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Government urged to accept Glenn's offer

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Government urged to accept Glenn's offer

3News NZ

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett and multimillionaire businessman Owen Glenn (file)

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett and multimillionaire businessman Owen Glenn (file)

The Government is being urged to accept millionaire Owen Glenn's offer to pay for a commission of inquiry into domestic violence and child abuse.

Mr Glenn made his offer on Tuesday when he announced a donation of more than $8 million to help South Auckland's Otara suburb build stronger communities.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett hasn't ruled out an inquiry but says two parliamentary committees are already holding investigations.

Prime Minister John Key didn't seem keen on the idea when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday.

"I'd need to have a look at that, we would need to consider all the issues and what might come out of it," he said.

The Green Party says he should take up Mr Glenn's offer.

"Owen Glenn is offering much-needed funding to fully investigate what is happening to those families affected by violence," MP Jan Logie said.

"It can show, once and for all, how effective the current service response is, where the gaps are and find the good examples we can repeat."

Mr Glenn is estimated by the National Business Review's rich list to be worth $900m, and there is $80m in the Family Foundation fund which the Otara donation is coming from.

He lived in Otara as a young married man and says he's been concerned about New Zealand's rates of domestic violence and child abuse for some time.

Organisations which will benefit from the $8m donation include a women's refuge and Otara Health, which will establish a family centre.

Mr Glenn, 72, created OTS Logistics Group through a series of acquisitions and sold the business earlier this year.

NZN

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Comments

29/07/2012 11:04:15 a.m.

Gosh wrote:

According to the stats this is more a cultural issue than a societal one.

19/07/2012 7:21:07 a.m.

helene wrote:

its sad that anyone should have to stump up money for this....a sad reflection on todays society...we all need to make a change and fix this issue.

18/07/2012 8:53:48 p.m.

Phil wrote:

Is John Key determined to go against the flow at every turn? Or is he afraid of being upstaged? Come on Prime Minister - how long ago was it you started telling us to "tighten our belts", and here you are joining the Tall Poppy bashers by casting doubt on the voracity of such a philanthropic offer. At least Owen Glenn has proved over a good number of years that when he invests in an activity, it prospers for the benefit of all involved. Congratulations Mr Glenn for thinking outside your own personal circle...

18/07/2012 5:58:10 p.m.

gwendoline cooney wrote:

As someone who works in a domestic violence agency that struggles for funding. I see this a marvellous initiative. I have seen, first hand, the changes this kind of work makes in the lives of families and further out into the community. I don't see it as a waste of resources at all. If we had increased funding to our agency, and i'm sure many others would say the same, we could achieve so much more.

18/07/2012 5:37:39 p.m.

ex pat kiwi wrote:

what i want to know is this why have the media let national destroy this country's economy , then cripple it by selling its wealth for a song . thats what i want to no . why have the media just sat back and let key get away with any thing he wants all the lies and corruption . it must suck to live in NZ big time .you have a government that hates the hard working middle class . enjoy your low wages brighter future suckers .

18/07/2012 5:33:36 p.m.

Chargone wrote:

... it baffles me that Key has to consider this at ALL. the only apparent reason to turn this done is if he has no desire to solve the problem. it's not like this is tax money that will be available for other things if he says 'no'. though it MIGHT point out that national's usual round of attacking anyone other than their rich mates for not paying enough tax is slightly misguided, i suppose. or the whole credit trap thing. fixing that would hurt the rich guys income a bit... can't have that... but this is all indirect stuff... honestly, though, if Glenn wants an enquiry and has the funds for it, needing only the authority, perhaps he'd do better to talk to the governor rather than parliament? (well, maybe if the governor general weren't basically a puppet of parliament, anyway..)

18/07/2012 12:55:50 p.m.

William wrote:

This is called piddling into the wind!! but it might buy a Knighthood?? you could fork out 80 Billion and at the end of the day it will achieve diddly squat. Now if you put all of this money into the Education system, and educate the next generations of parents you might achieve something, but dealing with the existing ones is a total waste of resources....good luck but you might as well just flush it. Wills.

18/07/2012 11:31:41 a.m.

Richard wrote:

look hard for the hooks. He appears to be a nice chap, but be wary of 'freebies'.

18/07/2012 10:44:09 a.m.

Rex Le Grice wrote:

Gifts from casinos creating social ills......OK yes please. Gifts from wealthy businessmen to study social ills.....We'll we're not sure!!!

18/07/2012 10:37:58 a.m.

John wrote:

Mr Glenn deserves a knighthood!