Policy Overview

United Future believes that we need to get tough on the causes of crime. Dysfunctional families and poorly educated children disproportionally contribute to criminal activity. There has been a 195% increase of child assaults since 1990 and 40% of criminal offenders are in the 14-18 age bracket. United Future is committed to reducing these statistics. Families need increased support to be able to function effectively. We know that investing money into parental education and children’s well being now results in far less money being spent later in our courts and prisons.

Additionally, United Future believes that basic attitudes and values have to be changed towards violence and theft. This means that United Future will look to the education system and the media to avoid the use of violence as an acceptable form of behaviour or a way of solving problems.

United Future Will:

• Encourage schools to implement a character education ethos in their school curriculum in accordance with the 1993 curriculum framework.

• Increase funding for appropriate early intervention supervision and diversionary programmes for youth at risk.

• Increase funding to Plunket and Parents as First Teachers programme

• Guarantee all pre-school children over the age of three years, the right to access up to 15 hours per week early childhood education.

• Ensure the taxation system takes into account the costs of raising a family: Introduce income splitting for families Introduce a home carer’s allowance for parents at home caring for children under the age of five. Increase tax rebates currently available for child care costs

• Promote culturally appropriate parenting programmes

• Promote family mediation services to offer support and guidance to family relationships in difficulty and appropriate counselling as necessary.

• Introduce family literacy programmes and budgeting advice for families in need.

• Increased funding for programmes such as DARE and anti-bullying

• Make parents financially accountable for crimes committed by their children.

United Future Parliamentary Office: Bowen House, Lambton Quay, Wellington
Email: Phone: (04) 471 9410