Young Labour spokesperson Benjamin Ross argues the Minister’s goal of “improving quality teaching” is admirable, but should focus on expertise, skills and experience, not National Standards, performance pay and charter schools. “Hekia Parata has pledged to lift achievement for Maori and Pasifika children, but in blindly pushing through Treasury’s changes she’s shown exactly what she’s here to do. The Minister isn’t in search of a better education system for New Zealanders, she’s in search of a cheaper one.”

Young Labour Pacific Island representative Kieran Meredith believes the announcement lacks economic, educational and moral sense. “News that as many as 600 teaching positions could be cut was devastating when I thought about what Hekia Parata promised for the Pasifika community.”

No country trialling experiments to use kids’ standardised testing results to determine Teacher salaries has been successful. Many, like the US, UK and Sweden are doing worse. “Why, when we have an education system that consistently shows up near the top of OECD rankings despite spending less than any of the countries above us, would we move toward a system used by countries tens of places below us?” Ross said today.

Mr Meredith says Parata has gotten her priorities wrong in failing to address Pasifika unemployment, low university entrance rates and low educational outcomes. “At a time when unemployment among Pasifika is at an all-time high, Hekia Parata decides to take the attention away from some of our most vulnerable and educationally disadvantaged children and instead increase student ratio numbers.” Meredith was quoted as saying.

Ironically, research commissioned by Treasury not all that long ago ‘found statistically
and economically significant effects of children being assigned to persistently smaller classes on both childhood test score growth as well as on early adult outcomes such as completed education and unemployment experiences.’ “To trial an ideological approach when dealing with our kids, our future leaders and thinkers, is reckless to say the least.” Said Meredith.

“Increasing class sizes will affect 90% of schools. It’s not something the profession wants, it’s not something parents want, and it’s not something we want. How any struggling child will be able to connect effectively with the teacher if they are competing against 26 other children is beyond me.”

ENDS

Treasury Working Paper ‘The Effects of Class Size on the Long-Run Growth in Reading Abilities and Early Adult Outcomes in the Christchurch Health and Development Study’:
htreasury.govt.nz/publications/research-policy/wp/2001/01-14/twp01-14.pdf

For further information contact:
Kieran Meredith
Young Labour Pacific Island Representative
027 879 2336
kieran.meredith@hotmail.com

“Obama’s strong and brave commitment to equality and fairness for LGBT rights is something New Zealand’s political leaders could learn from. Young Labour earlier this year decided that achieving marriage equality for all New Zealanders is our number one priority”, Young Labour’s Rainbow Representative Sam Thompson was quoted as saying this morning. “Our Prime Minister has stated that he will not ‘roll back’ any of the gains made for lesbian, gay, bi- and transsexual, queer and intersex couples. That’s not enough. Barack Obama has endorsed marriage equality, now it’s time for you to step up and do the same.”

Young Labour Spokesperson Benjamin Ross also urged leaders of New Zealand’s political parties to move swiftly to endorse President Obama’s stance. “America and New Zealand have a shared history of fighting discrimination, and President Obama’s remarks today are an opportunity for us to work together to promote fairness and equality. If our leaders on both sides of the House do not address this now and endorse marriage equality, New Zealand will be left behind.” Ross was quoted as saying today.

“This is not just an issue for LGBTQI youth; this is a human rights issue and a generational one. If our representatives in Wellington really value equality and a fair go, they’ll make a commitment to expand the right to marry to everyone who has a partner they love and want to spend their life with.”

ENDS

For more information contact:
Samantha Thompson
Young Labour Rainbow Representative
rainbow@younglabour.org.nz
022 028 6950

Youth unemployment makes for grim reading too with 18.0 percent of youth (15-24 year olds) being unemployed. This places particular emphasis on the need to review the education curriculum and where the breakdown in transition is occurring for these young people.

Young Labour Pacific Island Representative, Kieran Meredith believes having Hekia Parata as both Education and Pacific Island Affairs Minister could work in the favour of our Pacific Island community.

“Gains can be made from having Minister Parata at the helm of the Education and Pacific Island Affairs portfolio’s but only if she commits to the challenge of minimising Pasifika Unemployment. The minister has not released a single Press Release outlining how she will deal with issues affecting us in her Pacific Island Affairs portfolio, for the last two months, which raises doubts about what her priorities are and what her vision is for our community.”

Meredith also believes our education system needs to be reviewed as he believes not all students are born to occupy a classroom desk and chair.

“We have students who most likely have so much brainpower that can be attributed to apprenticeships or subjects fostering entrepreneurship but our current curriculum dictates that we must sit behind a desk, read from a text book and sit exams.”
“Pasifika unemployment is a result of our students falling through the cracks in school.”

“Unemployment is not only made worse by the lack of job creation but it is also a testament to our education system. It is obviously disadvantageous to our Pacific youth because they are unable to transition from school into tertiary and then into the workforce.”

“Our education system needs some tailoring and amending to ensure that the needs, abilities and skills of not only our Pasifika youth but also all young minorities and cultural groups, are met.”
“Mentoring, skill support and development and guidance towards tertiary and apprenticeship as well as job creation should be at the forefront of policy implementation.”

Mr Meredith urges the minister to issue a plan that will help our young Pacific through this crisis. Young Pacific awaits the budget with anxious excitement to see what will be done to deal with unemployment.

ENDS

For more information contact:
Kieran Meredith
Young Labour Pacific Island Representative
027 879 2336

Young Labour Māori Vice-President, Morehu Rei emphasized the need to reconnect with these groups, “Looking back to November 26, it was no secret that our system has completely left groups like Māori and Pasifika behind. Just over 50% of eligible Māori voters didn’t vote in the last election.”

“It’s important for us to understand that the Māori are a relatively young population with half of the Māori population being under the age of 23, we need to seriously look at how we can keep them on board or face losing them from any political involvement in the future”.

With fresh faces on the executive like newly appointed Pasifika Representative to the Young Labour executive, Kieran Meredith and Māori Representative Mahonri Williams, Young Labour is in the right place to begin building new pathways.

“It’s great to have Kieran and Mahonri on board; they both are enthusiastic members who will have a lot to offer.” Says Morehu.

Because of the similar issues affecting both Māori and Pacific youth, a dedicated Māori and Pasifika working committee has been set up within Young Labour, in the hope of achieving more through taking a collaborative approach.

Pacific Island Representative on the Young Labour executive Kieran Meredith believes there are benefits from working together with Māori. “We may have cultural differences but the cultural problems, boundaries and obstacles that we both face are a common occurrence throughout our society. Through taking a collaborative approach, we are sharing knowledge, skills, abilities and resources to ensure we retain and increase Pasifika and Māori political involvement within the Labour Party”.

Under the guidance of Māori Vice-President Morehu Rei together with the Māori Representatives, their goals include having a strong presence at important Māori events around the country such as Waitangi, Parihaka and Rātana; with the hope of establishing a strong Maori base including the introduction of waiata and Māori culture into Young Labour; and ensuring that we are exposed to the wider community.

Mahonri Williams outlined the primary importance of implementing tikanga and waiata for Maori into Young Labour culture.

Mahonri said “We need to attend cultural events such as Parihaka, Waitangi and Ratana so that we are able to engage with other young passionate Maori. As most of the young people who attend these events come with an open mind, it is a great opportunity to let them know what we as Young Labour stand for and also the party as a whole in our effort to spread the word and more importantly broaden our appeal.”

Not all of this will be able to be done by ourselves. It will also be important to get as much exposure to the public as possible. Morehu, Kieran and Mahonri are all available to represent Young Labour on any Māori or Pasifika issues and encourage New Zealand media to question that raise a youth perspective.

Nāku te rourou, nāu te rourou ka ora ai te iwi – with co-operation and the sharing of resources, we will get ahead.

ENDS

For more information contact:
Morehu Rei
Māori Vice-President
Young Labour
0272767867
maori.vicepresident@younglabour.org.nz

Young Labour’s Maori Vice President, Morehu Rei, said that “recent comments from Stephen Joyce about tightening the eligibility of student allowances in the upcoming budget begs the question: who on earth is National’s so called ‘brighter future’ for?”

“This is yet another kick in the gut to students by this National Government, many of whom rely on their student allowance to buy the essentials; accommodation, transport and food. Without these allowances, many will be deterred from attending universities, polytechnics and Wananga.”

“The result of these changes will mean either more debt for students, or in most cases young people forgoing further education to avoid an often insurmountable student loan” stated Rei. “When New Zealand has one of the highest rates of young people not in work education or training, this is totally unacceptable from a government that was elected on a promise to help lift Maori and Pasifika achievement.”

“The facts are simple, the people who will be affected by this are young people from poorer areas. Maori, who make up a large amount of the lowest income earners in New Zealand, will be the first to see their Rangatahi forced out of the prospects of higher education.”

“As a part of their confidence and supply agreement with the National Party the Maori Party will be required to vote in favour for the Governments budget on May 24. Young Labour calls on them to stick up for their people’s interest and leave the government.”

“I have personally been fortunate enough to get an allowance from the government. I’m sure most other people with allowances are thankful for the government’s support, however if this was taken away I can see further Kiwis leaving New Zealand to live overseas feeling no need or obligation to contribute to New Zealand. As the government’s assistance through allowances will help me towards a better future, it’s only fair that I put my experience back into the country that gave to me, I look forward to it” Rei added.

“The National Government have been elected on a commitment to building a brighter future. But with more and more cuts to education from Early Childhood to Tertiary making life harder for ordinary young Kiwis, you can’t help but ask ‘who exactly is the brighter future for?’” Rei concluded.

ENDS

For further information contact:
Morehu Rei
0272767867
maori.vicepresident@younglabour.org.nz

Amongst the new influx of elected members onto the Young Labour executive is Kieran Meredith who was elected to the role of Pacific Island Representative.

With Labour only gaining 27% of the nationwide vote at the 2011 General Election, Kieran Meredith is committed to the challenge of increasing the Labour vote especially with Labour seats that have a strong Pacific presence and the party vote in our Pacific communities.

“I am committed to ensuring that the Labour Party is the party of choice for all Pacific people but also to ensure that the Pacific community and younger Pacific generations are given a reason to continue to support the Labour Party and their policies” says Meredith.

“Through encouraging active participation and facilitating robust dialogue on issues concerning youth and our Pacific communities should give an insight into where we should be heading in the next three years.”

Meredith believes that is what social democracy is all about.

Former Pacific Island Labour MP and new CEO of Pacific health provider Vaka Tautua, Carmel Sepuloni, believes engagement should be at the forefront of fostering democracy in society.

“If we are going to have a truly democratic country then we need to make sure that politicians and political parties are relevant to all New Zealanders and able to engage the wider community on issues affecting their lives.” Says Carmel Sepuloni.

Sepuloni knows the challenges and obstacles facing youth, “Young Maori and Pacific are disproportionately impacted by the social challenges of the day but unfortunately are the least likely to vote.”

“We have to find ways to ensure that young Pacific people feel that their experience and contributions are valued, that they are inspired to become politically active and empowered to make a difference through voting.”

Despite Labour’s election loss, Kieran Meredith believes that the only way is up for the Labour Party and the challenge of getting back into Government in 2014 is an exciting prospect to work towards.

ENDS

Kieran Meredith believes that “by building a new convention centre in exchange for 350-500 new pokie machines will without a doubt increase gambling problems not only for New Zealanders but also our Pacific community.”

“Pokie machines consumes the money of some our most vulnerable and our Pacific people. Pokie machines deny our Pacific communities opportunities in some cases to pay the rent, put food on the table and to provide our younger generations with the best possible education.”

A New Zealand Health Survey conducted in 2006 states that Pacific people make up a solid 21.1% of problem gamblers. More-so, according to the Problem Gambling Foundation, the plundering mode of gambling for problem gamblers are pokie machines.

“This is a severe addiction that can hurt the minds of those gambling and the hearts of the family members of the gamblers. We need to minimise gambling in New Zealand but we can’t do that with the Government fostering an environment of gambling.”

2011 General Election Pacific Island Candidate and Maungakiekie Tamaki Local Board member, Josephine Bartley believes the transparency of the process is poor which makes the whole deal all the more questionable.

“Why is it only now that the Government are being asked to relax gambling laws was the same asked when Sky City built the Sky City Auckland Convention Centre?”

“If we let Skycity change our gambling law to allow them an early renewal and more pokie machines, when will it stop, what else will this Government put on the table for negotiation with big business?”

“The go-ahead of the building of the convention centre and implementation of more pokie machines will have a long term effect on youth as well. They will have grown up in an environment with parents gambling which at its worse; will have younger generations following in their footsteps.” That of which, is unacceptable and preventable says Meredith.

ENDS

It looks like they’ve canvassed a few members of Parliament to see where their support lies.

I just don’t see how some Members of Parliament think it’s fair to regulate how and when I drink alcohol, but on the other hand still say it’s fine that I can purchase cigarettes, smoke like a train, go to war, get married (but not gay married) and vote.

I appreciate the concern for my wellbeing, but if you’re all really that worried about me and others my age then I demand some consistency. If I am not responsible enough to drink, then why do you trust me to be Vice-Chair of Young Labour, to drive and work a 40 hour week like every other adult New Zealander? If I am an adult, then why will you not treat me like one in all respects?

And don’t give me that ‘it’s not you, it’s just the other people your age’, because I’ve heard that before, and the problem is that those ‘other’ people, the minority of young people that end up in Accident and Emergency on a Saturday night – they’re still going to find a way to drink to excess.

You’re not saving them, you’re just making it a little harder.

So let us get back to the real issues around alcohol law reform, like the fact that supermarkets still sell alcohol as loss leaders, that alcohol advertising goes almost completely unregulated and let me buy a bottle of wine on my way home from work.

NB: This is my own opinion, and everyone in Young Labour is entitled to their own views. If you are a member of Young Labour and disagree, write something up and email it to vicepresident@younglabour.org.nz and we’ll post it!

Young Labour President, Ella Hardy, called on Shell to listen to the protestors’ demands and end their oil exploration plans in the Arctic.

Hardy urged Shell to “recognize the retreat of Arctic sea ice due to global climate change as an urgent alarm to the fossil fuel industry, and not as an open invitation to exploit what few oil reserves remain on Earth.”

“We must invest heavily in renewable energy now, and not burden the younger generation with that task alongside unprecedented energy prices as world oil reserves are further depleted, and an economy crippled by the effects of climate change on global production” Hardy added.

“The Arctic waters are no place to exploit or pollute – this pristine environment and its magnificent yet highly sensitive biodiversity are global treasures that should not be jeopardized for narrow, short term economic gain. The Arctic, and what vulnerable pristine environments remain on Earth, must be preserved and protected for our generation, and for those generations in the future.”

“We join Greenpeace in demanding Shell stop its plans to put the fragile Arctic and its biodiversity at risk” Hardy concluded.

Young Labour Maori Vice-President Morehu Rei said “The recent breakdown between the Maori Party and National is yet another sign of the deep unrest that this plan for state asset sales has generated”.

“The revelation that the Government’s original intention was to keep a crucial Treaty of Waitangi clause out of legislation required for state asset sales is outrageous and if this is the case the Maori Party should walk away from their confidence and supply agreement with the Government”.

“While Young Labour completely opposes the Prime Minister’s plan to exclude references to the Treaty of Waitangi in legislation required for his asset sales, from our point of view the whole debate is irrelevant because there should be no sale of our most strategic assets” added Rei.

“Any sale will have a hugely negative impact on the rights of Maori under the treaty and on the long-term economic future of Aotearoa. We therefore encourage young Maori from all over the country to attend and voice their opinions at the Government’s series of hui that will be held around New Zealand.”

Young Labour Maori Representative Arena Williams stressed the importance of young peoples’ involvement in this hui. She said that “Rangatahi must be heard in this process”.

“State owned asset sales will have a huge impact on our generation, and as future leaders within our iwi and hapu we have a responsibility to speak up” she concluded.

The schedule for Government initiated hui on asset sales is:

8 February 10.00am Distinction Rotorua Rotorua

8 February 3.00pm Waikato Stadium Hamilton

9 February 3.00pm Whanganui Racecourse Whanganui

10 February 9.30am Toll Stadium Whangarei

10 February 3.30pm Novotel Auckland Airport Auckland

14 February 10.00am Waihopai Runaka Murihiku Marae Invercargill

14 February 4.00pm Chateau on the Park Christchurch

15 February 10.00am Emerald Hotel Gisborne

15 February 3.30pm Te Puni Kokiri Wellington

ENDS