‘Kāpiti’s young mums urgently need help from paid parental leave’
By Kris Faafoi, Labour Asst Health Spokesperson and MP for ManaThe Kāpiti coast is a gem of a place for families to raise children. Removed from the hustle and bustle of Wellington but close to the beauty of the nature coast. For parents, all the support and amenities are close at hand. That’s great, giving our kids the best start in life is vital. Recently, a member’s bill was drawn from the ballot that gets to the heart of motherhood and raising great children.
Bill recognises importance of mothers
Sponsored by my colleague, Labour MP Sue Moroney, the paid parental leave (PPL) bill recognises the importance of a mother’s love and nurturing care in baby’s first months.
The bill looks to extend PPL from 14 weeks to six months allowing mothers or fathers to make the most of these formative months.
Not only will baby benefit from the very best of care from the people who have its best interests at heart but the bill will allow mothers to breastfeed, without the restriction of working in paid employment, for the six months recommended by New Zealand health officials.
Visit to Kāpiti Youth Services
Having recently visited the new facilities at Kapiti Youth Services (KYS) which are used to help new mothers I know there is a need for more support for new mothers locally and giving them more opportunity to spend time with their new arrivals and more time to use local services such as KYS will be hugely beneficial for local parents.
The Parental Leave policy is based on a lot of research and evidence, including a report delivered last year to John Key by the Government’s chief science advisor,Sir Peter Gluckman supporting strong attachments between parent and baby to improve the child’s development into adolescence and adulthood.
Why wouldn’t we want that for our youngsters, the future of the Kapiti Coast? In the long run, in simple terms, it will make Kapiti an even better place to live in the future.
The report recognises that attachment between parent and child greatly increases their chances of having good educational outcomes, better health and being a more productive member of the workforce. It greatly reduces their chances of developing mental health problems or leading a life of crime.
Fourteen weeks too short
As every mother knows, the first few months of a baby’s life is a wondrous time but it is also a time of upheaval and 14 weeks barely covers the time it takes to adjust to sleep deprivation, breastfeeding regimen, endless laundry and, not to mention, coping with the physical toll of childbearing.
There may be younger members of the family to consider and make allowances for their ability to deal with someone else taking up their parents’ time.
The benefits of PPL far outweigh the costs – getting it right at the start of baby’s life will help in their lifelong journey and provide savings in childcare subsidies, remedial education, health care and crime-related costs; savings that will have far-reaching positive impacts on New Zealand communities.
The paid parental leave bill looks likely to pass its first reading in Parliament. It’s a great issue to debate, have a chat to your friends and family. I encourage you to send me your thoughts to manamp@parliament.govt.nz or give my office a call on 0800 MANA MP. Take care.
Good to see you are still contributing to this blog Kris. I still haven’t received an answer to the question I put to you last year so again please read the below question and the explanation as to why I am asking this question.
What is your honest opinion of the future of Kiwisaver?
Given the information I have made you aware of.
November 29, 2011
Good on you Kris.
Now could you please answer my question about Kiwi Saver?
Labour were proposing to make this scam compulsory. As a labour MP I hope you are up to speed on KS, and will be able to answer my questions.
Again for your benefit
With all global indicators saying we are passed the age of growth, and that we are passed the point of peak oil extraction, and that we face a massive decline in the global energy supply as soon as 2012 (see Parliamentary paper dated October 2010 http://oilcrash.com/articles/wake_up2.htm ).
AND as the International Energy Agency has stated, if ‘we’ maintain growth at 3-4% in a business as usual scenario, the planet will face warming of 3.5 to 6 degrees warming above pre industrial by 2035 – 2050.
As a thinking person, surly you can work out that this is not a good look, especially for most of your relations living inches above sea level.
If you can’t answer this question as a labour MP (party rules etc), how about answering it as an honest caring person, who doesn’t wish to lie to people.
To maintain KS we must kill the environment for the children, this clashes with your statement “I believe all children should receive the opportunity to have a quality education.”
Or maybe it is you that needs the education? – http://www.oilcrash.com
Looking forward to some informed debate from you over the next 3 years.
Apologies for repeating this post.
It would be nice to get an answer, and I’m sure the 1.3 million people that are committed to Kiwisaver would like an honest answer, if only they were awake enough to know there was a question!
But take this warning Kris when they do find out there was someone pointing out your ponzi savings scam is as naked as the king, they may want answers as to what you were doing NOW.
So again looking forward to your reply.
If you don’t reply then we can take it this is way beyond your abilities.