New housing minister Phil Twyford said "land bankers" will be in the firing line as the KiwiBuild programme gets rolled out. See the article in News.

Are dependency models the answer? It's time policy-makers started looking at "supported independency" models. Solutions from the experts point to more and more money being thrown directly at families or through various initiatives that ultimately, are a sticking plaster solution. On the surface, this looks like the only thing that can be done - throw money at dependents. However, what these experts miss seeing from all their calculations and best laid plans is the human spirit. The human spirit is strong and survives. All beneficiaries are much stronger than the state knows... they just haven't been given the correct opportunities yet to show how resilient, strong and resourceful they really are. They are rats caught in a cage, waiting for that moment when the light in their eyes is recognised and seen, and the door of opportunity opens. I personally think the issues of child poverty are much less about the earning capacity of a child's parents (plus top-ups by the state) and much more to do with feelings of being disenfranchised. Chances are, that if an adult is in poverty now, it's very likely they lived in poverty as a child themselves. Being disenfranchised and feeling disenfranchised has become a comfortable "habit" that one slips into at night before saying your prayers asking God to look after you and protect you. It's all part of the same malaise... Feelings of subordination, of being nothing and no-one, of being or feeling stupid, small, unheard - a pawn to be pushed around by family members (in childhood), by your partner (as an adult), and finally (if you find you can't support yourself financially), eventually you allow yourself to be pushed around by the state. And you're grateful... but you're not alive. Your life lessons have been valuable... Keep your mouth shut... Pretend you're dumb... And keep flying under the radar. Nobody will notice you then, and you won't get into "trouble". It's best to stay "little and small". It's best to retain as much anonymity as possible. It's best not to make waves... Such are the thoughts of the disenfranchised... This is where the real battle ground is. The "battle" is not about money, ability, intelligence or lack of it... It's not about throwing money at people... It's about SELF WORTH. And if you've grown up in a poor family as a child, didn't succeed in school, are not sure who your biological father is, have been in trouble with the police a few times before you turned 16, and your family never had enough money for holidays or to see a wider world perspective, your world is likely very tied up with that spray can, that packet of synthetics, that tinnie, or the bottle in your hand. How to elevate somebody out of such feelings of deep despair and despondency, that is the real question. And when we answer that question, those young people who will soon become parents won't ever want to see their own babies go hungry. Such an inheritance for their own children will be intolerable. The question is: How do we bring these young generations of people out of dispair? - Bronwyn Llewellyn BA University of Otago Sole parent, benefit dependant, for 16 years (1985-2002)

Poverty Measures 2016 • Material Hardship • Material hardship - list • Crowded Homes and Child Poverty • Education and Child Poverty • Income Poverty • Persistent Poverty • Poor Health and Child Poverty • Poor Quality Housing and Heating Problems • Severe Poverty • Trends Over Time • Reaching Sustainable Development Goals