Davina William has today's headlines including Mediaworks' receivership announcement; the Opposition's inquiry into the manufacturing sector; reaction to Iran's President-elect, Hassan Rouhani; and the 50th anniversary of the first space flight by a woman.
From the RBG News Centre for Shine TV.
The Salvation Army is hoping its current appeal will raise enough money to retain all its budget advisors.
The 2013 Red Shield Appeal launched yesterday, at a time when the Army's funding is precarious. The imminent expiry of a temporary government fund means a third of the Sallies' budget advisors face redundancy unless they can come up with alternative funding. The Government’s Community Response Fund (CRF) - aimed at helping social service NGOs cope with the surge in welfare demand brought on by the 2008 recession - ends in July.
That money had helped to provide an extra 20.5 budget advisors at Salvation Army centres and allowed a 230% increase in budgeting services over the nearly five years since the start of the GFC to the first quarter of this year. In the past year alone, Army budgeters helped 4500 families.
Social Services Secretary, Major Pam Waugh, says when people who are struggling with debt approach the Sallies for help and engage with advisors over a long period, there is a huge turnaround in their lives; and it would not be ideal to compromise this vital service.
She explained that while the Army could cope with a funding decrease by running more group budgeting sessions, the level of service would not be the same.
"If families are unable to get sufficient assistance to balance their household budgets and clear debt, then their situations can easily deteriorate to the point where they face eviction, homelessness or overcrowded living conditions."
New Zealand First has urged the Government to renew its CRF contribution to the Salvation Army. The party's social policy spokesman, Asenati Lole-Taylor, believes that is only fair because, "After all, thousands of families have been seriously affected by the Government’s economic policies so helping them budget is a moral obligation."
The Sallies' Red Shield Appeal runs from April 29 to May 5.
- Newstalk ZB/ press rls/ RBG News
Labour spokesperson for social development, Jacinda Ardern, with her take on the welfare reforms.
Executive officer for NZ Council of Christian Social Services, Trevor McGlinchey, discusses the impact of the welfare reforms on young people and families.
Brad Mills with today's headlines including the fire west of Wellsford; the governments crack down on welfare fraud; US fears of cyber hacking from China and good news for Wellington after the financial benefits of the Hobbit premier are announced.
Shine TV's bulletins are produced by RBG News, part of the Rhema Broadcasting Group.
RBG News
The Government and the Maori Party have launched an action plan for Maori, called "He Kai Kei Aku Ringa".
The agenda is to improve the economic context for Maori, setting out implementation and goals through to 2040. A Maori unit will be set up in the new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment; and a Maori economic advisory board will be established to ensure Maori underperformance is addressed.
The Economic Development Minister believes improvement will occur when the private sector works in tandem with the public sector. Steven Joyce says private sector organisations, both Maori and non-Maori, will be encouraged to co-operate to raise income and improve export performance.
He explained they'll be taking a 'broad brush' approach to improve the skills and training of young Maori, the growth of Maori business, and how Maori can better become involved in the economy generally.
- Newstalk ZB
Bob McCoskrie and Pat discuss welfare reform, more about the Middle East protests and lastly, a 'shared' currency.
Listen below for the segment.
It's unlikely the Government will provide further funding for free food in poorer schools.
A Children's Commissioner advisory group is calling for more free food in low decile areas, but the Prime Minister says it can't be all on the public purse. The Government already contributes funds to the KidsCan programme.
Mr John Key says companies like Fonterra sponsor free milk in schools and it's worth continuing down that path. He believes providing it in all low decile schools isn't necessary, but making sure there's access to it from a range of providers makes sense.
- Newstalk ZB
Gang members have faced court for spending Whanau Ora money on drugs.
Mongrel Mob Notorious member, Michael Logan Wong-Tong, has pleaded guilty in the Dunedin District Court to a joint charge of conspiracy to sell cannabis. He's one of 10 men arrested in May, after a four-month investigation.
Police say $20,000 from the We Against Violence Trust - which had a contract with Te Puni Kokiri to deliver services through Whanau Ora - was used to buy drugs. Officers seized more than three kilograms of cannabis with a street value of nearly $25,000 during an interception on the Cook Straight ferry.
Wong-Tong will be sentenced in October.
- Newstalk ZB
There's concern genetic selection is causing health problems for chickens.
As conditions like lameness reportedly become more prevalent, a new code of welfare regarding chickens raised for meat has come into effect today. It was developed by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.
Committee Chair, John Hellström, says many of the emerging welfare problems in meat chickens - like lameness - are partially due to genetic selection for fast growth. He says the new Code has highlighted concerns about genetics.
Mr Hellström says NAWAC will address the issue more directly in a future code for breeding chickens.
- Newstalk ZB
