My values are Labour values.

I want to help build a stronger, more caring society. I am passionate about Dunedin, and I bring considerable energy and wide experience to the task of representing this electorate.

My diverse work background has given me an understanding of the economic and social levers that can be pulled to achieve meaningful change.

Please read some of the discussions included here. I welcome your comments.

- David Clark

fairness, labour party policy

17 January, 2011

Positive for Children, positive for our future

Long-term thinking has long-term results.

Labour Deputy Annette King announced at the Labour Party conference that new social spending was going to have the well-being of children at its heart. 

All children need the best start in life if they are going to thrive, and if they are going to contribute positively to our country. This includes the 20% of children in New Zealand currently born into poverty.

Today Annette has posted an update, outlining the problem, and starting to lay out a vision of how things can be done differently:

“Labour believes a much wider and deeper change is required; one which fundamentally alters the way government invests social spending by implementing an integrated package of policies that focus on the development needs of Kiwi children in their early years. Such a comprehensive focus on child development is brand new to New Zealand.

“Over the past two years, I have led a team of experts, including doctors, academics and frontline workers, to put together a set of connected policies with this aim. These policies are based on the most up to date research available and an understanding of what works.

“There’s an old saying: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. This new philosophy would mean tilting social spending towards the first six years of life – when children’s physical, cognitive and emotional development have the greatest implications for later life.

Read the full post here.

3 COMMENTS

3 comments on ‘Positive for Children, positive for our future’

  1. 17 January, 2011
    Jo

    That’s great, no child should be raised in poverty.

  2. 18 January, 2011
    Lefty

    thanks for the link David, great to see children coming first in policy development

  3. 21 January, 2011
    Matt

    Cheers for the link. Its not often you see such forward and selfless planning, so hope you guys will be implementing it soon!

Leave your comment.