite the Minister herself using it to get an education), and the Greens would reinstate it.

3. Raising the minimum wage to $15/hour.  This will assist the most vulnerable workers.

4. Ensure rental properties are warm and dry.  Cold, damp housing makes you sick, so the Greens want to set minimum standards for rental properties.

So, how will this policy affect Maori ?

The reality is that Maori are over-represented in poverty statistics.  Reports have suggest that just over half of all children living poverty are Maori or Pasifika. Likewise, Maori and Pasifika are overrepresented in unemployment statistics.  And when you are poor, you are more likely to rent than own your own home.

As a consequence, this policy spells good news for Maori because it provides real solutions to issues facing Maori.  It means Maori tamariki will have more of a chance to break out of the poverty cycle.

Now that's a real brighter future.