August 10, 2025 • 40 mins
We all want to see the next generation thrive - to do better than generations before.
But there are a whole host of barriers holding children back, stopping them from reaching their full potential, and creating cycles that continue through generations.
We always say children are our future, so why are we not doing more to support that future?
Sir Ashley Bloomfield joins Tim Beveridge for Health Hub...
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks
at by.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Summerson.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Run to me, as shall say, but I have to
come up from so don't tut.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Me back.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
And nothing you can say.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Snakes pards and we got to go to today.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
So it's welcome. And if you are just joining, oh,
welcome back. This is the Weekend Collective on Tim Beverage
on Sunday tenth of August. Don't forget texture feedback on
nine two nine two. But we want your calls as
well as our on eight hundred and eighty ten to eighty.
And what we're going to discuss is, look, we all
want to see the next generation thrive and do better
(01:20):
than generations before, but there are a whole host of
barriers that the whole children back, stopping them from reaching
their full potential and creating cycles that continue through generations.
And as you know, we probably could have played also
the song I Believe the Children of the future. But
we know we always say that children of the future,
but are we doing enough to support that future? And
(01:40):
our guest today is he's a new Bernardo's ambassador. He's
a well known to all of you's name. It's and
it's Sir Ashley Bloomfield.
Speaker 5 (01:48):
Ashley, good afternoon, Good afternoon, Tim, Good to be with
you this afternoon.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Yeah. How long have you been working with Bernados and
what does your role and tail?
Speaker 5 (01:58):
Well, I've been involved with Bernardos for about the last
six months or so. Essentially, it's an opportunity to highlight
the work of and support the work of Barnados. You know,
this is an organization that's been around for over fifty
years in New Zealand, and just a chance to really
support them, to profile it, to help with fundraising and
(02:19):
in fact, one of the things I'm going to be
doing in October is going with a group to walk
in China along the Great Wall of China to fundraise
for one of the Barnado's services. It's They're eight hundred,
what's up number for children and teenagers to call?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
Just reminds us. I mean, Barnardo's is one of those
names that has been as you say, it's around for
fifty years and it's sort of a household name itself.
How would you define the work that they do and
where they are effective?
Speaker 5 (02:50):
Well, people may well know the sort of the Barnado's
early learning centers out in communities around around the country
and so that's probably the most visible part of what
they do, but they're key services. They provide a community
and social services, social workers out in the communities, often
working through and with the FARNO who are associated with
(03:12):
those early learning services. But they're really supporting not just
the children but their families as well with a whole
range of social services.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
One of the biggest challenges that Bernardo's and you are
through that you work with them and noticing that children
in New Zealand have these days.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Well, I think it's no surprise to anyone that we
do as a country have an ongoing issue with too
many children who are growing up in poverty, in material deprivation.
They are exposed to poverty, to family harm, trauma and
you know, from early on in life, and this really
does disrupt and hold back their development, their ability to
(03:54):
thrive and their prospects through their lives. So the big
challenge for Bernardos and others working in the sector is
to really do their best to port these families and
in particular the children, to give them, you know, the
best opportunities they can in life. And we're making some
progress as a country but I dare say we've still
got a big, a big challenge there.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Is it this question of money or is it a
question of attitudes around parenting? I mean, look, these questions
are always massively complex really the answers to them, But
what are the Is it about raising money? Is it
about trying to change the way we parent our children?
What are the things that you would have I mean,
(04:37):
not that you can click your fingers, but what would
what would you address first up?
Speaker 5 (04:43):
Well, it's complex, so there's no you know, there's no
silver bullet here. It is all of the above. It's
helping parents with parenting skills, you know, supporting them to
be the best parents they can be. And a lot
of that, of course is ensuring that they can provide safe,
healthy housing, that they've got a decent income, that they
know what they need to do to support their children
(05:05):
development and education. So the support that you know Plunket gives,
for example, right from early on in life, ordering a
tamariki where children may be at risk, all the many
social services and benefits that are there, but organizations like
Bonado's are really important in terms of just providing that
(05:26):
more wrap around support for those families that do have
quite a lot of challenges going on, and in particular,
if you think about the children and those families, they're
born into those families, you know that's not a choice
they made. And whatever the cause of the disruption or
the problems or the challenges for them, there is a
(05:46):
lot that can be done. There are some really good
evidence about the things you can do to actually support
those children to grow, to develop, to be healthy, to thrive,
and of course then grow into you know, really good
contributing members of our society. And an important one from
all of us is, you know, our population is aging.
(06:06):
I'm reaching that stage at sixteen next year, and so
we all need I mean, this is a great achievement
for humankind aging, but we need our workforce to be
there in the future to support those of us who
are going to be retiring. And so it's in all
our interests to make sure that all our children get
(06:26):
a great start in life and are able to then
thrive and get well educated, get a good income and
contribute to our economy.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
How much of it boils down to I mean, I'm
a big fan of I imagine you are as well
as that the Dunedin study, which has followed people and
I think these new generations coming into the Dunedin study.
But my memory serves me correct If my memory serves
me correctly, it seems that everything's down to the first
three years. I'm not everything, but much of the outcomes
(06:57):
we can expect as adult, is that sort of just
the first three years or not?
Speaker 5 (07:04):
Well, the need and study has been a real treasure
for New Zealand and for other countries. You know, they've
been following these people now for over fifty years and
there's a bigger, more representative study that started in South
Auckland about fifteen or sixteen years ago with a new
cohort of children. They've thrown they've followed through and you're
right that first sometimes people talk about the first thousand days,
(07:26):
Probably the first two thousand is critical. So taking children
into school is really critical for setting their pathway that
they're on and an investment there, and it doesn't need
to be a big investment, but an investment ensuring that
they have got access to healthy, safe housing, that they've
got access to things that will help them thrive, and
(07:50):
access to early childhood education. These are the things that
really do make a difference. And of course we know
that some of the things are even pre birth, so
while the baby's still in the womb, it's really important
that mums have good nutrition, that they're able to access
the health care that they need as well.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Actually, well I dig into other details, but sometimes people
I always worry about the times when when people when
women are pregnant and maybe they don't even know they're
pregnant and things, and how how quickly is damage done
to a to a fetus in those early weeks and
months that lots of citric.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
Yeah, I mean, the proper nutrition is really important. And
some work by people like Sir Peter Gluckman and others
has shown that the mother's diet really does affect the
development of the fetus and this has a this has
quite an impact then on their their early childhood development.
So that's why it's important that all our women I
(08:50):
guess you could say, of child bearing age are connected
to health services so that they can access they've got
the information, they've got access to what they need to do,
whether it's from taking follic acid or support to stop
smoking if they need to, the fact that they should
not drink alcohol during pregnancy. All these things and support
for that as well.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
What about the cycle of you know, because often poverty
and intergenerational problems that you know, there's a cycle you
need to break it. What are your views on what
we can do to make a difference.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
Yeah, this is a really good point because often these
children are in this cycle, and sometimes it's an intergenerational cycle.
And that's where the sorts of wrap around initiatives that
organizations like Bernardo's have got that really do support that
investment in and that cat catching families and providing the
(09:47):
full range of support they need, empowers them with the skills,
support what they need to thrive. And this is you know,
Bernardes for example, has got a program that they are
implementing and this is this is based around their early
childhood centers. It's called to Cataway and Machelpunas, so sort
(10:08):
of like the cloak to support children and it just
you know, can wrap around those families. See they've got
the education for the children, the social support, the navigation
for all the social services, and the income support they
might need. And there's really good evidence that these sorts
of programs and that in the social work support they
(10:30):
provide provide a really good return on investment.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
What I mean, are there examples where you can see
where improvements have been made that are going to be
long lasting because one of the things that people are
in the end, somebody has this is a very clumsy
way of getting to this getting to this point or
reflecting what a lot of people say is that you know,
you help people out, but ultimately you want to get
to a stage where suddenly there's some sort of penny
(10:55):
drop moment that makes a difference where some individual is
able and wants to change their life. I mean, have
you seen examples of that through the work the bnados do?
Speaker 5 (11:05):
Absolutely? I think Bonado's and other organizations you know, I'm
been involved in supported Wellington City Mission as well. Over
the years, these organizations do see the impact that these provisions,
you know, the support the provision of these services really
makes on the lives of individuals and Farno and it's
(11:25):
not so much a penny dropping but it's just that
if they have that support and you give them that
sense of agency over their lives actually that they can
make decisions that will improve their lives. You know, the
vast majority of parents want the very best thing for
their children. They can be stuck in really challenging circumstances
(11:46):
and if you can work with them to address those things,
to empower them, then yeah, stories abound as to just
how you can make a real difference in the lives
of these families and their children.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
And it sort of ties into that question of it
to how you get people to feel that they're part
of a community as well, because I mean you have
obviously three your former role as well well, which was
a centralized role as Director General of health, and then
you get community initiatives. How do you mean, what's your
view on the way assistance support should be delivered? Is
(12:19):
it best through organizations that are connected very strongly with communities?
And what's the role that government has to plan that?
I know that I can't help, but obviously people the
reason people know your name is because you view roles
director General of health. But how does Bernardo's work contrast,
complement and fit in with what the government does or
should do grus It was a long question.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
Sorry, there's a lot in that, but it's an important question.
And you know the role of government isn't to necessarily
provide all the services and even if you think about
the health system and one of the best roles I
had was before I was a DG of Health. I
was chief executive out at hut Valley District Health Board
and it's a community I live in and just examples
of the service providers out there, just many Maori Pacific,
(13:07):
other community service providers, even things like your local pharmacy,
your local general practitioner, mental health services that are kind
of embedded in the community and they're the ones who
know the people there and just time and again I
loved just being out there and being with these providers
and see how seeing the difference they were making in
the lives of the families that they were engaged with.
(13:31):
So the role of government is to sort of really
fund and empower and enable those sorts of services to
be delivered. In fact, if you look at the health system,
the only services that are really publicly delivered are the
ones in our hospitals. Most of the other services are
delivered by private or community based providers.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
I would have also imagined that one of the bigger
problems with regards to children's well being in general is
identifying people who need help, because if part of the
problem is a disconnection from community and all that, I
mean then is it actually hard to identify families and
children that actually need more support?
Speaker 5 (14:10):
Actually it's not that hard. And this comes down again
to those community based providers, including ones like Bonnardo's. They
connected to They know these families and the very best
source of information and knowledge about which families need support
and indeed what sort of support they might need.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
Okay, hey, look, we want to take your calls on
this as well. We're with Sir Ashley Bloomfield, he's the
new Barnardo's ambassador, and we're talking about the barriers that
are stopping children from thriving and your suggestions if you'd
like to join us on how to actually break those
cycles of dependency and the causes that are seeing so
(14:48):
many of our children not reach their potential, we'd love
your calls. Eight one hundred and eighty ten eighty. You
can text on nine two nine two. It's a twenty
one past four on the healthub News talks.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
The'd be imily our future, teach them where them shore
in their boss inside.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
Oh there's always a bit of time for some Whitney
on that. And I did mention I believe the children
are the future, but we are talking about children and
what are the barriers that are stopping children from thriving?
How do we break that cycle? A whole bunch of
questions around that. And we're with Sir Ashley Bloomfield. He
is and New Bernado's ambassador and he's with us for
the health of Actually actually we've helped because we have
chatted on the show before. And I recall you were
(15:37):
you working for Bernanos back then too, weren't you? Yes?
Speaker 5 (15:41):
So maybe I just started up. I think that roll
with them there?
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Yeah, because the eight hundred What's Up was one of
the counseling services they have, isn't it. I think I
think I remember you met that. That's what triggered it
for me. I was like, that's right, I think it
just started. That's right.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
The eight hundred warts Up is actually a helpline four
children and I joined, and that's that's the purpose of
the trip to China is to raise funds for that
that helpline.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Hey, what is as we know there are multiple causes
for the challenges that children face and getting a good
start in life. What is there something that stands out
as the biggest thing we need to sort out?
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Is it nutrition?
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Is it being born into a family culture of violence.
Is it a neglect? What is it?
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Well, it's really the combination of all of them. You know,
it's the poverty, the material hardship, the trauma, and you know,
especially that family harm, the health and mental health and
well being of family members, and then the exposure of
children to those kind of shocks and the trauma early
(16:47):
in life. All these things compound on each other, and
that's why you can't just invest in one thing. It's
got to be investment in adequate housing, access to health care,
good family income, stable family income, and that support to
address things like the family harm and address intergenerational trauma.
(17:07):
So that the point here is though that the sorts
of wrap around services that Bernardos and others deliver have
been shown to be effective at addressing those complex problems.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
By the way, Love, by the way, we'd also love
to hear your stories as well, if you've had some
dealings with Bernardos. It was one of the charities that
my mum was actually supportive of when she was alive.
And yeah, so it's something that's in what has been
the background for me. But let's take some calls Helen.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
Hello, Oh, yes, I'm yes, good, good afternoon, Tim and Ashley.
I'm here anecdotally rather disturbing stories about the apply to
the children with disabilities. It was all that biasco was
the Ministry of Disabilities. Now. Also, I've been hearing about
(17:52):
how this problem with getting wheelchairs so that children are
not able to access wheelchairs appropriate to their physical developments,
so they're set in these wheelchairs as are far toos more.
And then we've got this problem with teacher age and
apparently that's getting harder and harder to access. And then
(18:15):
then you go out into the workforce and the pulling, pulling,
the high proportion of people with disabilities who are either
unemployed or un vastly underemployed. So this whole and we
don't hear enough about this that seem to be kind
(18:37):
of completely left out when everybody's talking about you know,
ethnic gender, this, but rarely do I hear anything to
do with supply to people with disabilities. Particularly important that
something's done about children with physical disabilities so that they
can grow up and have a good life as well.
(18:58):
But it's considering how many people there are out in
the community with disabilities, think about one in twenty five
or something. Like that a person has a disability. But
this thing with the Ministry of disability is disgrace. The
situation with wheelchairs that could be a whole lot big network,
I believe. And you know, because as one child grows
(19:23):
out a wheelchair, it could be given to someone else.
I don't know if that's been done efficiently enough. And
then this terrible situation with a teacher age.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
Well yeah, have you got any anything to add to that, Ashley?
Speaker 5 (19:36):
Well look, thanks, Helen. It's a really important group. You've
raised their disabled children. And I was looking at the
stats actually around material hardship and the latest stats in
New Zealand figures show that one and seven children in
Altierro and New Zealand live in households experiencing material hardship.
That's up to one and five for disabled children. So
(19:59):
those children who already you know, have a disadvantage and
have higher needs more likely to be living in material hardship.
And often that's because you know, perhaps one or other
parent can't work because or can't work full time because
they are involved in caring for the child. So yes,
this is a really important group for us to think
about because they are more likely to be in material
(20:22):
hardship and therefore be disadvantaged in terms of those outcomes.
So really really good that you've raised that particular.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Groupth Bernardos have a particular thing that does in terms
of disabled children, or is it more sort of universal
sort of look at things.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
Well, the thing about Bernardoes is it's focused very much
on equity and on looking at those groups and looking
after those groups that are more disadvantaged, and whether it's
disabled children. You know, the figures for material hardship get
even higher for one in four Tamariki Maari one and
nearly one in three Pacific children growing up in material hardship.
(20:59):
So their focus is very much on those those children
and families that have got that disadvantvantage there, and that
would include I'm sure disabled children.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Thanks for reycl Helen. Let's go to Ann Hello and well, good.
Speaker 7 (21:12):
Afternoon, Ashley and Tim. When I was a kindergarten teacher
in the fifties and a place center supervisor in a
country area in the sixties, there was a lot of
parent participation in the kindergartens. We had mother helpers, they
could see how we were managing children. We had parent
education nights with speakers on child development and the play
(21:37):
center people. We encourage as many as possible to do
the short courses and short conferences to learn more about
child development. And today I seem to hear that parents
are so rushed that they don't take much play much
part in the early childhood centers, and I was wondering,
(21:59):
do you think enough parent education is available there to
take up the shortfall to what I think we had
was a very good system.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
Yes, Ashley, thank you well.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
First to just acknowledge you hats off to all kindergarten
early childhood teachers. My mother was a primary school teacher
and a new entrant teaching most of her career, so
I have huge respect for those people. You know, things
have changed a lot in our society and around the
society and around the world since the fifties, sixties and
(22:35):
even seventies, and now in many families both parents are
out at work, either full or part time, to maintain that,
you know, a decent household income, and so there is
less parent involvement, certainly in kindergartens and well play center,
of course is parent run. I know because our three
children spent time at play center, so there is this
(22:59):
sort of broader societal change, so perhaps less connection between
parents and those educationational institutions. So saying there's still an
enormous amount of work that does happen where parents support
the work at kindergartens and schools and so on, and
often that's through fundraising, through going in and helping with
(23:22):
providing lunches, with helping with reading programs and so on,
and that can sort of connection and involvement is really important,
of course, for helping the parents as well understand what
children's learning needs are and how they can support them.
Speaker 7 (23:37):
Yes, well, I feel that all these physical things are important, certainly,
but today's parents have much less interaction with small children
than they did in the past because some families are
much smaller, and I think there's probably a greater need
for parent education than that ever was. So I do
(23:59):
hope that that's been covered every way The government can
needs to put it before people how important it is
that they learn the right style of parenting and so
they'll get the right the best outcome for their children.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Yeah. Thanks, Anne, Well, it's not really necessary about the
right style of parenting. It's just wanting to be engaged
as a parent, and I think the rest follows hopefully,
But anyway, thank you for your call. Ashley had a
text I can't quite find it now, but it was
basically questioning about you know that we have the overseas
you could sponsor a child in a far away country
(24:35):
with famine and all those sorts of things are these
are those sorts of schemes available in New Zealand and
as a way of funding supporting a particular child or
fundraising for Bernardo's Does that sort of thing happen more
close at home.
Speaker 8 (24:52):
It used to?
Speaker 5 (24:53):
And I think many people do have a recollection of this.
And of course the other one was World Vision would
do that sponsoring children? You could sponsor your child overseas.
That's not so much done anymore in the funding and
the fundraising goes more into general service provision rather than
a sort of a connection with an individual child, but
the services are certainly still just as valuable.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Would that ever work in the New Zealand context? Or
does it just create some children who get some support
in others who don't. I mean, but as a way
of engaging other people to support charities, well.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
I think you look at most charities and what they
do tend to do, and they do this very effectively.
Is they use individual stories of usually of families, and
I know because I get the newsletter from the Wellington
City Mission. They'll often highlight an individual or a family
and about the difference that the services have provided for them.
So I think people connect with those stories of individuals.
(25:52):
And then of course none of us as exempt from
actually helping out the people in our neighborhoods and you know, friends,
families and others who might need help. So that's where
we often get that personal connection.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
So what is Bonado's most Does it need people to
offer to help and get engaged or does it need money?
I know I'm doing these either or questions, but it
gives you an end to what you'd like to highlight.
Speaker 5 (26:18):
Yeah, the most important thing for organizations like Barnados is
the power of the fundraising, so the money that people
can give regularly, and of course they do get government
funding that covers some of their services they provide, but
the fundraising really makes a difference for a number of
the services. And you know, most of those organizations like
(26:41):
Bernardos rely pretty heavily on donations as well as any
other government funding or grants they can get.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
What about if people themselves want to get personally involved
with Bernardos, well.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
That would be just a matter of contacting them and
seeing if you could help out. But you know, a
lot of these organizations have changed over time. Another one
that I've had a little bit to do with recently
is Victims Support, which used to be all volunteers and
they're moving actually to a fully employed model. So a
lot of them have been sort of professionalized, I guess,
(27:12):
over the years, whereas they might have started off as
as volunteer type organizations.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
Yeah. By the way, if you do want to support Barnado's,
it's very easy. You got at banados dot org, dot
zen and front page is a little green buttony just
click on it, donate and the way you go. We're
going to take a quick moment. We'll be back with
more calls and conversation with Ashley Bloomfield. He is of
course former Director General of Health, but now he's a
Barnado's ambassador. We'll be talking more about with him in
just a moment. It's twenty two and a half and
(27:39):
it's five Yes, newstalks, be welcome back with Sir Ashley Bloomfield.
He's a Bernado's ambassador having a chat about trying to
crap well get our children thriving, and your calls eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty sue, Hello.
Speaker 8 (27:53):
Ah, Hi are you Tom and good? After they naturally
hi onor to talk about cause and effect? Okay, and
I want to ask your question at the end. Now
I can say categorically the biggest impediment to children is transience,
and we're moving families from their state houses and communities,
(28:20):
These children on the move from one place to another,
CouchSurfing all over the show, and instability has a huge impact,
a very huge impact on children. And I want to
ask you a question because this happens to me quite regular.
If I have a car turn up in my place
(28:42):
about eleven at night or two in the morning, and
they've got a carful of children and do theys and pollows,
can I send them to Bernardo's and we'll make it help.
Speaker 4 (28:57):
Okay. Thanks, So there's a direct question on our specific issue, Ashley.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
Yeah, thanks very much.
Speaker 8 (29:03):
So.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
Look, it's a really good question, and I think the
issue you've raised about the instability of the housing circumstances
of some families is a really important one, and this
does have a real effect on children. They might be
moving between relatives and into temporary accommodation, maybe state housing,
sometimes couch surfing. As you've said, now, Bernado's itself doesn't
(29:26):
have facilities that can accommodate those families. They're not an
accommodation or a housing provider. But this is absolutely a
really important issue. And if children are moving a lot,
and perhaps moving schools, then that of course disrupts their
education as well. So you've highlighted one of the really
key factors we need to get on top of here
(29:46):
and alter in New Zealand, which is to try and
provide and invest in better housing that families can use
and so those children have a more stable childhood.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
Hey, thanks for the call, Sue. Now we always get
a few tricky texts here, Ashley, but here's one that
just says, what does Ashley think about educating people so
they make conscious and informed choices about having children in
the first place.
Speaker 5 (30:17):
Yeah, well, that's an important thing. I don't think it's
simply a matter of education, though, is that all of
us get education of some degree and not saying all
of us definitely make the great choices at all times
in our lives. So I think the important thing is
that people understand just the impact that it has on
(30:38):
you of having children and then what it is that
children need to be able to thrive and grow. So
I guess that's up to all of us.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
I guess that. I mean, at the heart of it,
there's people who say, look, who will say, look, we
had two children because we worked out that's how many
we could afford. And you know, we'll get it constantly
in the political realm that people saying why people, why
are people having families where they clearly aren't going to
be in a position financially to support them without having
to rely on them state. I mean, I know that's
(31:06):
not really Bernardo's and that's the thing you are. It
doesn't really matter because once the children are here, and
that's where Bernardos comes in.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
That's exactly right, and the focus is on the children
and then what it is those children might need. And
let's be clear, in New Zealand, we've seen an ongoing
decline in our fertility rates and the number of children
in each family, so we're not definitely not outliers on
a global in a global sense, and so the key
(31:35):
focus for Bernardes is those children who might be in
pretty challenging circumstances regardless of who they are, they need
help and support and are the ones that we should
be helping and supporting.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Right Jeff, Yeah, what evening.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
The first thing I want to say is I think
we think kids like my boys, my two sons, we've
created stabilizer in the house and they would come home
from school and they always felt safe when I used
to help them with with any any problems at school.
(32:15):
And they learned the alphabet and they knew that babel
and they went through all of that reading and writing
and they have come out good. At the other end,
I think parents possibly have got to put a bigger
effort and with their children and all about told them
(32:40):
of disabilities. Well, when I was young and I went
to a school and within there were two there were
two two boys with the polio and they all they
both wear leg braces, but they did not stop the
parents from getting them into the school and making sure
(33:02):
they're okay. So there was more support for those for
those two people. And when I when I work for
a company building company here in Tower on as a
Tower On Bills College, I was given a plan for
a big compute ramp and uh and I built the
(33:27):
ramp with help of another guy, so people get up
there in wheelchairs and else.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
Good stuff. Jeff any further follow up on comment on
Jeff's call.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
There, Ashley, Thanks, Jeff, I really appreciate your comments. And
you mentioned having children at school with you who had polio,
and I can remember one even when I was at
school in the seventies and primary school. Fortunately, that's not
something we see anymore because of the effectiveness of vaccination
against polio. It's been a fantastic success, almost eliminated worldwide.
(34:00):
You're right, there have always been children with disabilities and
there's been support there for them, and we're seeing that
increase and the inclusiveness and inclusion of disabled children's increased
over the years. I think what you were talking about
was really that what parents can do to provide that
(34:21):
stable environment and support for their children so they grow
and thrive and learn well. And not every family, not
every parent has the resources or the education necessarily or
the support to do that, and that's where Bonado's can
make a real difference, providing that extra support so those
children do have the same opportunities that your boys had.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
What do you think of actually about I mean, we
often get comments from people saying that it's the challenge
of creating you know. In fact, I've got a text
to you sort of says, when are we going to
see the end of wrap around support? Because they're worried
about the cycle of dependency. But obviously people who need
a wrap around support they need it. But how do
you what do you think the key is to breaking
(35:03):
that cycle where you're providing the support people need, but
you're not creating a reliance on it forever. I mean,
that's another problematic question.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
I know.
Speaker 5 (35:13):
Yeah, well, I think it's just whether it's dependency or
it's just providing the support that people need. And you know,
one of the things that Bernardo's focus is on, and
I think is really important is actually whether you know,
whether it's a degree of dependency or not from a family,
it's the children who are the important ones. If they
(35:34):
need the support, then it should be available for them,
and it's an investment in their future and therefore an
investment in all our future. As I said, actually, then
they're more likely to be able to grow, to thrive,
to contribute and to be part of our social and
economic well being as a country.
Speaker 4 (35:51):
Right, I think we're that time for one quiit more?
Call Michelle Hello.
Speaker 5 (35:56):
Can you give me?
Speaker 8 (35:57):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (35:57):
We can.
Speaker 9 (35:59):
So lovely?
Speaker 4 (36:02):
Yes, that's what would you love to talk about?
Speaker 9 (36:05):
Oh yeah, so I was going to share that. Recently
I had some behavioral issues with my sons who were
eight years old. The sponsor a family break up and
was really acting out violently and I was struggling.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
I didn't know what to do.
Speaker 9 (36:20):
I took him to the doctor and they recommended I
take him Bernado.
Speaker 4 (36:27):
Yep, and taken along.
Speaker 9 (36:30):
Stets for a couple of hours once a week. And
here's a different tests. Wow, he learned how to I
seek as far as emotion, he learned how to throw
softballs and an angry target to beings of anger without
firty degree and seriously benefit of coming rest of his life.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
And I take even.
Speaker 9 (36:51):
Adults need to do it.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
What was the name of the course. It was done
by Bernardas What was it called fops footsteps O that
there's a there's a good that's thank you Michelle, good
stuff all the Actually that's isn't sort of final call
to take on that.
Speaker 5 (37:06):
On it that's a great way to finish, and Michelle,
you must be in a different part of Wellington than
I am because it's a pretty bleak weekend here. But anyway,
we maybe it's all just about past us. But you know,
that's great to hear that story, Michelle and the impact
that that Footsteps program had on your boy. And of
course he's one of many children who will be benefiting
(37:28):
from that and other programs that Bernardo's deliver, so you know,
just a little plug for them, and if any callers
do feel like make it a donation, just go to
the website and you can do that there. And it's
great to be able to be an ambassador for such
an organization that has really focused on our children and
ensuring that they've got a great future.
Speaker 4 (37:46):
Just one last thing you talked about how it amazed
and it still structs with some medical sort of miracle
that we pretty much eradicated polio, at least in generally
in the Western world, although how are we going with
the mm You must keep an eye an eye on
this stuff because it's so important for kids to get
these early vaccinations. If young parents, parents of young children
(38:07):
and infants are listening, what if they were wanting to
keep on top of those early vaccinations. Where are we
at with MMR and those rates.
Speaker 5 (38:17):
Yes, well, New Zealand experience to drop in childhood vaccination
rates through the pandemic, and that happened around the world
in developed and developing countries for a whole lot of
good reasons that people will understand, mostly logistics ones. And
we're seeing the rates go up again, which is good.
New Zealand is currently measles free and the only cases
(38:38):
we're getting are imported cases people have traveled overseas. Really
important that children do get those vaccinations and they get
them on time. And I just recommend to parents to
talk to your health professional, have a good conversation about
the pros and cons, ask your questions, and really think
hard about getting those vaccinations because, as you say, things
(38:59):
like polio are a thing of the past now and
measles is a pretty nasty illness if children do it.
Speaker 4 (39:05):
Yeah. Thanks, Hey, Ashley, thank you so much for your time,
and I'll look forward to talking again sometime and all
the best. When you're after the Great Wall of China.
Speaker 5 (39:12):
That's in October, really looking forward to it, doing a
bit of training and yeah, the great thing about is
of course, it's all the funded funds that are raised.
I'm paying my own way, so any funds that I
raised are going straight to Bernardo's brilliant.
Speaker 4 (39:24):
Okay, and thanks for your time this afternoon. We'll look
forward to it next time.
Speaker 5 (39:27):
Cheers, thank you, cheer.
Speaker 4 (39:28):
There we go. We'll be back in just a moment too.
It is seven and a half minutes to five News
Talks dB. Yes, News Talks. It'd be with Tim Beverage
and that wraps the health Hub. But you can go
back and listen to any of the particular hours. By
the way, if you go to news talk s head
B's website, you know the address news Talk said, be
Dot Curtain and Ziah Heart Radio. We get our interviews
(39:51):
loader up pretty quickly as well. You might, I mean,
if you're glutton for punishment, I'd go back and ever
listened also to Madam and Davidson in the interview we
had with her following the AGM with the Greens and
see what you can lean from it that might surprise you,
because probably not much. Also we had a chat with
Derek Ching which it gave a a good chat with
(40:11):
Derrek Chang actually senior write if them using on Herold
about the Alban Easy Lux and meeting in Queenstown as well.
And by the way, I would also echo if you
just the message on Bernardoes if you want to go
and support them bonnardos dot org dot nz you can
easily click click donate there. But also just on those
low childhood vaccination rates to get in touch with the
ELpH professionals. We've got to keep those an email rates up. Anyway,
(40:33):
We'll be back with a new guest on smart money.
Simon Brown is joining us. Why is our financial literacy
literacy so bad? And what can you do to improve it?
Speaker 1 (40:41):
For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to News
Talk zed be weekends from three pm, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks
at by.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Summerson.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Run to me, as shall say, but I have to
come up from so don't tut.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Me back.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
And nothing you can say.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Snakes pards and we got to go to today.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
So it's welcome. And if you are just joining, oh,
welcome back. This is the Weekend Collective on Tim Beverage
on Sunday tenth of August. Don't forget texture feedback on
nine two nine two. But we want your calls as
well as our on eight hundred and eighty ten to eighty.
And what we're going to discuss is, look, we all
want to see the next generation thrive and do better
(01:20):
than generations before, but there are a whole host of
barriers that the whole children back, stopping them from reaching
their full potential and creating cycles that continue through generations.
And as you know, we probably could have played also
the song I Believe the Children of the future. But
we know we always say that children of the future,
but are we doing enough to support that future? And
(01:40):
our guest today is he's a new Bernardo's ambassador. He's
a well known to all of you's name. It's and
it's Sir Ashley Bloomfield.
Speaker 5 (01:48):
Ashley, good afternoon, Good afternoon, Tim, Good to be with
you this afternoon.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Yeah. How long have you been working with Bernados and
what does your role and tail?
Speaker 5 (01:58):
Well, I've been involved with Bernardos for about the last
six months or so. Essentially, it's an opportunity to highlight
the work of and support the work of Barnados. You know,
this is an organization that's been around for over fifty
years in New Zealand, and just a chance to really
support them, to profile it, to help with fundraising and
(02:19):
in fact, one of the things I'm going to be
doing in October is going with a group to walk
in China along the Great Wall of China to fundraise
for one of the Barnado's services. It's They're eight hundred,
what's up number for children and teenagers to call?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
Just reminds us. I mean, Barnardo's is one of those
names that has been as you say, it's around for
fifty years and it's sort of a household name itself.
How would you define the work that they do and
where they are effective?
Speaker 5 (02:50):
Well, people may well know the sort of the Barnado's
early learning centers out in communities around around the country
and so that's probably the most visible part of what
they do, but they're key services. They provide a community
and social services, social workers out in the communities, often
working through and with the FARNO who are associated with
(03:12):
those early learning services. But they're really supporting not just
the children but their families as well with a whole
range of social services.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
One of the biggest challenges that Bernardo's and you are
through that you work with them and noticing that children
in New Zealand have these days.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Well, I think it's no surprise to anyone that we
do as a country have an ongoing issue with too
many children who are growing up in poverty, in material deprivation.
They are exposed to poverty, to family harm, trauma and
you know, from early on in life, and this really
does disrupt and hold back their development, their ability to
(03:54):
thrive and their prospects through their lives. So the big
challenge for Bernardos and others working in the sector is
to really do their best to port these families and
in particular the children, to give them, you know, the
best opportunities they can in life. And we're making some
progress as a country but I dare say we've still
got a big, a big challenge there.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Is it this question of money or is it a
question of attitudes around parenting? I mean, look, these questions
are always massively complex really the answers to them, But
what are the Is it about raising money? Is it
about trying to change the way we parent our children?
What are the things that you would have I mean,
(04:37):
not that you can click your fingers, but what would
what would you address first up?
Speaker 5 (04:43):
Well, it's complex, so there's no you know, there's no
silver bullet here. It is all of the above. It's
helping parents with parenting skills, you know, supporting them to
be the best parents they can be. And a lot
of that, of course is ensuring that they can provide safe,
healthy housing, that they've got a decent income, that they
know what they need to do to support their children
(05:05):
development and education. So the support that you know Plunket gives,
for example, right from early on in life, ordering a
tamariki where children may be at risk, all the many
social services and benefits that are there, but organizations like
Bonado's are really important in terms of just providing that
(05:26):
more wrap around support for those families that do have
quite a lot of challenges going on, and in particular,
if you think about the children and those families, they're
born into those families, you know that's not a choice
they made. And whatever the cause of the disruption or
the problems or the challenges for them, there is a
(05:46):
lot that can be done. There are some really good
evidence about the things you can do to actually support
those children to grow, to develop, to be healthy, to thrive,
and of course then grow into you know, really good
contributing members of our society. And an important one from
all of us is, you know, our population is aging.
(06:06):
I'm reaching that stage at sixteen next year, and so
we all need I mean, this is a great achievement
for humankind aging, but we need our workforce to be
there in the future to support those of us who
are going to be retiring. And so it's in all
our interests to make sure that all our children get
(06:26):
a great start in life and are able to then
thrive and get well educated, get a good income and
contribute to our economy.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
How much of it boils down to I mean, I'm
a big fan of I imagine you are as well
as that the Dunedin study, which has followed people and
I think these new generations coming into the Dunedin study.
But my memory serves me correct If my memory serves
me correctly, it seems that everything's down to the first
three years. I'm not everything, but much of the outcomes
(06:57):
we can expect as adult, is that sort of just
the first three years or not?
Speaker 5 (07:04):
Well, the need and study has been a real treasure
for New Zealand and for other countries. You know, they've
been following these people now for over fifty years and
there's a bigger, more representative study that started in South
Auckland about fifteen or sixteen years ago with a new
cohort of children. They've thrown they've followed through and you're
right that first sometimes people talk about the first thousand days,
(07:26):
Probably the first two thousand is critical. So taking children
into school is really critical for setting their pathway that
they're on and an investment there, and it doesn't need
to be a big investment, but an investment ensuring that
they have got access to healthy, safe housing, that they've
got access to things that will help them thrive, and
(07:50):
access to early childhood education. These are the things that
really do make a difference. And of course we know
that some of the things are even pre birth, so
while the baby's still in the womb, it's really important
that mums have good nutrition, that they're able to access
the health care that they need as well.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Actually, well I dig into other details, but sometimes people
I always worry about the times when when people when
women are pregnant and maybe they don't even know they're
pregnant and things, and how how quickly is damage done
to a to a fetus in those early weeks and
months that lots of citric.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
Yeah, I mean, the proper nutrition is really important. And
some work by people like Sir Peter Gluckman and others
has shown that the mother's diet really does affect the
development of the fetus and this has a this has
quite an impact then on their their early childhood development.
So that's why it's important that all our women I
(08:50):
guess you could say, of child bearing age are connected
to health services so that they can access they've got
the information, they've got access to what they need to do,
whether it's from taking follic acid or support to stop
smoking if they need to, the fact that they should
not drink alcohol during pregnancy. All these things and support
for that as well.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
What about the cycle of you know, because often poverty
and intergenerational problems that you know, there's a cycle you
need to break it. What are your views on what
we can do to make a difference.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
Yeah, this is a really good point because often these
children are in this cycle, and sometimes it's an intergenerational cycle.
And that's where the sorts of wrap around initiatives that
organizations like Bernardo's have got that really do support that
investment in and that cat catching families and providing the
(09:47):
full range of support they need, empowers them with the skills,
support what they need to thrive. And this is you know,
Bernardes for example, has got a program that they are
implementing and this is this is based around their early
childhood centers. It's called to Cataway and Machelpunas, so sort
(10:08):
of like the cloak to support children and it just
you know, can wrap around those families. See they've got
the education for the children, the social support, the navigation
for all the social services, and the income support they
might need. And there's really good evidence that these sorts
of programs and that in the social work support they
(10:30):
provide provide a really good return on investment.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
What I mean, are there examples where you can see
where improvements have been made that are going to be
long lasting because one of the things that people are
in the end, somebody has this is a very clumsy
way of getting to this getting to this point or
reflecting what a lot of people say is that you know,
you help people out, but ultimately you want to get
to a stage where suddenly there's some sort of penny
(10:55):
drop moment that makes a difference where some individual is
able and wants to change their life. I mean, have
you seen examples of that through the work the bnados do?
Speaker 5 (11:05):
Absolutely? I think Bonado's and other organizations you know, I'm
been involved in supported Wellington City Mission as well. Over
the years, these organizations do see the impact that these provisions,
you know, the support the provision of these services really
makes on the lives of individuals and Farno and it's
(11:25):
not so much a penny dropping but it's just that
if they have that support and you give them that
sense of agency over their lives actually that they can
make decisions that will improve their lives. You know, the
vast majority of parents want the very best thing for
their children. They can be stuck in really challenging circumstances
(11:46):
and if you can work with them to address those things,
to empower them, then yeah, stories abound as to just
how you can make a real difference in the lives
of these families and their children.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
And it sort of ties into that question of it
to how you get people to feel that they're part
of a community as well, because I mean you have
obviously three your former role as well well, which was
a centralized role as Director General of health, and then
you get community initiatives. How do you mean, what's your
view on the way assistance support should be delivered? Is
(12:19):
it best through organizations that are connected very strongly with communities?
And what's the role that government has to plan that?
I know that I can't help, but obviously people the
reason people know your name is because you view roles
director General of health. But how does Bernardo's work contrast,
complement and fit in with what the government does or
should do grus It was a long question.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
Sorry, there's a lot in that, but it's an important question.
And you know the role of government isn't to necessarily
provide all the services and even if you think about
the health system and one of the best roles I
had was before I was a DG of Health. I
was chief executive out at hut Valley District Health Board
and it's a community I live in and just examples
of the service providers out there, just many Maori Pacific,
(13:07):
other community service providers, even things like your local pharmacy,
your local general practitioner, mental health services that are kind
of embedded in the community and they're the ones who
know the people there and just time and again I
loved just being out there and being with these providers
and see how seeing the difference they were making in
the lives of the families that they were engaged with.
(13:31):
So the role of government is to sort of really
fund and empower and enable those sorts of services to
be delivered. In fact, if you look at the health system,
the only services that are really publicly delivered are the
ones in our hospitals. Most of the other services are
delivered by private or community based providers.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
I would have also imagined that one of the bigger
problems with regards to children's well being in general is
identifying people who need help, because if part of the
problem is a disconnection from community and all that, I
mean then is it actually hard to identify families and
children that actually need more support?
Speaker 5 (14:10):
Actually it's not that hard. And this comes down again
to those community based providers, including ones like Bonnardo's. They
connected to They know these families and the very best
source of information and knowledge about which families need support
and indeed what sort of support they might need.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
Okay, hey, look, we want to take your calls on
this as well. We're with Sir Ashley Bloomfield, he's the
new Barnardo's ambassador, and we're talking about the barriers that
are stopping children from thriving and your suggestions if you'd
like to join us on how to actually break those
cycles of dependency and the causes that are seeing so
(14:48):
many of our children not reach their potential, we'd love
your calls. Eight one hundred and eighty ten eighty. You
can text on nine two nine two. It's a twenty
one past four on the healthub News talks.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
The'd be imily our future, teach them where them shore
in their boss inside.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
Oh there's always a bit of time for some Whitney
on that. And I did mention I believe the children
are the future, but we are talking about children and
what are the barriers that are stopping children from thriving?
How do we break that cycle? A whole bunch of
questions around that. And we're with Sir Ashley Bloomfield. He
is and New Bernado's ambassador and he's with us for
the health of Actually actually we've helped because we have
chatted on the show before. And I recall you were
(15:37):
you working for Bernanos back then too, weren't you? Yes?
Speaker 5 (15:41):
So maybe I just started up. I think that roll
with them there?
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Yeah, because the eight hundred What's Up was one of
the counseling services they have, isn't it. I think I
think I remember you met that. That's what triggered it
for me. I was like, that's right, I think it
just started. That's right.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
The eight hundred warts Up is actually a helpline four
children and I joined, and that's that's the purpose of
the trip to China is to raise funds for that
that helpline.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Hey, what is as we know there are multiple causes
for the challenges that children face and getting a good
start in life. What is there something that stands out
as the biggest thing we need to sort out?
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Is it nutrition?
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Is it being born into a family culture of violence.
Is it a neglect? What is it?
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Well, it's really the combination of all of them. You know,
it's the poverty, the material hardship, the trauma, and you know,
especially that family harm, the health and mental health and
well being of family members, and then the exposure of
children to those kind of shocks and the trauma early
(16:47):
in life. All these things compound on each other, and
that's why you can't just invest in one thing. It's
got to be investment in adequate housing, access to health care,
good family income, stable family income, and that support to
address things like the family harm and address intergenerational trauma.
(17:07):
So that the point here is though that the sorts
of wrap around services that Bernardos and others deliver have
been shown to be effective at addressing those complex problems.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
By the way, Love, by the way, we'd also love
to hear your stories as well, if you've had some
dealings with Bernardos. It was one of the charities that
my mum was actually supportive of when she was alive.
And yeah, so it's something that's in what has been
the background for me. But let's take some calls Helen.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
Hello, Oh, yes, I'm yes, good, good afternoon, Tim and Ashley.
I'm here anecdotally rather disturbing stories about the apply to
the children with disabilities. It was all that biasco was
the Ministry of Disabilities. Now. Also, I've been hearing about
(17:52):
how this problem with getting wheelchairs so that children are
not able to access wheelchairs appropriate to their physical developments,
so they're set in these wheelchairs as are far toos more.
And then we've got this problem with teacher age and
apparently that's getting harder and harder to access. And then
(18:15):
then you go out into the workforce and the pulling, pulling,
the high proportion of people with disabilities who are either
unemployed or un vastly underemployed. So this whole and we
don't hear enough about this that seem to be kind
(18:37):
of completely left out when everybody's talking about you know,
ethnic gender, this, but rarely do I hear anything to
do with supply to people with disabilities. Particularly important that
something's done about children with physical disabilities so that they
can grow up and have a good life as well.
(18:58):
But it's considering how many people there are out in
the community with disabilities, think about one in twenty five
or something. Like that a person has a disability. But
this thing with the Ministry of disability is disgrace. The
situation with wheelchairs that could be a whole lot big network,
I believe. And you know, because as one child grows
(19:23):
out a wheelchair, it could be given to someone else.
I don't know if that's been done efficiently enough. And
then this terrible situation with a teacher age.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
Well yeah, have you got any anything to add to that, Ashley?
Speaker 5 (19:36):
Well look, thanks, Helen. It's a really important group. You've
raised their disabled children. And I was looking at the
stats actually around material hardship and the latest stats in
New Zealand figures show that one and seven children in
Altierro and New Zealand live in households experiencing material hardship.
That's up to one and five for disabled children. So
(19:59):
those children who already you know, have a disadvantage and
have higher needs more likely to be living in material hardship.
And often that's because you know, perhaps one or other
parent can't work because or can't work full time because
they are involved in caring for the child. So yes,
this is a really important group for us to think
about because they are more likely to be in material
(20:22):
hardship and therefore be disadvantaged in terms of those outcomes.
So really really good that you've raised that particular.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Groupth Bernardos have a particular thing that does in terms
of disabled children, or is it more sort of universal
sort of look at things.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
Well, the thing about Bernardoes is it's focused very much
on equity and on looking at those groups and looking
after those groups that are more disadvantaged, and whether it's
disabled children. You know, the figures for material hardship get
even higher for one in four Tamariki Maari one and
nearly one in three Pacific children growing up in material hardship.
(20:59):
So their focus is very much on those those children
and families that have got that disadvantvantage there, and that
would include I'm sure disabled children.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Thanks for reycl Helen. Let's go to Ann Hello and well, good.
Speaker 7 (21:12):
Afternoon, Ashley and Tim. When I was a kindergarten teacher
in the fifties and a place center supervisor in a
country area in the sixties, there was a lot of
parent participation in the kindergartens. We had mother helpers, they
could see how we were managing children. We had parent
education nights with speakers on child development and the play
(21:37):
center people. We encourage as many as possible to do
the short courses and short conferences to learn more about
child development. And today I seem to hear that parents
are so rushed that they don't take much play much
part in the early childhood centers, and I was wondering,
(21:59):
do you think enough parent education is available there to
take up the shortfall to what I think we had
was a very good system.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
Yes, Ashley, thank you well.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
First to just acknowledge you hats off to all kindergarten
early childhood teachers. My mother was a primary school teacher
and a new entrant teaching most of her career, so
I have huge respect for those people. You know, things
have changed a lot in our society and around the
society and around the world since the fifties, sixties and
(22:35):
even seventies, and now in many families both parents are
out at work, either full or part time, to maintain that,
you know, a decent household income, and so there is
less parent involvement, certainly in kindergartens and well play center,
of course is parent run. I know because our three
children spent time at play center, so there is this
(22:59):
sort of broader societal change, so perhaps less connection between
parents and those educationational institutions. So saying there's still an
enormous amount of work that does happen where parents support
the work at kindergartens and schools and so on, and
often that's through fundraising, through going in and helping with
(23:22):
providing lunches, with helping with reading programs and so on,
and that can sort of connection and involvement is really important,
of course, for helping the parents as well understand what
children's learning needs are and how they can support them.
Speaker 7 (23:37):
Yes, well, I feel that all these physical things are important, certainly,
but today's parents have much less interaction with small children
than they did in the past because some families are
much smaller, and I think there's probably a greater need
for parent education than that ever was. So I do
(23:59):
hope that that's been covered every way The government can
needs to put it before people how important it is
that they learn the right style of parenting and so
they'll get the right the best outcome for their children.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
Yeah. Thanks, Anne, Well, it's not really necessary about the
right style of parenting. It's just wanting to be engaged
as a parent, and I think the rest follows hopefully,
But anyway, thank you for your call. Ashley had a
text I can't quite find it now, but it was
basically questioning about you know that we have the overseas
you could sponsor a child in a far away country
(24:35):
with famine and all those sorts of things are these
are those sorts of schemes available in New Zealand and
as a way of funding supporting a particular child or
fundraising for Bernardo's Does that sort of thing happen more
close at home.
Speaker 8 (24:52):
It used to?
Speaker 5 (24:53):
And I think many people do have a recollection of this.
And of course the other one was World Vision would
do that sponsoring children? You could sponsor your child overseas.
That's not so much done anymore in the funding and
the fundraising goes more into general service provision rather than
a sort of a connection with an individual child, but
the services are certainly still just as valuable.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Would that ever work in the New Zealand context? Or
does it just create some children who get some support
in others who don't. I mean, but as a way
of engaging other people to support charities, well.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
I think you look at most charities and what they
do tend to do, and they do this very effectively.
Is they use individual stories of usually of families, and
I know because I get the newsletter from the Wellington
City Mission. They'll often highlight an individual or a family
and about the difference that the services have provided for them.
So I think people connect with those stories of individuals.
(25:52):
And then of course none of us as exempt from
actually helping out the people in our neighborhoods and you know, friends,
families and others who might need help. So that's where
we often get that personal connection.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
So what is Bonado's most Does it need people to
offer to help and get engaged or does it need money?
I know I'm doing these either or questions, but it
gives you an end to what you'd like to highlight.
Speaker 5 (26:18):
Yeah, the most important thing for organizations like Barnados is
the power of the fundraising, so the money that people
can give regularly, and of course they do get government
funding that covers some of their services they provide, but
the fundraising really makes a difference for a number of
the services. And you know, most of those organizations like
(26:41):
Bernardos rely pretty heavily on donations as well as any
other government funding or grants they can get.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
What about if people themselves want to get personally involved
with Bernardos, well.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
That would be just a matter of contacting them and
seeing if you could help out. But you know, a
lot of these organizations have changed over time. Another one
that I've had a little bit to do with recently
is Victims Support, which used to be all volunteers and
they're moving actually to a fully employed model. So a
lot of them have been sort of professionalized, I guess,
(27:12):
over the years, whereas they might have started off as
as volunteer type organizations.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
Yeah. By the way, if you do want to support Barnado's,
it's very easy. You got at banados dot org, dot
zen and front page is a little green buttony just
click on it, donate and the way you go. We're
going to take a quick moment. We'll be back with
more calls and conversation with Ashley Bloomfield. He is of
course former Director General of Health, but now he's a
Barnado's ambassador. We'll be talking more about with him in
just a moment. It's twenty two and a half and
(27:39):
it's five Yes, newstalks, be welcome back with Sir Ashley Bloomfield.
He's a Bernado's ambassador having a chat about trying to
crap well get our children thriving, and your calls eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty sue, Hello.
Speaker 8 (27:53):
Ah, Hi are you Tom and good? After they naturally
hi onor to talk about cause and effect? Okay, and
I want to ask your question at the end. Now
I can say categorically the biggest impediment to children is transience,
and we're moving families from their state houses and communities,
(28:20):
These children on the move from one place to another,
CouchSurfing all over the show, and instability has a huge impact,
a very huge impact on children. And I want to
ask you a question because this happens to me quite regular.
If I have a car turn up in my place
(28:42):
about eleven at night or two in the morning, and
they've got a carful of children and do theys and pollows,
can I send them to Bernardo's and we'll make it help.
Speaker 4 (28:57):
Okay. Thanks, So there's a direct question on our specific issue, Ashley.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
Yeah, thanks very much.
Speaker 8 (29:03):
So.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
Look, it's a really good question, and I think the
issue you've raised about the instability of the housing circumstances
of some families is a really important one, and this
does have a real effect on children. They might be
moving between relatives and into temporary accommodation, maybe state housing,
sometimes couch surfing. As you've said, now, Bernado's itself doesn't
(29:26):
have facilities that can accommodate those families. They're not an
accommodation or a housing provider. But this is absolutely a
really important issue. And if children are moving a lot,
and perhaps moving schools, then that of course disrupts their
education as well. So you've highlighted one of the really
key factors we need to get on top of here
(29:46):
and alter in New Zealand, which is to try and
provide and invest in better housing that families can use
and so those children have a more stable childhood.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
Hey, thanks for the call, Sue. Now we always get
a few tricky texts here, Ashley, but here's one that
just says, what does Ashley think about educating people so
they make conscious and informed choices about having children in
the first place.
Speaker 5 (30:17):
Yeah, well, that's an important thing. I don't think it's
simply a matter of education, though, is that all of
us get education of some degree and not saying all
of us definitely make the great choices at all times
in our lives. So I think the important thing is
that people understand just the impact that it has on
(30:38):
you of having children and then what it is that
children need to be able to thrive and grow. So
I guess that's up to all of us.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
I guess that. I mean, at the heart of it,
there's people who say, look, who will say, look, we
had two children because we worked out that's how many
we could afford. And you know, we'll get it constantly
in the political realm that people saying why people, why
are people having families where they clearly aren't going to
be in a position financially to support them without having
to rely on them state. I mean, I know that's
(31:06):
not really Bernardo's and that's the thing you are. It
doesn't really matter because once the children are here, and
that's where Bernardos comes in.
Speaker 5 (31:13):
That's exactly right, and the focus is on the children
and then what it is those children might need. And
let's be clear, in New Zealand, we've seen an ongoing
decline in our fertility rates and the number of children
in each family, so we're not definitely not outliers on
a global in a global sense, and so the key
(31:35):
focus for Bernardes is those children who might be in
pretty challenging circumstances regardless of who they are, they need
help and support and are the ones that we should
be helping and supporting.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Right Jeff, Yeah, what evening.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
The first thing I want to say is I think
we think kids like my boys, my two sons, we've
created stabilizer in the house and they would come home
from school and they always felt safe when I used
to help them with with any any problems at school.
(32:15):
And they learned the alphabet and they knew that babel
and they went through all of that reading and writing
and they have come out good. At the other end,
I think parents possibly have got to put a bigger
effort and with their children and all about told them
(32:40):
of disabilities. Well, when I was young and I went
to a school and within there were two there were
two two boys with the polio and they all they
both wear leg braces, but they did not stop the
parents from getting them into the school and making sure
(33:02):
they're okay. So there was more support for those for
those two people. And when I when I work for
a company building company here in Tower on as a
Tower On Bills College, I was given a plan for
a big compute ramp and uh and I built the
(33:27):
ramp with help of another guy, so people get up
there in wheelchairs and else.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
Good stuff. Jeff any further follow up on comment on
Jeff's call.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
There, Ashley, Thanks, Jeff, I really appreciate your comments. And
you mentioned having children at school with you who had polio,
and I can remember one even when I was at
school in the seventies and primary school. Fortunately, that's not
something we see anymore because of the effectiveness of vaccination
against polio. It's been a fantastic success, almost eliminated worldwide.
(34:00):
You're right, there have always been children with disabilities and
there's been support there for them, and we're seeing that
increase and the inclusiveness and inclusion of disabled children's increased
over the years. I think what you were talking about
was really that what parents can do to provide that
(34:21):
stable environment and support for their children so they grow
and thrive and learn well. And not every family, not
every parent has the resources or the education necessarily or
the support to do that, and that's where Bonado's can
make a real difference, providing that extra support so those
children do have the same opportunities that your boys had.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
What do you think of actually about I mean, we
often get comments from people saying that it's the challenge
of creating you know. In fact, I've got a text
to you sort of says, when are we going to
see the end of wrap around support? Because they're worried
about the cycle of dependency. But obviously people who need
a wrap around support they need it. But how do
you what do you think the key is to breaking
(35:03):
that cycle where you're providing the support people need, but
you're not creating a reliance on it forever. I mean,
that's another problematic question.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
I know.
Speaker 5 (35:13):
Yeah, well, I think it's just whether it's dependency or
it's just providing the support that people need. And you know,
one of the things that Bernardo's focus is on, and
I think is really important is actually whether you know,
whether it's a degree of dependency or not from a family,
it's the children who are the important ones. If they
(35:34):
need the support, then it should be available for them,
and it's an investment in their future and therefore an
investment in all our future. As I said, actually, then
they're more likely to be able to grow, to thrive,
to contribute and to be part of our social and
economic well being as a country.
Speaker 4 (35:51):
Right, I think we're that time for one quiit more?
Call Michelle Hello.
Speaker 5 (35:56):
Can you give me?
Speaker 8 (35:57):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (35:57):
We can.
Speaker 9 (35:59):
So lovely?
Speaker 4 (36:02):
Yes, that's what would you love to talk about?
Speaker 9 (36:05):
Oh yeah, so I was going to share that. Recently
I had some behavioral issues with my sons who were
eight years old. The sponsor a family break up and
was really acting out violently and I was struggling.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
I didn't know what to do.
Speaker 9 (36:20):
I took him to the doctor and they recommended I
take him Bernado.
Speaker 4 (36:27):
Yep, and taken along.
Speaker 9 (36:30):
Stets for a couple of hours once a week. And
here's a different tests. Wow, he learned how to I
seek as far as emotion, he learned how to throw
softballs and an angry target to beings of anger without
firty degree and seriously benefit of coming rest of his life.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
And I take even.
Speaker 9 (36:51):
Adults need to do it.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
What was the name of the course. It was done
by Bernardas What was it called fops footsteps O that
there's a there's a good that's thank you Michelle, good
stuff all the Actually that's isn't sort of final call
to take on that.
Speaker 5 (37:06):
On it that's a great way to finish, and Michelle,
you must be in a different part of Wellington than
I am because it's a pretty bleak weekend here. But anyway,
we maybe it's all just about past us. But you know,
that's great to hear that story, Michelle and the impact
that that Footsteps program had on your boy. And of
course he's one of many children who will be benefiting
(37:28):
from that and other programs that Bernardo's deliver, so you know,
just a little plug for them, and if any callers
do feel like make it a donation, just go to
the website and you can do that there. And it's
great to be able to be an ambassador for such
an organization that has really focused on our children and
ensuring that they've got a great future.
Speaker 4 (37:46):
Just one last thing you talked about how it amazed
and it still structs with some medical sort of miracle
that we pretty much eradicated polio, at least in generally
in the Western world, although how are we going with
the mm You must keep an eye an eye on
this stuff because it's so important for kids to get
these early vaccinations. If young parents, parents of young children
(38:07):
and infants are listening, what if they were wanting to
keep on top of those early vaccinations. Where are we
at with MMR and those rates.
Speaker 5 (38:17):
Yes, well, New Zealand experience to drop in childhood vaccination
rates through the pandemic, and that happened around the world
in developed and developing countries for a whole lot of
good reasons that people will understand, mostly logistics ones. And
we're seeing the rates go up again, which is good.
New Zealand is currently measles free and the only cases
(38:38):
we're getting are imported cases people have traveled overseas. Really
important that children do get those vaccinations and they get
them on time. And I just recommend to parents to
talk to your health professional, have a good conversation about
the pros and cons, ask your questions, and really think
hard about getting those vaccinations because, as you say, things
(38:59):
like polio are a thing of the past now and
measles is a pretty nasty illness if children do it.
Speaker 4 (39:05):
Yeah. Thanks, Hey, Ashley, thank you so much for your time,
and I'll look forward to talking again sometime and all
the best. When you're after the Great Wall of China.
Speaker 5 (39:12):
That's in October, really looking forward to it, doing a
bit of training and yeah, the great thing about is
of course, it's all the funded funds that are raised.
I'm paying my own way, so any funds that I
raised are going straight to Bernardo's brilliant.
Speaker 4 (39:24):
Okay, and thanks for your time this afternoon. We'll look
forward to it next time.
Speaker 5 (39:27):
Cheers, thank you, cheer.
Speaker 4 (39:28):
There we go. We'll be back in just a moment too.
It is seven and a half minutes to five News
Talks dB. Yes, News Talks. It'd be with Tim Beverage
and that wraps the health Hub. But you can go
back and listen to any of the particular hours. By
the way, if you go to news talk s head
B's website, you know the address news Talk said, be
Dot Curtain and Ziah Heart Radio. We get our interviews
(39:51):
loader up pretty quickly as well. You might, I mean,
if you're glutton for punishment, I'd go back and ever
listened also to Madam and Davidson in the interview we
had with her following the AGM with the Greens and
see what you can lean from it that might surprise you,
because probably not much. Also we had a chat with
Derek Ching which it gave a a good chat with
(40:11):
Derrek Chang actually senior write if them using on Herold
about the Alban Easy Lux and meeting in Queenstown as well.
And by the way, I would also echo if you
just the message on Bernardoes if you want to go
and support them bonnardos dot org dot nz you can
easily click click donate there. But also just on those
low childhood vaccination rates to get in touch with the
ELpH professionals. We've got to keep those an email rates up. Anyway,
(40:33):
We'll be back with a new guest on smart money.
Simon Brown is joining us. Why is our financial literacy
literacy so bad? And what can you do to improve it?
Speaker 1 (40:41):
For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to News
Talk zed be weekends from three pm, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
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