[New Zealand] Forum focuses on realities of NZ poverty

from Radio New Zealand

The plight of a 72 year old man living under a bridge in Wellington was used to focus the minds of social agency workers at a forum on poverty on Friday.

The Poverty in Prosperity forum in Hamilton was held to improve collaboration between agencies, to help improve the lives of around 250,000 people living in severe hardship in New Zealand.

Organisers said they are sick of the continual propaganda that everyone is living in good times.

Wellington social worker Di Landy said an increase in city apartment living is behind a growing shift of homeless people into the suburbs. She said a lot of accommodation that was once available to homeless people is being squeezed out of the central city by apartment developments.

People living in expensive apartments do not want to know about those who are down and out, she said.

"I've got a 72 year old man living under our motorway. I believe he deserves a bed. And there isn't a bed available to him because all the accommodation has been squeezed out of Wellington by apartment living and Nimby."

Ms Landy said that people are living under bridges and motorways, in parks and cemeteries. As they are being moved out of the inner cities as a result of the growth in apartment living, they are moving into the suburbs.
Isolation claimed to magnify problems

Nancy Squire, who heads the Thames Baptist Community Ministries, said the isolation facing many people magnifies any problems people may be having.

She said that distance from neighbours, or people not knowing their neighbours because they have recently moved to the country for cheaper housing and cannot afford petrol, or having no transport, all contribute to a sense of isolation.

Embarrassment coupled with isolation means people do not know what to do or who to turn to when there is violence in their homes, she said.

Major Campbell Roberts has worked for 30 years in the social policy area for the Salvation Army. He said that while the work for social agencies can become overwhelming, change is possible.

Having people feel that they are contributing and actively participating in society was an advantage for the whole country, he said.
Collaboration seen as essential

Better collaboration between social agencies to help deal with the growing inequality in society between the haves and the have nots is essential, according to Massey University social policy associate professor, Mike O'Brien.

He said it is clear that the issues of poverty tie in with education, health and housing. Unless the problems are tackled on all fronts, there will not be much headway made, he said.

Mr O'Brien said it is also clear that issues around poverty are closely related to family violence.

Forum organisers said they would not be able to change the world in one day, but working more closely together should bring the issue of poverty in New Zealand into clearer focus. Possibly then it would catch the imagination of the wider community so that more can be done.