Breaking the cycle of poverty

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Breaking the cycle of poverty

3News NZ

Liz wrote to Campbell Live after seeing our stories on child poverty.

"A hungry child doesn't care whose fault it is they just want someone to help," she wrote.

For all those people who have written to blame the parents, here is an example of a parent worth listening to, because she has lived through true poverty as a child - no school bag, no shoes, no lunch or even dinner - and yet somehow Liz has broken the cycle.

She didn't do it alone. There were influences in Liz’s life that made a difference, influences that helped her break the cycle of poverty.

Watch the video to see her story.

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Comments

1/10/2012 7:03:33 p.m.

Miriama Walters wrote:

Good on you J. Campbell for bringing this out into the public forum. Something needs to done about the poverty issue! Getting sick of the blame game. Not all of us are beneficiaries, wastrels, druggies or pissheads, we do try. It's just getting harder and more expensive to just get by these days.

1/10/2012 3:29:20 p.m.

marcus wrote:

with the rich about to sell their shares of power companies it would seem only fair that the other 50% of these companies be saved & used to help those most in need in NZ.Eventually the people of epsom and ohariu/belmont will realise their mistake and come a beggin to the rest of us.serves em right i say,let them sell their share of NZ now then when they really need the cash they too will have nothing like the rest of us

29/09/2012 12:09:11 p.m.

rhiannon hart wrote:

This is my sister in this video and as much as I agree that poverty is bad in NZ liz told a lot of lies...... We always had shoes and my mum never put a bill befor feeding us and we always had lunch and dinner. Yes we were in the breakfast program for a time and it was a hard time for us. But my sister has lied and over dramatised a situation to get attention

28/09/2012 9:24:39 p.m.

John wrote:

While we do have child poverty let's not get carried away. Campbell is using the old "don't let facts get in the way of a good story". OECD poverty figures show N.Z. at 11% lower than the OECD average and lower than Britain/ U.S/ Canada/ Australia and Japan. Check out http://www.oecd.org/statistics/. Another stat from the OECD is that poverty in N.Z. is higher among pensioners than children. Of course an 80 yr. old living in a cold, damp house with a lack of nutritious food doesn't tug at the heartstrings like an 8 year old! Can't help feeling there is a touch of "let's improve our ratings and look good here guys".

28/09/2012 8:41:04 p.m.

Tobie wrote:

Still so many ignorant people who think that children are hungry because beneficiaries misspend their benefit. The benefit does not in fact provide enough money in the first place to adequately feed, house and clothe our children. I think their should be better provisions for parents that are trying to work and study instead of taking away and supplementary benefit (i.e Temporary Additional Support) when they try to work and also fully funding childcare. There are too many huge obstacles for parents to climb over from poverty to gainful employment and many people absolutely want the chance to work and change the lives of their children. Also note most solo parents do not have any desire to be single parents. Most people would chose a happily married life to ending up solo. It is a choice parents often make for the benefit of their children. Take care when passing judgement on those less fortunate as everyone has a story to tell. Thank you Campbell Live for all your work for those less fortunate. Compassion at it's finest

28/09/2012 6:26:10 p.m.

Minar wrote:

Thank you Campbell Live for sharing Liz's story with us. I hope it opened the eyes of the some of less caring people in our society. It must have been so hard for Liz's mum raising 4 children on her own and without any help but she did the best she could. I believe everything in life is about actions and consequences. Liz's mum put her children first and that sense of responsibility has been installed in Liz too as she has placed a priority on her sons education. I believe education is the foundation for the progressive future of any country. Thankfully Liz you had a teacher who cared enough to ensure that you had a chance to learn. Look at you today, you are studying and working hard for a better future for yourself and your son. You were given a helping hand by your mum and a caring teacher, now you're on track to a better future. You should be so proud of your mum and I hope she is proud of you, I hope that kind teacher has watched this programme too and seen what a difference her bowl of weetbix, mug of milo and piece of toast has made for you. Thank you Liz for sharing your story.

28/09/2012 6:04:25 p.m.

Kathy wrote:

Dave, only half the families with children in poverty are on benefits. I think I have also seen people mention education, and quite obviously these people havent been through the New Zealand school system as the food pyramid and nutrician have been taught in classes for many decades. Poverty in New Zealand primarily is a result of lack of housing and extremely high rental prices. Because of housing speculators as well, owing your own home is next to impossible unless you are on a substantial income. The size of a section that goes with a house has also shrunken dramatically since I brought my home, now there is fairly much no room to even plant a vegetable patch anywhere. Incomes have also stagnated since the financial crisis, unemployment has risen dramatically and nothing at all is being done about it. Perhaps National can send in the gcsb to take out all of these so called irresponsible parents dave, would that make you happy?. Families are struggling and its not limited to beneficiaries and extends so much further than that.

28/09/2012 2:08:01 p.m.

dave wrote:

when i was at primary school we never had shoes, but we were always fed lunch. I am sick of all this PC rubbish. Make the parents accountable, or take the money out of their benifit and use it to fed the kids. Stop expecting every one else to do what the parent should be doing.

28/09/2012 1:38:29 p.m.

Lisa wrote:

Congrats Campbell Live for again acknowledging what is true. And for focusing on our New Zealand kids, it is an absolute disgrace that we put our heads in the sand. For those who just think why cant families feed their kids. I have done a quick calculation based on the minimal $3 for those non believers money always talks. You take an average family of 3 kids (exclude the parents). Three meals for one week costs mum and dad $189, over a year $9828. Excludes snacks based on the minimal of food. If we go a little further say for three kids a minimum of $100 per month is spend on clothing undies, shoes, socks, tops, jeans (no luxury, just basics, remember they are growing) that costs mum and dad $15,600 add these two basic bare minimums together and that is a minimum of $25,428. The average working mum and dad are lucky if their annual wage is $40,000 dont forget less tax. Now can people see the picture. I can only imagine how these parents must feel and what they are doing and going without in order to survive. Rent, Power, Water, Petrol and Food is hugely expensive these days and especially in Auckland and these have not been factored in, so these parents are doing a very great job with what they have. I came from a very poor maori family, but in my day we had food and it did not matter how much money you earnt the government gave the rich and the poor money for their kids. And I lived in Taupo and all the whanau helped out and feed everyone and looked after everyone. And I believe that caring should come back "big time". When I was a kid I did not relise how poor we where until I went to college and the kids told everyone I lived in a shack. I was happy and feed. Also we as New Zealanders need to open our eyes and help where and when we can if we see children in need. These days I am very financially secure with a husband who earns over six figures and our daugher eats fresh fruit for breakfast, a glass of fresh OJ (we have a juicer), yoghurt, she may have muesli, or a boiled egg or porridge as well. Her breakfast is a huge meal which is well over $3 and she is only 3 years of age. She is not fat either she is just a very active, bright and loving little girl with full of energy which needs to be replenished on a regular basis. Lets start by each taking responsibility in our own communities. Thanks again John. Awesome work team.

28/09/2012 1:38:18 p.m.

Lisa wrote:

Congrats Campbell Live for again acknowledging what is true. And for focusing on our New Zealand kids, it is an absolute disgrace that we put our heads in the sand. For those who just think why cant families feed their kids. I have done a quick calculation based on the minimal $3 for those non believers money always talks. You take an average family of 3 kids (exclude the parents). Three meals for one week costs mum and dad $189, over a year $9828. Excludes snacks based on the minimal of food. If we go a little further say for three kids a minimum of $100 per month is spend on clothing undies, shoes, socks, tops, jeans (no luxury, just basics, remember they are growing) that costs mum and dad $15,600 add these two basic bare minimums together and that is a minimum of $25,428. The average working mum and dad are lucky if their annual wage is $40,000 dont forget less tax. Now can people see the picture. I can only imagine how these parents must feel and what they are doing and going without in order to survive. Rent, Power, Water, Petrol and Food is hugely expensive these days and especially in Auckland and these have not been factored in, so these parents are doing a very great job with what they have. I came from a very poor maori family, but in my day we had food and it did not matter how much money you earnt the government gave the rich and the poor money for their kids. And I lived in Taupo and all the whanau helped out and feed everyone and looked after everyone. And I believe that caring should come back "big time". When I was a kid I did not relise how poor we where until I went to college and the kids told everyone I lived in a shack. I was happy and feed. Also we as New Zealanders need to open our eyes and help where and when we can if we see children in need. These days I am very financially secure with a husband who earns over six figures and our daugher eats fresh fruit for breakfast, a glass of fresh OJ (we have a juicer), yoghurt, she may have muesli, or a boiled egg or porridge as well. Her breakfast is a huge meal which is well over $3 and she is only 3 years of age. She is not fat either she is just a very active, bright and loving little girl with full of energy which needs to be replenished on a regular basis. Lets start by each taking responsibility in our own communities. Thanks again John. Awesome work team.