6. Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Labour—Palmerston North) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What reports has she received on investment in research to improve outcomes for New Zealand’s children and families?
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
Last Friday I launched a new longitudinal study that will follow more than 7,500 children and their families through birth, childhood, adolescence, and on to adulthood. I am proud to say that our Government has committed a total of $14 million to support this new research, which will give us information on children growing up in 21st century New Zealand. Our Government is committed to supporting research that will help us to continue to deliver evidence-based policies that will benefit New Zealand families.
Hon Steve Maharey Link to this
How has social research contributed to the policies rolled out by the Labour-led Government?
New Zealand has a proud history of high-quality longitudinal studies. The Christchurch and Dunedin studies have informed policies such as early intervention with vulnerable children and families, support for women to encourage breastfeeding, free health-care for children under the age of 6, and the Working for Families package of targeted assistance, which is on track to lift 130,000 children out of poverty. All of these are solid, evidence-based policies from the Labour-led Government, and they are quite a contrast to the confused and contradictory ideas that the National Party has been struggling to develop.