Amid high inflation, Caritas Aatearoa of New Zealand reminded the government of its responsibilities for tackling current housing crises, climate change and inequalities that worsen outcomes for the poor.
He made comments in his submission to the Finance and Expenditure Committee regarding the Statement of Budget Policy for 2022.
Inequality increased during the Covid crisis, and both short-term and long-term measures are needed to address this, Caritas said.
Listening to local and most affected communities would help, Caritas believes. In this way the government will be better informed to deal with the current crises.
His presentation outlines five specific issues that the government needs to address.
Housing
Inaccessible housing is a problem that worries many support services.
The cost of living is terribly high. Rental prices rose again to an average of $ 575 per week. This is 7 percent more than last year. If you live in Porirua, you will spend an average of $ 670 a week.
“The rent increase is huge and it has a real impact on the vans, their ability to provide everything they need,” says Nicki Dathan of the Porirua Rescue Army.
“A lot of people stay with friends or stay in cars, a big crowd. I recently heard about a family of 13 people who have been living in a three-room house for a long time. “
Caritas says access to a wide range of safe, affordable and healthy homes remains one of New Zealand’s most pressing social problems. This is a concern that affects people across the country.
He would like to see a broader approach to placement: by including it “in goals relating to physical and mental well-being, and a fair transition”.
Environmental support
Caritas says increasing climate funding to address the climate emergency should be accountable to the taxpayers and communities most in need.
“Impact assessment should be based on criteria relevant to local communities,” Caritas said.
“We support the transfer of emissions from the emissions trading scheme to the new Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and look forward to clear directives, project funding criteria and a New Zealand climate response impact assessment.”
Health Funding and COVID
Caritas said the government needed to prioritize adequate funding and data for Maori, Pacific, the elderly, people with disabilities and those with serious illnesses.
Subsidiarity must be taken into account in the overhaul of the health care system, so that decisions are taken at the most appropriate level to ensure responsiveness and accountability to local communities.
Technology
Caritas welcomes new technologies and the expansion of digital communications to provide jobs and more sustainable ways of working.
Technology and the economy must serve the common good of mankind, the agency warned. “Nothing can replace face-to-face meetings and the need for genuine human communication and interaction.”
He recommends an “integrated approach to service delivery” to allow for “full participation in ways that suit different people”.
Tae Ao Maori
“We support the inclusion of The Ao Maori perspective in the Living Standards Framework as applicable to the well-being of all … and which also supports a long-term approach to intergenerational well-being,” Caritas writes.
Source
- NewsHub
- Supplied with: Caritas material on Budget Policy for 2022
Additional reading
News category: New Zealand.
