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Kevin Swanson speaker at the Family conferences Christchuch 1 & 2 and Auckland 3 & 4

By admin | May 25, 2013

Topics: Coming Events | No Comments »

Media Release –Christian Family Conference Tour Coming in June

By admin | May 25, 2013

http://hef.org.nz/2013/media-release-christian-family-conference-tour-coming-in-june/

May 23, 2013

Three well-regarded US speakers will be travelling to New Zealand and Australia this June on a pioneer conference tour aimed at encouraging Scriptural family living.

The speakers will include Scott Brown, of the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches, which is running the conferences. Mr Brown may be best known as the producer of controversial hit documentary “Divided”, which calls Churches to recover a vision for family discipleship and worship, rather than splitting their congregations into age-segregated programs. He gives most of his time to local pastoral ministry, conferences on fatherhood, Church reformation, and strengthening the family.

Kevin Swanson, home educated in the 1960s and 1970s, now hosts Generations Radio, a daily programme broadcast around the world. Mr Swanson is a well-known speaker and teacher on worldview, education, and Church and family life who has been interviewed on hundreds of media outlets including Dr James Dobson’s Focus on the Family and Fox News Network.

Anthony Courter has been discipling men and fathers from his home for decades, specifically focusing on family-based entrepreneurship and ministry.

The men will be speaking in Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand, as well as three venues in Australia. The conferences are one-day events, with men’s meetings and fellowship/discipleship opportunities occurring on other days.

Robert Compton, who is organising the Melbourne conference, says that the tour is an exciting opportunity for New Zealanders and Australians to interact with American leaders and get to know likeminded families in their own areas.

“In recent years, we’ve seen some very exciting things happening in the States,” says Mr Compton.

“Families have started searching God’s Word for principles regarding His will for family roles, discipleship in the home, and family economics. They have begun to apply these principles in their own families and God has blessed them.”

Mr Compton says that this is nothing new for Christian families. “The family unit has been under attack since the beginning of time, yet throughout history there have been men who have searched the scriptures to find the answers to these very questions. Abraham was commended for teaching his children. Timothy learnt about God from his mother and grandmother. During the killing times in Scotland, the Covenanters still applied principles they found in God’s Word to their family even at the cost of their life. Sadly, in more recent times the Church has forgotten that families are the basic unit of society.”

Mr Compton encourages Christian families from all walks of life to attend the conferences. “What an opportunity to get three men at the forefront of today’s battle for the family to come to New Zealand and Australia and share their knowledge. It will be encouraging to those who have already begun their journey and challenging to those who are only starting.”

More information on the conferences can be found at www.godcenteredfamily.com.

About the “National Center for Family Integrated Churches

Scripture makes it clear that parents are primarily responsible for the discipleship of their children.

At the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches, one of our missions is to communicate God’s beautiful design for discipleship in the home and in the Church. We hope to use scripture to show God’s wonderful design for building harmony between Churches and families, not dislocation.”

For more information, please visit https://ncfic.org/

Contact: To learn more about this conference tour, contact:

Robert Compton

conference@bluetigertech.com.au

www.GodCenteredFamily.com

mamajillian@gmail.com

Speakers

Scott T. Brown

Scott T. Brown is the director of the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches and elder at Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Scott graduated from California State University in Fullerton with a degree in History and received a Master of Divinity degree from Talbot School of Theology. He gives most of his time to local pastoral ministry, conferences on fatherhood, church reformation, and strengthening the family. He has been married to Deborah for thirty one years, and they have four grown children. Scott also helps people think through the two greatest institutions God has provided — the church and the family.

Kevin Swanson

Kevin Swanson was homeschooled in the 1960’s and 1970’s, Kevin has over 35 years of experience in the homeschooling movement and serves as the Executive Director of Christian Home Educators of Colorado and Generations with Vision. Today, Kevin is a homeschool father of five, host of a daily radio program broadcast around the world, and is a published author of several books, including Upgrade – 10 Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child. Serving as a passionate supporter of home education, he has been interviewed on hundreds of media outlets, including Dr. James’ Dobson’s Focus on the Family and the Fox News Network.

Anthony Courter

Anthony Courter graduated from Bible college in ’87 with a pastoral degree. While pastoring his first church he began to see issues concerning youth ministry and fathers abdicating their God given responsibilities.  This insight caused him to become deliberately focused on discipling fathers, specifically concentrating on and encouraging family economics and family centered ministries.
For years, the Courter home has been the backdrop for teaching men and families about economic issues such as What is Money?, Why have Passive Income, and How to have Family Based Businesses. In 2004 he founded CAMP (Carpenters Aiding Missionary Projects) in an effort to help foster within men and their families a desire for world missions and to aid missions projects around the world.
Anthony and Michelle, his wife of 27 years, are the parents of 12 children ages 24 to 18 months – Daniel, Jessica, Rebekah, Aaron, Josiah, Esther, Joshua, Caleb, Lincoln, Elijah, Anna and Nathan. In addition to running CAMP, hosting monthly skill building workshops, and meeting local and international church needs, they are the owner and manufacturers of Solar Pathfinder.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Smiths:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 1 May 2013:  One year on (Craig Smith’s Health) page 7 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

http://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

http://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational: http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Exemption Form online: http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-exemption-form-now-online/

Coming Events: http://hef.org.nz/2013/some-coming-events-for-home-education-during-2013-2/

Beneficiaries: http://hef.org.nz/2013/where-to-for-beneficiary-families-now-that-the-social-security-benefit-categories-and-work-focus-amendment-bill-has-passed-its-third-reading/

Topics: Coming Events | No Comments »

Building a God-Centered Family: Auckland June 3 & 4

By admin | May 25, 2013

Scott Brown, Kevin Swanson, and Anthony Courter are coming to Auckland as part of their NZ/Aus tour! Registrations open now!

Building a God-Centered Family – Auckland Tour Jun. 03-04, 2013

REGISTER HERE: http://trainingchildren.com.au/index.php/store/event-registration/product/43-building-a-god-centered-family

INFO: https://ncfic.org/events/view/building-a-god-centered-family-auckland-tour?tab=scheduleOn this tour, we will focus our teaching on matters of church and family life. While families are in a state of frustration and even collapse all over the world, we bring a vision of hope. That vision is the biblical vision for family life. This conference series is designed to deliver that vision of hope by explaining from the scriptures and how family life is designed to operate in the midst of church life and economic life.  These issues of church and family begin with understanding that scripture is sufficient for all things – including church, family and economic life. Our desire in fulfilling the great commission is to do what Jesus commanded His disciples, to “teach them to obey all things that I have commanded them” (Matt 28:20). Our Lord, in His Word has spoken on a multitude of practical church and family issues to instruct His people how they ought to live in harmony with His Word.

Monday, June 3:Venue: Manurewa Bible Church, 84 Maich Rd, Manurewa
Contact details: Jillian  mamajillian@gmail.com or 021 023 71151.Programme:

8:30-9:00 Registration

9:00-10:00 Session 1, Building a God Centered Family

10:00-10:45 Session 2,  The Power of a Happy Marriage

10:45-11:00 Break

11:00-11:45 Session 3, God’s Beautiful Design for Discipleship in the Church

11:45-12:00 Questions and answers

12:00 to 1:30 Lunch

1:30-2:30  Session 4,  Preparing Boys for Battle

2:30-3:15  Session 5,  Preparing Girls for Dominion

3:15-3:30  Break

3:30-4:30  Session 6, Building a Family Economy

4:30 to 6:00 Supper

6:00-7:00 Session 7, Nurturing Beneficial Family Affections

7:00-8:00 Session 8, A New Kind of Father

https://ncfic.org/events/view/building-a-god-centered-family-auckland-tour

Tuesday, June 4th:

To be announced

REGISTER HERE: http://trainingchildren.com.au/index.php/store/event-registration/product/43-building-a-god-centered-family

ALSO PART OF THIS TOUR:

Building a God-Centered Family – Christchurch Tour

Jun. 01-02, 2013

Building a God-Centered Family – Auckland Tour

Jun. 03-04, 2013

On this tour, we will focus our teaching on matters of church and family life. While families are in a state of frustration and even collapse all over the world, we bring a vision of hope. That vision is the biblical vision for family life. This conference series is designed to deliver that vision of hope by explaining from the scriptures and how family life is designed to operate in the midst of church life and economic life.

Learn more or Register

Building a God-Centered Family – Melbourne Tour

Jun. 05-09, 2013

On this tour, we will focus our teaching on matters of church and family life. While families are in a state of frustration and even collapse all over the world, we bring a vision of hope. That vision is the biblical vision for family life. This conference series is designed to deliver that vision of hope by explaining from the scriptures and how family life is designed to operate in the midst of church life and economic life.

Learn more or Register

Building a God-Centered Family – Sydney Tour

Jun. 10-11, 2013

On this tour, we will focus our teaching on matters of church and family life. While families are in a state of frustration and even collapse all over the world, we bring a vision of hope. That vision is the biblical vision for family life. This conference series is designed to deliver that vision of hope by explaining from the scriptures and how family life is designed to operate in the midst of church life and economic life.

Learn more or Register

Building a God-Centered Family – Tasmania Tour

Jun. 12-13, 2013

On this tour, we will focus our teaching on matters of church and family life. While families are in a state of frustration and even collapse all over the world, we bring a vision of hope. That vision is the biblical vision for family life. This conference series is designed to deliver that vision of hope by explaining from the scriptures and how family life is designed to operate in the midst of church life and economic life.

Learn more or Register

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Smiths:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/craig-smith-26-january-1951-to-30-september-2011/

Updated 1 May 2013:  One year on (Craig Smith’s Health) page 7 click here

*****

Needing help for your home schooling journey:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

http://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

http://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational: http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Exemption Form online: http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-exemption-form-now-online/

Coming Events: http://hef.org.nz/2013/some-coming-events-for-home-education-during-2013-2/

Topics: Coming Events | No Comments »

Building a God-Centered Family: Christchurch June 1 & 2

By admin | May 25, 2013

Building a God-Centered Family – Christchurch Tour

Jun. 01-02, 2013

Building a God-Centered Family – Auckland Tour

Jun. 02-04, 2013

On this tour, we will focus our teaching on matters of church and family life. While families are in a state of frustration and even collapse all over the world, we bring a vision of hope. That vision is the biblical vision for family life. This conference series is designed to deliver that vision of hope by explaining from the scriptures and how family life is designed to operate in the midst of church life and economic life.

Learn more or Register

Building a God-Centered Family – Melbourne Tour

Jun. 05-09, 2013

On this tour, we will focus our teaching on matters of church and family life. While families are in a state of frustration and even collapse all over the world, we bring a vision of hope. That vision is the biblical vision for family life. This conference series is designed to deliver that vision of hope by explaining from the scriptures and how family life is designed to operate in the midst of church life and economic life.

Learn more or Register

Building a God-Centered Family – Sydney Tour

Jun. 10-11, 2013

On this tour, we will focus our teaching on matters of church and family life. While families are in a state of frustration and even collapse all over the world, we bring a vision of hope. That vision is the biblical vision for family life. This conference series is designed to deliver that vision of hope by explaining from the scriptures and how family life is designed to operate in the midst of church life and economic life.

Learn more or Register

Building a God-Centered Family – Tasmania Tour

Jun. 12-13, 2013

On this tour, we will focus our teaching on matters of church and family life. While families are in a state of frustration and even collapse all over the world, we bring a vision of hope. That vision is the biblical vision for family life. This conference series is designed to deliver that vision of hope by explaining from the scriptures and how family life is designed to operate in the midst of church life and economic life.

Learn more or Register

Topics: Coming Events | No Comments »

Family First Muzzled Because of Traditional Marriage Views

By admin | May 5, 2013

Muzzled!

FAMILY FIRST TO BE DE-REGISTERED AS A CHARITABLE ORGANISATION
As a valued supporter of Family First NZ, please take a moment to read this urgent Media Release. The Charities Registration Board started investigating our status as a charity in the month following the start of the Same-Sex Marriage debate (August 2012). Although their investigation was supposed to be completed late January this year, they held off notifying us of their decision until the marriage debate was completed. Coincidence? Yeah right.

And the reason they want to deregister us as a charitable organisation? We promote a point of view about family life that does not, apparently, have a public benefit – and we promote the view that the union of a man and a woman through marriage is the fundamental social unit.

Yes – incredible, and sad! What effect will this have? Family First will no longer be exempt from income tax (even though we are non-profit!) but more significantly, donations to Family First will no longer qualify for the donation rebate.

But this will just make us more determined to speak up and challenge the issues affecting families – and we’ll be completely politically incorrect while doing it. Attempts to decriminalise euthanasia, abortion,  street prostitution, sexualisation of children in the media, sex education, anti-smacking law, adoption, marriage, CYF Complaints Authority, child abuse inquiry, broadcasting and advertising standards, and many more!

There are two things you could do:
* Email both the Prime Minister john.key@parliament.govt.nz and the Minister responsible for Charities jo.goodhew@parliament.govt.nz and tell them what you think
* Empower us to continue speaking up for families. Until the 27 May, donations still qualify for the Donation Rebate

MEDIA RELEASE

6 May 2013

Family First NZ has received notification that the Charities Commission intends to deregister the charity, citing Family First’s traditional view of marriage being one man and one woman as one of the reasons for the deregistration. The investigation began just after the gay marriage debate started last year.

“This is a highly politicised decision which is grim evidence that groups that think differently to the prevailing politically correct view will be targeted in an attempt to shut them up,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“The Commission argues that Family First’s efforts to represent the voice of 80%-plus of families on the anti-smacking law or half of New Zealanders on attempts to redefine marriage, for example, have no ‘public benefit’, and that it is in the ‘public interest’ for Family First to be deregistered.”

“The timing of the investigation and notification is also cynical in that the Commission deliberately held off the notification until after the final reading of the gay marriage bill, despite the Commission promising that their decision would be made at the end of January. The investigation began just after the gay marriage debate started last year.”

“It is now evident that any charity that speaks up on issues which are deemed incorrect by the political elite are in danger of being penalised. An easy way for opponents of a point of view is for them to use the Charities Commission to muzzle them.”

Family First is a non-profit organisation which receives no government funding, is funded purely by donations and gifts from New Zealand families, and relies heavily on volunteer time.

“You know a country is in trouble when a family group speaking up, publishing research, and holding conferences on traditional family values is deemed to be of no public benefit, and is in the public interest to be punished. It seems to be almost illegal to hold a viewpoint,” says Mr McCoskrie.

Under the Official Information Act, Family First has requested a list of which charities supporting the anti-smacking law and supporting the gay marriage law have had similar investigations. They have also requested information on who made complaints against Family First NZ.

“Family First gained approval as a charity, has also passed two ‘audits’, and have made no change to the nature of our operations over the past seven years. It appears that only the opinion of the Commission has changed,” says Mr McCoskrie.

“The good news is that even if Family First NZ looses its charitable status, we won’t be going away. We will continue to represent and be a voice for a massive proportion of NZ’ers on many social & family issues.”

ENDS

For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

Bob McCoskrie – National Director

Mob. 027 55 555 42

Topics: News Media/Press Releases | No Comments »

Home Schooling Issues and Action Station

By admin | April 23, 2013

ISSUES:

1. Final court hearing for the Johansson family soon

New email address for sending to the Swedish Supreme Court: hogstadomstolen@dom.se

Supreme Court of Sweden asked to free abducted homeschooled boy

WND: Homeschool parents have 1 shot to see son again

Desperate Homeschooling Parents Plead for Help—Hope Court Will Hear Case

2.Romeike family in the USA: Court hearing tomorrow 23 April 2013

Home School Family Has to Go, Chechen Islamists Got to Stay

The U.S. Government wants to deport this homeschool family: You can help keep them there

http://kuyperiancommentary.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/the-romeikes-and-the-myth-of-secular-education/

.

3. Home Educating German family in New Zealand needing to find a job in New Zealand or overseas urgently

.

4. Beneficiaries

Where to for Beneficiary families now that the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill has passed its Third Reading

ACTION STATION

1. Johansson family

1. Write emails and faxes to the Gotland Social Services at the following addresses:

kristina.djerf@gotland.se
marika.gardell@gotland.se

2. Write emails,  ring and/or visit Central AucklandContact Swedish Embassy – New Zealand

P O Box 37542

Parnell

Auckland 1151

Visiting address:
Level 3, 13 O’Connell Street, Auckland

Tel: +64 9 302 2879
Fax: +64 9 302 2535

jan-owe.wallberg@business-sweden.se

3. Most important if you can only send one email then send it here:
Contact the Swedish Supreme Court:
Box 2066 103 12 Stockholm, Sweden
Email: hogstadomstolen@dom.se or hogsta.domstolen@dom.se

Note added 24/4/13 Thanks for sending emails.  If your email to hogsta.domstolen@dom.se bounced then it could be because the inbox is getting full. In the mean time keep sending your email to this address.  Resend your email tonight as it is 8:50pm over there at the moment and the inbox may not be cleared during the evening. So begin trying to resend your emails from 8:30pm tonight. Thanks

New email address for sending to the Swedish Supreme Court: hogstadomstolen@dom.se

Contact Swedish media:
nyhetstips@dn.se, tipsa@svd.se, 71717@expressen.se, tips@helagotland.se

2. Romeike family

HSLDA Chairman Mike Farris asks “Please pray for us as we prepare for the hearing on April 23 in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit,” which is today in the USA for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere.

3. German family (originally he was needing a job by 18 April this date has been extended a little)

This father needs a teaching job of at least 30 hours a week as a Primary School Teacher. He can also teach at Secondary School level especially German, English and Music. He is interested in teaching in a Christian, Private or a State School.

Please ask all your teaching and Principal friends if they know of an opening for a job that he could have.

If you know of anything or have any questions then please ring me 021 027 82221 or 06 357 4399 or send an email to barbara@hef.org.nz. Thanks

4. Beneficiaries

This law will come into effect in July 2013. We need to be mindful of those on a benefit and help where we can.

Topics: Home Education Foundation | No Comments »

By admin | April 20, 2013

MEDIA RELEASE

20 April 2013

A Smack as Part of Good Parental Correction Works – Study

Family First NZ says that a study just published shows that smacking does no harm as long as the child knows it is for the right reasons and feels loved – contrary to politicians in New Zealand criminalising these parents.

The study of teenagers by a team from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and published in the journal Parenting: Science and Practice, found the effects of discipline – such as verbal threats or smacking – are offset by the child’s feeling of being loved. The researchers said being punished is unlikely to result in antisocial behaviour further down the line, as long as the child believes their punishment is coming from “a good place”.

They said

“Maternal warmth protected adolescents from the negative effects of harsh discipline such that, at higher levels of maternal warmth, there was no relation between harsh discipline and externalising problems.”

“Attachment theory suggests that warm, responsive parenting is the critical factor in producing securely attached children who, in turn, develop positive secure internal working models of their parents. Children then interpret subsequent parental behaviors, including discipline attempts, through the context of a warm and secure parent–child relationship. Mothers high on warmth demonstrate positive affect and supportive and accepting behaviors which promote a stable and global belief in the child that their parents love them.”

It also says anti-smacking policies are problematic because they contradict many adults’ own childhood experiences with discipline and their long-term outcomes, and this study demonstrates one condition under which discipline does not result in negative outcomes for the child in later life.

“This study joins what the researchers refer to as ‘emerging theoretical and empirical evidence’ which challenges the academic and political view that smacking is child abuse and should be banned. The people of New Zealand were able to figure that out. Unfortunately our politicians couldn’t,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

A recent survey of 1,000 NZ’ers found that three out of four people back a law change to allow “correctional” smacking of children. They were also asked whether they would still smack their child to correct behaviour, despite the law. Two out of three respondents, or 68 per cent, said they would.

ENDS

For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

Bob McCoskrie – National Director

Mob. 027 55 555 42

Sign up now to received FREE email updates of issues affecting families – be informed! http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/email-updates/

Topics: Section 59 - The Bill | No Comments »

Eleventh review of Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007

By admin | April 19, 2013

If Craig was alive he would have much to say about this Media Release. It is very concerning that Mr Burgess says “Due to the low prosecution rate, initial fears that ‘good parents’ would be criminalised continues to be proven wrong,”

Mr Burgess is wrong. This law has had a huge impact on families. All polls continue to show that over 80% of those voting in the polls want the law changed.

Ruby Harrold-Claesson warned us that the reporting would be like this.

Title: Eleventh review of Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007

Police has published its 11th review of activity following enactment of the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007.
The latest review covers the six-month period from December 2011 to June 2012, and is the final such Police review.

Monitoring was initially for a two year period when the Amendment Act was passed in 2007.  The Prime Minister then invited Police to continue reporting on the impact of the law change for a further three years. This review completes that three year process.
Results for the 11th review are consistent with previous reviews. In total, 355 child assault events attended by police during this period were considered for the eleventh review. 12 of these events were identified as involving smacking and 31 involved ‘minor acts of physical discipline’.

Of the 12 smacking events, none resulted in prosecution, nine warnings were given and three required no further action being taken.  Of the 31 ‘minor acts of physical discipline’ events, nine resulted in prosecution (see full report for details of these).  Of the 252 incidents of child assault, 133 resulted in prosecution.  A total of 60 incidents were classified as “no further action” required.

Of the ’smacking’ and ‘minor acts of physical discipline’ events, files indicate that 32 incidents were referred to Child, Youth and Family, 20 were referred to an inter-agency case management meeting, and six were referred to other support agencies.

There are a total of eight prosecutions for a ’smacking’ event since the June 2007 law change.

Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Burgess says police responses have been consistent over time.

During the 11th review period, there was a decrease in all types of incidents, but the overall trend from the first review to the 11th indicates a growth in the number of reports of child assault, and a slight increase in smacking and ‘minor acts of physical discipline’ incidents.

“This suggests people have become increasingly comfortable reporting incidents,” Mr Burgess said.

Due to the low prosecution rate, initial fears that ‘good parents’ would be criminalised continues to be proven wrong,” Mr Burgess said.

“We encourage people to report any incidents where they witness or believe a child is the victim of abuse or unreasonable force.”
They can call police directly, or if they want to anonymously pass information on they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Editors note:
(1) Further details of the 11th review can be found on the NZ Police website http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/resources/other-reports/11th-review-section-59.pdf.

(2) The number of child assault events identified in each review period does not reflect the total number of child assault events attended by police during this time. The events are those most likely to identify:
• Actual physical action used in the child assault; and
• The context and the surrounding circumstances, as outlined in the practice guidelines (Commissioners Circular).

(3) Following the December 2009 review Police agreed to continue monitoring the impact of the Amendment on a six monthly basis until June 2012. Further details of the review can be found at:
www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Sec59_review.pdf

(4) The practice guide (Commissioner’s Circular) on this issue released in June 2007 can be found on the police website:
www.police.govt.nz/news/release/3149.html

For further information
Police Media
027 484 8158

Please view the full news release online at:

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/34849.html

Thanks,
New Zealand Police

Topics: News Media/Press Releases, Normal Families-Police/CYFs since Section 59 amended, Section 59 - The Bill | No Comments »

Where to for Beneficiary families now that the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill has passed its Third Reading

By admin | April 19, 2013

There have been some changes to the Bill since the First Reading back in September 2012. It is important if you are on a benefit that you understand what the law does and does not say so that you are not forced by WINZ to do something that the law does not require of you.

What does the law say?

1. It is compulsory for 3 and 4 year olds to be attending an ECE—this ECE can be in your home with your own children. If you are keeping your children home you will have to use a Government approved programme for an undisclosed amount of time each week which will be taken out to 15 hours a week sometime in the future.

2. You can keep your 5 year olds at home doing whatever you like with them—just like before this Bill passed.

3. Your 6 year olds and above have to attend school or you have to get an exemption for them—just like before the Bill passed.

4. You will have to enrol your children with a GP.

5. Your children will have to complete the core WellChild/Tamariki Ora checks

6. If your youngest is 5 you (mothers) will have to work for 15 hours a week.

7. If your youngest is 14 you (mothers) will have to work for 30 hours a week.

What does the law NOT say?

1. You do not have to send your child to an ECE facility.

2. The Bill has not set the minimum weekly hours for using the Government approved curriculum in your home. At the moment you can determine that time at less than 15 hours a week. It will be extended to 15 hours at a later date.

3. The law says nothing about 5 year olds.

4. You don’t have to visit the GP—(have to be enrolled with a GP)

5. Compulsory immunisations are not in the Bill, and Paula Bennett was not able to include them in the Bill after the Second Reading. So you do not have to get your preschoolers immunised.

6. Mothers have to work 15 or 30 hours a week but it does not have to be out of your home and there is no money value on it in the Bill. One WINZ worker told a beneficiary mother (before the Bill passed) that she could sit at home watching TV while she knitted for 15 hours a week.

7. The Bill does not say that you have to go to “Getting Work Ready Meetings/Training” before your youngest is 5. So if you get a letter when your youngest is still only 2 or even younger (I heard of someone getting the letter when her youngest was only 6 months old) then hold the WINZ workers to the law. You only have to be working 15 hours a week once your youngest turns 5—not before.

8. You can home educate your children and work 15 or 30 hours a week. Paula Bennett said that you would not be able to, but if you are working from home then it is possible—hard, unfair etc. but it is possible. More on this later with ideas etc.

My recommendations

1. We don’t know how the sanctions will work. If you are on the Benefit when this Bill comes into effect we don’t know how hard or easy it will be to get off the benefit if you are not obeying the social obligations or work requirements. You might be able to say that you don’t want to receive the Benefit any more and that will be the end of it. But on the other hand the sanctions are nasty. If after three warnings over 6-8 weeks you haven’t fulfilled the social obligations you will lose half your benefit and be subject to “intensified case management support”—in other words more frequent meetings with WINZ to make you comply with the social obligations. According to the MSD’s Welfare Reform Paper E, “There are operational processes in place for clients to be referred to CYF or fraud investigation if they continue on a fifty percent sanction.” This means that parents who continue refusing to fulfill their social obligations after losing half their benefit may be reported to CYF or investigated for fraud.

2.       So my recommendations would be if at all possible to get off the Benefit before this bill comes into effect in July 2013 especially if you have no intentions to teach the Government approved curriculum to your 3 and 4 year olds and do not intend to work the required 15 or 30 hours a week.

3.       1 Timothy 5 talks about older children looking after their mothers and younger siblings and leaving true widows for the Church to look after them.

• · If at all possible get your older children or the father of your children or extended family to help/support you and your children.
• · If this fails and your family can’t help then go to your Church and talk to them. It is time for the local Church to take up their responsibilities to help the widow and those in need and not leave it up to the Government any longer.
• · If you are not on a benefit then please consider providing the needy families you know with this help and support as appropriate.

MSD and Home Schooling

Different WINZ offices have been operating differently. Some have been compassionate and others have been obnoxious towards home educators. The MSD (Ministry of Social Development) have told me that they want to have the same policy toward home educators across the country. They want the WINZ workers to be compassionate not obnoxious. Some WINZ workers are against home education. They don’t see why they have to put their children in school and have to go out to work while the Government pays home educating mothers to stay home with their children—they forget that it is a choice that they made. They forget that the government pays for their children’s the school and ECE. They ignore the fact that home educators save the government money when they keep their children home. So they try to make things very hard for home educators by saying they have to send their children to ECE and go out to work.

We have had some conflicting information from Paula Bennett about what the MSD policy is for home educators. In a letter from her in October she said that beneficiaries who want to homeschool their children will have to provide “proof of restricted circumstances that makes their child’s attendance at school unreasonable” as well as a Ministry of Education (MoE) exemption certificate, in order to fulfill the Bill’s requirement for children to be attending school. However, Parliamentary documents such as the Select Committee’s report confirm that an MoE exemption is all you need in order to fulfill the social obligation for school attendance.

The MSD wants to be consistent with how they treat home educators. If your case worker at WINZ is being unfair and intolerant and thinks you should not be homeschooling or keeping your 3 and 4 year old home, then Head Office would like to hear about it. Please ring (04) 916-3300.

Topics: Social Security Act 1964 | No Comments »

Media Release 25 – Families and Churches Must Care for the Unemployed

By admin | April 19, 2013

April 10, 2013

Palmerston North, NZ – The Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill has passed by a narrow two-vote margin, together with “social obligations” which will force beneficiary parents to make certain decisions for their children’s health and education or be penalised by a 50% sanction.

“This is disappointing,” says Home Education Foundation National Director Barbara Smith, who mobilised parents and young people across New Zealand to object to the draconian “social obligations”. “The New Zealand Law Society said this bill would discriminate against beneficiaries, and no amendments were made in response to that. The Minister for Health said that it would result in more children missing out on basic health care, and no amendments were made in response to that. Even a proposed amendment to prevent families being sanctioned where this would leave children without adequate income was defeated.”

Most of all, says Mrs Smith, it’s disappointing that government-approved early childhood education will now be mandatory for all 3 and 4 year old preschool-aged children of beneficiaries.

However, she says, the social obligations provide an opportunity for families, churches, and government to reconsider their proper roles.

“If the government pays to support sole-parent and struggling families, then we shouldn’t be surprised when they believe that gives them a say in these families’ decisions. Whoever pays the piper calls the tune.

“But this is a deviation from the government’s properly limited role, to protect national borders and keep the peace.”

Mrs Smith says she hopes these rules will convince struggling families to look elsewhere for financial support in times of hardship. “We can’t complain that the government is taking away our responsibilities if we aren’t willing to face those responsibilities.

“Throughout the Christian history of our culture, charity and public welfare has been the responsibility of families and churches, not the state,” she says.

“Families understood that they had the responsibility to care for ill or out-of-work relations. And where family support was inadequate, the church would step in to provide for the needy.”

Mrs Smith says that the church’s historic role in providing health care, education, and welfare has powerfully shaped culture in the past. “During the decline of the Roman empire, the church became so influential owing to its selfless deeds of charity and mercy that one emperor was forced to set up his own rival social security system to remind citizens that he was their god and would supply all their needs.”

Mrs Smith, a widow being supported by her five adult children, says that history teaches us to hope for the future. “There is a better way.

“In the coming days and years, more parents are going to face poverty and hardship because they refuse to sign their children over to a bloated paternal government which insists it knows best.

“We need to be ready to support them.”

About the Home Education Foundation

The Home Education Foundation has been informing parents for 28 years about the fantastic opportunity to de-institutionalise our sons and daughters and to embrace the spiritual, intellectual and academic freedom that is ours for the taking. Through conferences, journals, newsletters and all kinds of personal communications, we explain the vision of handcrafting each child into a unique individual, complete with virtuous character, a hunger for service to others, academic acumen and a strong work ethic. For more information, please visit www.hef.org.nz

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Where this Media Release appeared:

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Voxy: Families and churches urged to care for the unemployed

Scoop: Families and Churches Must Care for the Unemployed

Newstalk ZB: Interviewed today- recorded – will post up link when it is available

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Other Press Releases on the 3rd reading so far:

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Paula Bennett: Welfare reforms pass into law

Auckland Action Against Poverty: Beneficiaries ‘receive biggest boot in the guts since ’91?

Peter Dunne: Fairer child support reform bill passes

Parliament today: Child Support And Welfare Reforms Pass Into Law

Labour: Welfare Reforms Mark The End Of Social Contract

Jacinda Ardern: Welfare reforms mark the end of social contract – Jacinda Ardern

Asenati Lole-Taylor Social welfare reforms ‘impose unrealistic obligations’

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Needing help for your home schooling journey:

http://hef.org.nz/2011/needing-help-for-your-home-schooling-journey-2/

And

Here are a couple of links to get you started home schooling:

http://hef.org.nz/getting-started-2/

and

http://hef.org.nz/exemptions/

This link is motivational: http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-what-is-it-all-about/

Exemption Form online: http://hef.org.nz/2012/home-schooling-exemption-form-now-online/

Coming Events: http://hef.org.nz/2013/some-coming-events-for-home-education-during-2013-2/

Topics: Social Security Act 1964 | No Comments »