为低收入地区学校提供早餐 工党计划被政府采纳

　　近日，有消息说政府开始考虑采纳由工党发起的关于为低收入地区学校里饥饿的学生提供早餐的计划，我们对此表示十分欢迎，同时也为国家党态度的180度大改变感到吃惊讶。　　不到4个星期以前，约翰基还对工党所提议

　　不到4个星期以前，约翰基还对工党所提议的为低收入区小学的孩子们提供免费早餐计划嗤之以鼻。

　　他对工党的提议很不以为然，还说“大量”的低收入地区小学内已经有免费水果提供，这些学校可能也早已有了适当的早餐计划。

　　对于儿童委员会的专家组所提出的应为低收入区的学校制订一个国家食物策略的建议，他也同样报之以嘲笑。而且，他也已经拒绝支持工党议员杰辛达•阿登关于为减少儿童贫困设立衡量标准与目标的议案。

　　然而就在10月6日，约翰基的副手比尔•英格里希说，政府对于采纳工党关于学校早餐的想法持“相当开放”的立场。

　　这可是一个大转变。不过，看到基总理和英格里希先生做出如此让步实在是令人高兴。

　　人们只能揣想他们不得不屈服于公众意见――正如John Campbell及其团队对于学校提供食物宣传活动所做的追踪报道所证实的那样，提供免费早餐的想法很受公众欢迎。

　　极具公心的新西兰人不愿目睹孩子们饿着肚子上学。他们知道那些孩子无法抱怨与生俱来的生存环境。他们也深知吃得饱有助于孩子们的学业。

　　现政府的统计数字显示8万多新西兰儿童经常没吃早餐就上学。我们也知道在学校里提供食物并非一劳永逸的解决办法，但是如果想要帮助我们的孩子更好地成长，那么这就是一个起点。（霍建强议员办公室供稿）

　　David
　　SHEARER
　　Labour Leader                      

　　7 October  2012                                                              MEDIA STATEMENT

　　Labour’s plan picked up by Government

　　News that the Government is looking at a Labour-initiated proposal to provide breakfast for hungry school kids is a very welcome, but quite astounding U-turn, Labour Leader David Shearer says.

　　“Less than four weeks ago John Key was pooh-poohing Labour’s plan to provide free food to those children who are turning up hungry to our lowest decile primary schools.

　　He dismissed the idea, saying free fruit was already provided in the 'vast bulk’ of low-decileschools, that many also had a breakfast programme and that was adequate.

　　“His reaction to a recommendation from the Children’s Commission expert group for a national food strategy for low decile schools was just as derisory. He has also refused to support Labour MP JacindaArdern’smembers bill which puts measures and targets around reducing child poverty.

　　“Yet yesterday John Key’s deputy, Bill English, said the Government is ‘quite open’ to picking up our food in schools idea.

　　“Now there’s a turn around for you. Still, it is great to see Mr Key and Mr English making these sorts of concessions.

　　“One can only speculate that they have bowed to popular opinion – as evidenced by the support John Campbell and his team have had during their follow-up food in schools campaign.

　　“Fair-minded Kiwis hate seeing kids going to school hungry. They know those kids aren’t to blame for the circumstances they find themselves in. And they know they’ll do better on a full tummy.

　　“The Government’s own statistics show more than 80,000 children often go without breakfast. We know putting food into schools isn’t the be all and end all, but if it’s going to help our kids become better kids, then it’s a start,”  David Shearer said.