The extremely successful teenage breeding programme being run by the New Zealand Government looks set to continue into its fifth decade.
With teenage birth rates in some sectors now so high, we're getting enquiries from overseas countries wishing to up their birth rates.
When it began in the 1970's everyone thought it was a huge joke. Lying around all day doing nothing except misbehaving and fornicating and getting paid for it.
In hindsight the cost is high. Not only for the whole country but for the individuals involved who become addicted to being rewarded for failing.
The NZ welfare state is anything but well. It's failing our people, it's failing our nation but most of all, it's insidiously undermining our relationships with one another.
What seemed like a good idea in the 1930's has underwritten a 21st Century nightmare. Our high and overflowing court and jail rates are testimony to this.
We desperately need new ideas and new ways to succeed in today's unforgiving world and I would suggest giving benefits to young people to fail and breed isn't one of them.
So come on NZ Government, let's get real here. Stop sponsoring uneducated teenagers from breeding another lost generation.
We've got enough thieves, thugs and thickheads out there already.

Graeme Martin, Otumoetai.