在新西兰
约翰基应该停止再制造种种借口而必须兑现自己的诺言――所谓身为总理他将解决“下层”阶级日渐庞大的问题并保护我国最“脆弱”的人群。 今日的新西兰，有27万儿童生活在贫困之中。贫困比率已经从2007年的15%上
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今日的新西兰，有27万儿童生活在贫困之中。贫困比率已经从2007年的15%上升到21%――这一切都是在约翰基声称他为每个贫困儿童的生活感到“深切担忧”时发生在他眼皮子底下的。
作为一国之总理，基在应对儿童贫困问题上的记录令人感到羞耻。如今该是他停止到处推卸责任的时候了，他应当承担起职责、着手做些实事。
首先，不要再围绕数字争辩个没完，他应当提出一个官方的评估标准好让人们知道倒底政府的各种旨在解决贫困的项目有没有起到作用。
他也应采纳工党的政策，包括提高最低工资标准，引进家庭康保制度以保证所有房屋的干燥温暖，也应扩大为学校学生提供食品的项目惠及范围。
上述这些计划都不需要昂贵的投入。而它们对于我国以及我国儿童的未来却是明智的投资。推行这些计划将真正改变我国百姓的生活。
现实是国家党宁可一年花掉90亿纽元减税――其中大部份都落进最高收入者们的腰包，却不愿意花区区1900万纽元让在学校实行的儿童食品KidsCan计划延伸惠及1.6万学童。
David SHEARER Labour Leader
11 December 2012 MEDIA STATEMENT
Key’s excuses won’t feed and house children
John Key should stop making excuses and live up to the promise he made that as Prime Minister he would tackle the growing ‘underclass’ and protect our most ‘vulnerable’ citizens, says Labour Leader David Shearer.
“There are now 270,000 children living in poverty. The hardship rates have risen from 15% in 2007 - when John Key was expressing his ‘deep concern’ for every one of those children - to 21% under his watch.
“As Prime Minister, his record on child poverty is a disgrace. It’s time he stopped blaming everyone else and took responsibility for doing something about it.
“For starters, instead of arguing about the numbers, he should introduce an official measure so we know whether initiatives to combat poverty are working.
“He should adopt some of Labour’s policies too, including lifting the minimum wage, introducing a healthy homes guarantee so all houses are warm and dry and extending the food in schools programme.
“These ideas aren’t expensive. They’re a smart investment in the future of our children and our country. They will make a real difference to people’s lives.
“The reality is that National would rather spend $9 billion a year on tax cuts that go mostly to top earners than $1.9 million on extending KidsCan’s food in schools programme to 16,000 children.
“This Government’s priorities are all wrong. New Zealanders expect better from John Key.
“They expect him to live up to his promise to lift children out of poverty and give them the chance to reach their full potential. And after four years in power, he should expect to be held to account for his failure to do so,” said David Shearer.