NZ Centre for Political Research

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe the government has been tough enough on welfare reform?

*My partner and I have discussed this and we both agree that it is an injustice to those who are 'unemployed' to receive income for doing nothing. People need to be kept in the 'work' environment, even when they are receiving the benefit. There are so many things unemployed could do to contribute and help out in society and it needn't be demoralising work either. There is work and education to be gained with the St John Ambulance and NZ Fire service who are always screaming out for volunteers, environmental work like rubbish collecting, beach care invasive plant and pest control. I notice many farms that are being over taken by gorse because the farmers are struggling with time and money to control it. I don't know off the top of my head but surely there are area's within elderly care that need tending to. Night watch work to help keep NZ streets safer.
This way people are receiving the benefit but they are kept in working condition. If they don't want to work, then they MUST find a course that can get them into a Trade/Career. Bottom line is, you only get the benefit if you are actively helping out or studying for work. There is no need to persecute people for being unemployed. Many of them will be feeling bad enough about it without society attacking them as well. Trina

*Until the system is radically changed by abolishing the DPB, getting everyone on welfare to reapply every year, and introducing time limits for everyone who is not severely disabled or sick, there will be no real change. National has a great opportunity to make a real contribution to the future of this country - I just hope they are up to it. Tony

*But heading in the right direction. Ali

*Unfortunately we do not have any Parliamentarians that have the guts to do it. They piussy foot around hoping it will go away or they putthe heads in the sand. New Zealand will never be a wonderful country until we are ONE COUNTRY ONE PEOPLE (and I do not mean that 15$ of the population is the ONE either like our P.M. has landed on us)Our punishment is too little too late and not severe anough, if the Death Penalty is not right then bring back the birch and stocks. Allow Parents their rights to discipline their own. MARYLIN

*They have only been tinkering to date - proper change is needed for the sake of beneficiaries, their kids and the country. Teresa

*Time to introduce time limits - otherwise people linger on and lack the motivation to leave the welfare system. Ben

*When is any Government going to get tough? Simon

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe the government has been tough enough on welfare reform?

*Yes so much so the Winz can not interpret the regulations or the acts. Yes I have a boy who has not received an income for eight months. The department will throw kids out onto the street to protetute themselves just to get a feed. Then they will break into shelters when the weather gets bad. This we do not need!!! Rawiri

*When are they going to stop the rip offs - especially the women who use the DPB to pay them to have kids them live illegally with the father as a boarder. Meanwhile he's on the dole and they are scamming the taxpayer big time. It has to stop. Are the politicians so stupid that they can't see it? Pat

*Whatever happened to parents taking responsibility for their little darlings and making them stay in school if they are not working or in training - students are the parents responsibility until age 24 - or did Labour destroy that too? Get tough Key, stop being a wimp. Graeme

*Stop the DPB. It os ripping off taxpayers and driving fathers out of their children's lives. It is a dreadful policy. Helen

*Progress is impossible without change,and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything-George Bernard Shaw.
John Key does not have political courage to change his populist mind and is too concerned with being loved by all - does not make a inspirational leader John. Monica

*Giving money to lazy people and irresponsible parents does not encourage them to mend their ways. Teaching these people to become responsible and respect discipline and standards of good behaviour is desireable. Peter

*Benefit quarantining for all on welfare (ie CR cards to be used for food, rent and essential services only), not just teens under 18!! Bruce

*It's everywhere, they all line up for their weekly payment, there is so much can be done, everyone receiving the dole should report to council daily for work. My brother has 2 degrees, he does not choose to work, I can list many, and stop paying the underclass to breed. David

*1. The reasons for welfare are to provide social security.
2. In Iran, Greece, Italy, Syria,Egypt, Libya and the UK riots or passive revolution is happening because of the lack of money for people to buy food. Hunger leads to anger which leads to riots.
3. Modern economies need 3-4% GDP growth to absorb the young coming into the workforce. In NZ 20-30% of these people are unemployed due to the NZ economy being in stagnation.
4. Economic well being depends on PRODUCTION as well as Consumption. The current government has only introduced policy to promote the increased production of MILK. This may get them elected but the economy will continue regression without changes to the fundementals to increase production in other areas.
5. The current policy to introduce a plastic card to control the spending of young people lacks vision and understanding of this sector. Mr Key may be street born but he is not street smart. These teenagers will simply find casual work for cash and use the cash to buy cigs and alcohol- if they choose. The taxpayer will be left to (again) pay for another multi-million dollar bureaucracy that is parasitic to society and being funded by debt.
6. Policy action is needed to stop the "race to the bottom" that is happening in society in general.
7. Real policy is needed to create real jobs - based on production not government debt. Particularly debt sourced from a totalitarian dictatorship. Nick

*Giving welfare payments to lazy and irresponsible people does not improve their attitude or lifestyle. Teaching them discipline and standards of social behavior is a better scheme. Peter

*Unfortunately, picking on the symptoms doesn't fix the causes of the problem. Govt. should be about creating opportunity and wealth for Kiwi's. That is has forgotten its role and insists on interfering in families and peoples lives tells us how far it has gone from its core business. Robert

*Way past time, come on John Key. Families form the basis of co-hesion and civilisation. Ian

*I'm hoping National will do some major reform. They are so high in the polls they could get away with anything at the moment, so this is a good time to show some real courage and vision. Trudi

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe the government has been tough enough on welfare reform?

*What....John Key do something that some people might not like. You must be joking. Ronmac

*Welfare is a disaster - almost everyone is rorting the system. The sooner it is cleaned up the better. Everyone should have to reapply every year to start with. But the DPB should be abolished. If women with kids need support they can go on the unemployment benefit like everyone else. Tanya

*As ever the self described elite of the National Cabinet and caucus have indulged in the normal 'smoke and mirrors' exercise to keep the hoi poli quiescent. Roll on the bread and circuses of the Rugby World Cup. Peter

*No extra payment for children conceived on a benefit, and must be illegal drug free to get it, for starters. Jack

*Trouble is, there are one or more 'lost' generations of welfare dependants now in NZ. Tougher laws should apply initially to the young - that is, the next generation coming into adulthood. NZ society is addicted to welfare. Addicted to 'the Government should do something'. Addicted to political correctness. Addicted to always taking the easy option and avoiding conflict. If welfare reform makes it too hard for too many people then Labour will just win an election and put NZ back to square one. I always find it hard to understand how so many people in NZ can believe there IS a free lunch, that somehow it will always be someone else who will pay. Stupidity of the highest order. Gary

*It's about time Govt's/society looked at sterilising the hopless so we don't continue the growth of trouble. Rik

*Govt is lacking the 3 "W"s WISDOM, WILL and WHEREWITHAL. Carol

*If unmarried women received no more payments for babies that they had the growth of the problem would virtually evaporate overnight! Sue

*A start in possibly the right direction, but more is needed. We have thousands of acres covered with gorse and tobacco weed that the unemployed could clean up, and miles of sand dunes that could be planted with grass or trees. There are plenty of employment opportunities for everyone and it would be a stepping stone to more productive employment. Much of NZ's current wealth in timber has come from paying the unemployed to plant trees back in the 1930's. We should follow that model again! Ted

*Reducing or stopping the dole after 12 months unemployment should be the only alternative to working for the dole after 12 months. Maurice

*Get rid of the DPB - that's the only way you will stop the child abuse and youth dysfunction that now plagues our society. Sandra

*Again they are trying to patch the symptom not address the cause. I'm convinced they are again trying to convince us they have the interests of the country and its people in focus. John

*Just what was the point of coming out with a soft band aid solution just before an election?
Answer Politics.
The only answer is a voucher system for essentials. Especially in the case for basic food items.
Welfare will only disappear when we have learnt that "There is no free lunch" and that "There is no sin to be born in the gutter, but one hell of a sin to stay there." Brian

*Our smiley socialist leader hasn't got the backbone to do the necessary and to instil in people that welfare is meant to be a SAFETY NET, not a handout as of right. We elected him to straighten this countrys dependency mentality (among other things) but there is little sign of more than just tinkering round the edges. We import seasonal workers to do the jobs that lazy NZers won't do but prefer to sit on their backsides, collect a benefit and convince the do gooders that they are living in poverty. When will it end? I am sick of paying tax to support these bludgers. Carolyn

*Emphatically NO! Nor has it reduced the bureaucracy that goes with it - or any bureaucracy. Trouble is every bit of legislation that’s put on the statute book requires more & more bureaucrats ( & their costs & expenses) & eventually they take over. Faceless, unaccountable, unelected busybodies with their rule books, interfering in every aspect of life …… with no consequences, except more hands in your back pocket. The end result is no respect for “authority”, no discipline, & anarchy. Hence the UK riots. The flip side is the Breivik Affair in Norway; same cause, different solution. His logic is accurate, but his tactics are unacceptable. Dave

*I don't think the NZ system is tough enough on welfare reform. I should be careful what I say as I may need it myself in the future. The problem with governments is that they are so sensitive to what the voters think, and they don't want to "offend" people too much. The result is always a watered down version of what is really required. Problem with governments is they lack vision and concentrate on what will keep them in power. Neil

*John Key is targeting those that that won't vote meanwhile he thinks he can get away with "window dressing"and keep his voting base. This has nothing to do with correcting the welfare debacle. Key is slime. I definately won't vote for him again. Jack

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe the government has been tough enough on welfare reform?

*Parents need to spend more time and be more responsible for their chidren and young adults. Also these youngsters need to be given more genuine love from their family instead being left to face the big wide world on their own. Judith

*Regrettably politics comes first and National does not want to upset the Electrate. Robert

*This should just be the start.If we managed all our tax dollars with a bit more control we could do twice as much with the kitty or tax the workers less. I'm sick of paying taxes just to see it getting wasted. Pat

*Youth wages should be reduced for 6 months until they prove they are doing their best and every year after renewed and wages raised if appropriate. Mary

*Unless it has the jobs for people to go to, providing training and work experience will not be enough. Sue

*By "tough" I mean realistic and principled. It is not "tough" to give people incentives to act in a responsible and independent way, in fact it is a kindness. Why would one run policies that destroy people and the sense of self-worth that comes from working and being independent? Doing for people what they can and should do for themselves is patronising and denigrating, and they end up hating the people on whom they become dependent. So, the government should be kind to people. I think doing that is tough for the government because, even though they know it is right and good, they are more concerned about being popular and getting re-elected. Duncan

*Many firms such as farmers may have work but cannot afford wages. People on benefit should be made to help. David

*NO, there has been little or nothing done to my knowledge and any action taken is certainly not tough enough. It comes back to the problem that once a benefit of whatever sort has been granted..it is almost impossible to take it back..there certainly is a total breakdown of family values...and this is going to be even harden to claw back ...with the breakdown of morals in the community I don't think it is at all possible. It is election year so Key will be treading very lightly so as not to upset voters. Audrey

*3 years in office what have they done!!!......anyone??? Wayne

*Pandering to lazy welfare bludgers has bought our country to it's knees. Ian

*No, not yet. One of the first initiatives that must be taken is to remove the entitlement of the DPB from all except those widowed by tragedy or those with irretrievable family situations, such as extreme violence or pure evil which is present in some instances of broken down relationships. However, before the DPB is given in any circumstance, the situation should be examined in detail and the best course of remedial action taken. Drug addicts and alcoholics must undergo rehabilitation and primary expenses, as in this youth initiative must be the first call on any welfare payment. We've got to get tough folks. The architect of the original Welfare system in New Zealand had a requirement in the system that stated that welfare was only available to those of good character. We need to get that qualification back into every welfare payment that is made. It must be a prerequisite for any benefit. Dianna

*Hope that more psitive action will be taken after the looming election! Jim

*The govt can profile those who parasitise off the system from Dept of Justice and Social Welfare files. The breeders who use welfare to subsidise their irresponsibility can equally be falgged - as can the at rich new cohorts who will swell the ranks. All this is quite controllable on a fiscal level - the social level is more complex but still manageable. Christopher

*Unfortunately welfare has become so integrated, intertwined and morphed into western society it has become in need of "amputation" in many of it's forms. Welfare has become an evel that's hard to reform or modify and those who do will pay for it at the ballot box as more than 50% of citizens now are dependants of some sort. Eelco

*Poverty is getting worse, soon be a third world.. Frank

*I am not sure whether "tough" is the right word. But I do believe that the government is only tinkering with a large problem. There are insufficient jobs out there to successfully address the unemployment problem. There is no programme such as apprenticeships or youth rates to get young people in to work. Secondary education is failing students with its own organisational confusion (NCEA). Too many students leave school with so called exam passes without the ability to string a sentence together never mind a letter for a job application. John

*Nowhere near tough enough. Some small start (at last) but a mighty long way to go yet. Sheila

*MPs love their jobs more than their country. George

*Not really, as they have consistently not been game to face the frightening spectacle of the moral corruption that is right through our society. Many of the rich show a shocking example to all by their reckless financial and moral conduct. Hugh

*Teens that have babies should be supported by their families then they would take more responsibility and care for their children. Also adult wages should begin at 21 years as in my day. Laurent

*National is too scared of a liberal/left wing media prior to the next election! Simon

*The now outdated idea that people have "rights" with no mention of their responsibilities is the primary under-lying cause of welfare system failure. John

*Family breakdown has to be addressed. Stop paying unmarried girls to have babies. Barbara

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe the government has been tough enough on welfare reform?

*Your comments are correct re the welfarism we have become used to in NZ. Many understand what welfare creates in humans, it is a soul destroying system.
Can we change the welfare culture?
probably not without some form of rioting aka lawlessness, it will not take alot to insite violence in NZ if any welfare cuts are severe. Sad but very possible in my view.
The next question is why has the welfare state grown the way it has in NZ?
Many NZs have opted for handouts promised and delivered by socialist politicians, all sides have been guilty of this disaster over time, people have been and still are being used as voting fodder, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Todays society has by and large abandoned in the education system , and in our homes etc the teaching of right and wrong,and discipline is apparently not required. Absolute truth has been exchanged for relativism and collective dialetic teaching.

When one studies this thinking process, and its history, it then becomes clear as to where many of our societies problems originate from.
Sadly man never learns from history, and the mass socailization that has and is taking place thru out the west in particular, will lead to mayhem in the streets.
Sadly many have abandoned the God of the Bible.
I implore any reader who does not see the connect beteween God's word and the shambles we are facing today to seriously check out the Holy Scriptures.
I am by no means brainwashed and I am not a whacko.
I am along with many Kiwis, am a passionate defender of property rights, and helping my fellow man and woman to educate themselves in better understanding what we will face in the next 2-4 years. Ross

*Welfare reform will do NOTHING axcept make the poor poorer (where are the Jobs?)if anything welfare support has to be increased in this day of sold assets, society has been sold out!, traded off to some offshore investors who couldnt care less about kiwis! Rick

*There is inadequate support, when a family is in crisis..and the lack of the extended family for support,for those who have moved from one relationship to another..the children have a problem knowing ..their history. Jane

*The welfare system needs to be not just reformed, but completely re-written from the starting point of a clean sheet of paper. Tinkering is not nearly enough. We owe it to the present and also future generations of New Zealanders to ensure that welfare is reasonable, affordable and sustainable into the future. It requires a multi-party approach and we all need to recognise that there should not be any sacred cows which could escapre critical appraisal. Peter

*National is lame on everything, as usual. Gert

*Ours is a good, decent, loving, capable family, yet the NZ government decided to pay our 16 year old daughter the Independent Youth Benefit so that she could leave home and live independently of good family influence. Despite the pleas of our family, a Ministry of Education psychologist decided that as she had met with our daughter for one hour, she knew more about our daughter’s needs than our family did. They paid our daughter the IYB and prevented us from even paying her school fees. When we met with the psychologist again three months later, we presented her with graphs showing that our daughter had been truant from school for much of the 3-month period that she was paid the State IYB (and never truant when she had previously lived at home), and our daughter’s academic school performance had deteriorated markedly over the 3-month period. Our daughter had also refused to attend the family counselling which was a pre-requisite for receiving the State money. The psychologist admitted that she had lied to us in order to withhold her report. The psychologist was furious that we had presented evidence proving that the IYB was not in our child’s best interest. We were never invited to another meeting with the Ministry of Education again. While on the IYB and still at school, our daughter was to engage in such inappropriate sexual relationships that she was later able to sell her story to a national magazine. It is now 6 years later, and our daughter is still on State benefits, even though her family are financially able and willing to meet her financial requirements. A growing number of people around the world are finding out about NZ experiences such as ours and are reacting with horror and anger to the NZ government’s inappropriate interventions in ripping good families apart. We believe that the day will come when NZ authorities will be exposed and held to account. Dave

*But its a start! Andy

*There should be a time limit for a general benifit and after that you are on your own or extended family. Jorg

*Stop the DPB. Make abortions compulsory for un-married women. Make de-facto relationships unlawful, thereby taking away the equal status and benfits in law that they currently share with legally married couples. Jean

*Unmarried mothers should not get a benefit after the first (accidental) child. The father is responsible. David

*Watching the riots on TV just tells us what a pack of losers the western world has allowed into our society. I can well remember as a kid Enoch Powell being branded as person akin to Hitler or Stalin. Just how do take seruiously a leader that gives the two fingered salute to 1.4 million of us regarding child discipline, or a leader that dreams up a boot camp and then publicly proclaims it wont be having a seargent major yelling at the "recruits", what a bloody loser smiley is, problem is people will turn to those pack of clowns to the left. Sam

*But at least it is a start, the problem is not just welfare though, several years ago my young son walked in the door from a day at primary school proudly proclaiming I was not the boss of him (as advised by his Teacher) we have since seen the result of boundary removal for immature young, they become immature adults, and then there is all the other great work done by the previous Labour/Green mob that has compounded the problem, 3 terms in government through one of the most productive periods the world has seen and all we got was more welfare and bureaucracy. John

*Nationals new policy is a step in the right direction.. Howard

*National has just inkered with welfare when full blown reform is what is needed. Hugh

*For John Keys information children come from parents, they are the first call, and what's wrong with no cars or petrel bill. Before any welfare is given to mothers they should attend Parenting Classeswhich need to be set up by govt. They should learn how to feed children properly not just spend any benefit they get on takeaways and have nothing left for the rest of the fortnight. They need to learn how to disipline their children properly and play and read to them also. Elsie

*Benefits are too easily abused & some beneficiaries are truely milking the system. Rick

*What reform? All we've seen is a little rearranging of the deckchairs as the Titanic sinks further into the ice-cold waters of anarchy & chaos. Regrettably, we are now at a place - and have been for some time - where what is needed at the top is a tough dictator, not a wet-bus-ticket socialist. All we have available to us at this time is 120 bus conductors... :-/ Peter

*I believe welfare reform is only part of it. I strongly believe the retirement age is to high and that by lowering it you are creating more jobs for the young. After the riots of England one wonders if our Government will have another look at the anti smacking laws. If not I can see the same thing happening here before much longer. Gerry

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe the government has been tough enough on welfare reform?

*It is long past time for a government to change the system as society is already paying the price - you can find the children of welfare dysfunction in the prisons, in the youth court, in CYFS care, in the school dropout statistics. If we can see it so clearly, why can't the politicians? David

*Unfortunately this is a case of no gain without pain..... avoid the pain today and it will be worse tomorrow - grasp the nettle! Martin

*It is a start, but needs to be firmer. Dick

*Key finally dipped his toes in the water. John, try the big swim, but typical of a pandy politician you will find it too cold, or maybe cannot you cannot swim! Gary

*Too many people seeing it as a lifestyle choice, not the temporary help out it was originally introduced to be. Sarah

*Tinkering around the edges and pretending their pathetic pronouncements are going to make a difference won't change anything. I have been a supporter of the National Party for years but this is one step too far. Are we going to wait until we see the same riots in this country that Britain and the USA have had to deal with before we're brave enough to do something concrete and definite about this problem? Shirley

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe the government has been tough enough on welfare reform?

*National should have made major changes by now - all they've done is tinker around the edges. Ken

*This government has been a big disappointment - John Key promised proper reform and he hasn't delivered. Sandy

*Major change is needed to sort out the underclass problem in New Zealand. Gangs can be found terrorising every community and crime is rampant. It's long past time that the government sorted out the problem that their own policies have caused. Brian

*There are far too many bludgers on welfare making it harder for the people who genuinely need welfare assistance - not to mention the taxpayers who have to pay through the nose for people who could and should be working. Susan

*Tough on welfare - what a joke! Mike

*The riots in England are a warning that when you create dysfunction in society you are asking for trouble. Peter