The east/west divide in the Bay of Plenty will be used as an example of a widening wealth gap in New Zealand at a politically loaded meeting in Tauranga next week.
The 2006 Census map of the Western and Eastern Bay of Plenty.
Hosted by author Max Rushbrooke, the meeting with a panel of council leaders - Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby, WBOPDC Mayor Ross Paterson and BOP Regional Council Chairman John Cronin - on Tuesday, August 13 will examine 'inequalities” between the Eastern and Western Bay.
Max is editor of the new book 'Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis,” and says an atlas of socioeconomic deprivation produced by Otago University researchers reveals stark divides between the two Bay of Plenty sectors.
'The map shows parts of the Eastern Bay are among the most deprived in New Zealand, while alot – though by no means all – of the west is doing better,” says Max.
'The data used in the atlas is from the 2006 Census, but given the path toward widening inequality that New Zealand has continued to follow, I doubt the situation has improved since then.”
'New Zealand now has some of the highest levels of social problems – drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness, imprisonment, obesity, teenage pregnancies, infant mortality–in the developed world. And also, has one of the highest income gaps in the developed world.”
There's a growing body of evidence showing that inequality hurts everyone, says Max.
'Inequality is both a national and a regional issue, and I'm keen to hear what the people of Tauranga have to say about it.”
Peter Malcolm, meeting organiser and spokesperson for the Tauranga Closing the Gap group, hopes Bay of Plenty residents will press central and local government to make income inequality a greater focus.
'I'm a retired schoolteacher and I saw some of the results of the wealth gap first-hand, so I know the damage it does, especially to children,” says Peter.
'What scares me is how much wider this gap has grown since I left the profession.
'It's time to stop pointing the finger of blame and come together to look at how we can start to fix this. That's the focus of our group, and what I hope will be the focus of the meeting next week.”
The meeting is at the Wesley Centre at 100 13th Avenue at 7pm.
Max's book examines the explosion in the rich-poor divide in the last 30 years, its effects on New Zealand society, and how it might be reversed.
Max's book presents key facts about the growing inequality and makes a powerful case for its devastating impact. Expert contributors provide analyses and tell the stories that show how this New Zealand has changed. And they outline sound strategies for a fairer and economically stronger future.
A similar discussion chaired by radio presenter Kim Hill was held at Te Papa recently.
Watch more here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qy8DD7xZxU
4 comments
So where does,
Posted on 06-08-2013 17:54 | By Sambo Returns
Merivale/Parkvale fit in, NZ has changed because of the "Nanny" state we have become, with a far too large a portion of our population reliant on Tax Payer handouts, and not one but two generations have been indoctrinated into, a "sit on your bum" and get paid mentality, middle NZ here, which is what so called low income areas should aspire to, am way over all these "do gooders" and their theories, everyone has choices, and it is a little rich when you see everyday so called poor people, drinking and smoking, while their off spring wreak havoc, and ask the School System to feed them, something is bloody wrong alright, our taxes are propping up people who are not remotely interested in bettering themselves, we all have choices.
there's a reason for it!
Posted on 06-08-2013 18:33 | By Captain Sensible
There's a rumour going round that people who value study and work hard earn more than people who wag school and then can't get a good job. This is blatant inequality. But don't worry, Labour/Greens will tax the "filthy rich" and give it to the unemployables to even it all up.
the divide talk
Posted on 06-08-2013 23:33 | By rotovend
there is so much talk of the divide that I think we are missing the point in that the source of a lot of these issues is the nanny state and the entitled attitude that seems to have come around the last decade or so. the politicians tend to encourage the divide as they hope it will get them votes its un-Kiwi to divide lets start working together
The roots are further back than that
Posted on 07-08-2013 08:48 | By Papamoaner
It all started around about the time kids stopped addressing teachers as Sir or Maam. The consequent downhill slide in respect for authority, then society in general, has resulted in bum attempts to offset, hence the Nanny state. Hut Helen wasn't the prime architect of that either. The Big guy with the clever mouth that gave us "tomorrows schools" did a lot of damage too.
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