How revealing to view TV 3's Vote programme, Wednesday 19 June. It was a snapshot of middle NZ views. The debate question was ‘can child abuse and lack of feeding some children be attributed to poor parenting or lack of money'.
The winning debate team claimed it was parenting, the TV audience said via their clickers it was parenting and the texts from NZ citizens also claimed parenting. The percentage of results ranged from 62% to 67%.
When the cost of one packet of cigarettes will purchase 2x2 litre bottles of milk, 2 loaves of bread, 1 packet of cereal and 2 kg of apples there is no excuse for children going to school without breakfast.
The emotive word ‘poverty' cannot apply to NZ families. We have a burgeoning welfare system with the addition of Working for Families alongside charitable Food Banks and very cheap Op shops.
There are many other countries who can truly claim to have people in poverty but they still prioritise the loving and feeding of their children.
The message to politicians, policy makers and do-gooders must be that what they are doing is not working and it is that group of ostriches who should be doing better for the citizens and tax payers of NZ.

Maureen J Anderson, Pyes Pa.