Hard News by Russell Brown

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  • Hebe,

    What would John Key's mother have done?

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    The announcement by Housing New Zealand that it is closing all its client offices and will now require anyone in need of shelter to contact it by phone or internet – even though most of those in the greatest need have neither phone or internet access – is going to make it harder for people to get help with housing. That’s obvious.

    Unpersons, much?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Sam F, in reply to Hebe,

    What would John Key’s mother have done?

    404: The past you referenced does not exist
    The reason might be:
    - This past does not exist in the hubristic version required
    - This past is electorally out-dated and has been removed
    - The address (HNZ) is not correct

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

  • Steve Curtis,

    Seems like McCully has closed his office and taken it one step further being out of touch completely.

    Today, Key was asked why his minister won't front.
    "I have absolutely no clue where he is,

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report

  • James Butler,

    From the link:

    Housing Minister Phil Heatley was unavailable for comment today but he was quoted by local media as saying the changes were a part of a shift away from a "state house for life" housing policy, towards a new system designed to ensure those struggling the greatest were given priority.

    Posted without comment, as my head is currently buried in my desk.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Hebe,

    What would John Key's mother have done?

    cycled to her local post office #goodluckwiththat

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    This report from the SST yesterday was very good.

    A patchwork of voluntary bodies, raising funds from donations, trusts and philanthropists, fill the gap. Heatley says many of these organisations are "better placed" to holistically support the homeless than his department, Housing New Zealand, and suggests these faith-based groups "would consider it their core business, as being a Christian community" to offer that support.

    Actually, it leaves Zussman depressed. "It's a vicious cycle," he says, "people say you are doing the work of the government, stop doing it, but that resolve of working for your fellow man doesn't let you do it, so we work bloody hard to let the government off the hook. It's a complete dilemma. But you sense that if you said 'here's the keys, we can't do it any more' ..." They would lock the doors and leave? "Yes."

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Martin Lindberg,

    Edit: Redundant post removed.

    Snap! What Giovanni linked to...

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • James Butler, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    faith-based groups “would consider it their core business, as being a Christian community” to offer that support.

    "Faith-based groups" are often wonderful, but let's consider for a second the wisdom of offloading our social safety net onto groups whose "core business" is so open to wildly varying interpretations.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to James Butler,

    Mission Australia, here we come. Should keep the Christian right onside for the 2014 election.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • JacksonP, in reply to James Butler,

    "Faith-based groups" are often wonderful, but let's consider for a second the wisdom of offloading our social safety net onto groups whose "core business" is so open to wildly varying interpretations.

    Not to mention their roles as 'safety net' only exist as a result of societal failures. When giving a damn becomes the exclusive domain of faith-based groups, we are in trouble.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to JacksonP,

    When giving a damn becomes the exclusive domain of faith-based groups, we are in trouble.

    Fracked eh.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • bob daktari,

    govt should not shirk their responsibilities to their people by letting charities do their work

    this is simply not good enough

    *please note my values are from a more people friendly recent past

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 540 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    LET THEM EAT CAKE.

    This is just nasty.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • James Butler, in reply to JacksonP,

    Not to mention their roles as ‘safety net’ only exist as a result of societal failures.

    I don't know about the "only". "Usually", sure. But I suspect that even in the best of all possible societies there would always be corner cases (by which I mean "people") who hit the net. Provided it's there.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    the changes were a part of a shift away from a "state house for life" housing policy, towards a new system designed to ensure those struggling the greatest were given priority.

    So how does this give those struggling the greatest priority, exactly?

    (And to descend to the trivial for a moment, who the hell subbed that syntactically appalling sentence?)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    Its another shift from universal (under)provision back to 'targetting' and pseudo-markets. Just like the 1990s (surprise). Being the current crop of clowns, that's unlikely to be driven by evidence; more a renewal of Victorian notions of the 'deserving poor'. And political advantage, naturally. At least this term there are more than one strong voice of opposition if they get their acts together.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • merc,

    http://www.hnzc.co.nz/councils-and-community-organisations/community-groups/tamaki-transformation-programme/glen-innes-redevelopment
    ...when they kick in your front door, how you gonna come, with your hands on your head or the trigger of your gun, The Clash, Guns Of Brixton.
    News on Concert prog this morning says prisoners on remand up 100% in 2 years -since (my opinion) privatisation.
    Key's plan is pretty obvious...footnote, and creepy

    “Tamaki, where people thrive and prosper for generations, a place with a strong and vibrant community spirit, valued for its natural beauty and history”
    ...It is also an area ready for change. There are many houses in urgent need of repair and refurbishment. There is a high rate of unemployment, a lower than average household income, low decile schools and a high dependency on government assistance.

    http://www.hnzc.co.nz/councils-and-community-organisations/community-groups/tamaki-transformation-programme/tamaki-transformation-programme
    There's that dependency word.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to bob daktari,

    govt should not shirk their responsibilities to their people by letting charities do their work.

    Of course church-affiliated organisations are already an indispensable part of the welfare network in this part of the world - Presbyterian Social Services, for example, appears to be as big as the Salvation Army, though with a rather lower profile. While the ideological push to have them supplant the state's function has only emerged under the current Government, they'd sometimes become more proactive than the Government through sheer necessity in the Clark years.

    It was the Christchurch Baptist City Mission that organised and delivered a petition for the Government to take action to curb the rapacious effect of loan sharks on the working poor. Chch Central MP Tim Barnett promised to bring it to Consumer Affairs Minister Judith Tizard's attention. And the Minister did absolutely nothing.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    It would be interesting to find out how much government money goes to 'faith-based', particularly fundamentalist Christian groups (as opposed to some milder ones such as Presbyterian support services, where being an active Christian isn't a job requirement). Many big Ministry of Health disability services contracts, and MSD contracts such as for parent education, and youth support already go to some major players (eg Open Home, Parents Inc).

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Ian MacKay, in reply to bob daktari,

    I remember back in the 19th Century England how tough it was in the Poor House but that was my last resort. Mr Dickens spoke up for us but in vain. The Church and charities took me in when I was destitute because of course the Government was disinterested in we the fallen.
    Now in 2012 Mr Heatly remarked that the Poor House was an excellent way to incentify those lazy bludgers to get off their butts and take care of themselves. After these remarks he climbed into his taxpayer funded BMW and was driven away.

    Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Ian MacKay,

    Wow. You must be what, 120? Glad to see such a wide age-range on here, congratulations, Sir!

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • DaveC,

    Even though many tenants will have no phone -- or only prepaid mobiles, from which 0800 numbers don't appear to be free calls

    0800 numbers are free from prepaid mobiles. The called company may choose to block calls from mobiles, but HNZ don't.

    Since Nov 2007 • 22 posts Report

  • Roger Lacey,

    Dave C beat me to it.
    In the meantime we can play guess the tunes they will play while you’re on hold.

    Whatakataka Bay Surf Club… • Since Apr 2008 • 148 posts Report

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to Roger Lacey,

    In the meantime we can play guess the tunes they will play while you're on hold.

    Blondie - Hanging on the Telephone
    Lionel Richie - Hello

    and from this century:

    James Blake - Why Don't You Call Me

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

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