A Special Focus on Children
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A Whole-of-Government Approach
National wants to give all children the opportunity to succeed. We are taking action across government to improve life, particularly for vulnerable children.
Social Services
- National is confronting child abuse. We're encouraging New Zealand to debate how we nurture and protect children. Our Green Paper on Children invites Kiwis to have their say, before the government puts together a Children’s Action Plan.
- Helping foster children get a Home for Life: Support to help parents offer foster children a permanent home.
Health
- More maternity support with a focus on first-time mothers.
- 24-hour Plunketline fully funded.
- Almost 90 per cent of under 2s fully immunised – the most ever.
- Targeting rheumatic fever in at-risk communities.
Education
- 3500 more places in ECE in low-participation areas.
- National Standards in reading, writing, and maths, and extra support in schools for those children who are falling behind.
Justice
- Tougher sentences for crimes against children. Household members who fail to report abuse will be held to account.
- Police safety orders preventing family violence.
- More support for child victims and witnesses in court.
Protecting Vulnerable Children
National has introduced a wide range of programmes to better protect children:
- CYF social workers in main hospitals in every DHB.
- $15 million support for teen parents, the most ever.
- Nationwide campaign Never Ever Shake a Baby.
- Independent Experts Forum to identify the gaps vulnerable children fall through.
- Multi-disciplinary meetings before a child is discharged from hospital after non-accidental injuries.
- First Response pilot programme for early intervention.
- Overhauling the $29 million Family Start early intervention programme to focus on child abuse prevention, and make sure help reaches families who need it the most.
Next Steps: Budget 2011
- $54.5 million extra over 4 years for maternity services with a focus on first-time mothers. Includes 54,000 more WellChild visits.
- $550 million extra over 4 years to allow as many families as possible to access early childhood education.
- $43.7 million to improve services for 4500 children in state care over 4 years.
- $12 million over 4 years to help reduce rheumatic fever in vulnerable communities.
- $8.8 million for parenting support through HIPPY parenting programmes.
- $10.5 million to expand the current $2 million Family Violence Whanau Ora Fund.
For more information on the Green Paper click here.