Day 20, Levin

Arrived in Levin today to a sunny cold windy day, typical Manawatu/Horowhenua weather. However, the warm friendly welcome from the people in Levin was so good that we spent much longer there than expected. There were many people with differing opinions about stopping child abuse that I had some very intelligent and healthy debates.

There has been a theme that has followed me right throughout the North Island and that is that child abuse can not be stopped. I disagree. Mandatory inhome well child checks for all children born in NZ from birth to 5 years can stop child abuse in its track. For those families who miss 3 or more checks notification should be made to Child Youth and Family Services or the police.

For the average family who have their children seen by a well child service there will be little difference for those families that do not have their children seen regularly they will be paid a visit by one or other of the above services. Is this big brother being dictatory? yes. It is suppose to be targeted at those at risk families where there might be potential for child abuse and often they are the families that do not attend well child checks. Lets as New Zealanders take responsibility for our children and keep them safe. Stop child abuse today, my children have said that every day is a stop child abuse day.

It is crucial for the governmen to realistically fund those well child services already out there, services such as Plunket, Whanau Tamariki Ora, and Whanau Ora. Not just throw money out the all in sundry. A clearly set out strategy to back up those well child services when referral are made for families at risk are essential to stopping child abuse.

Benefit bonus related antenatal and parenting courses provides incentives to ensure attendance and a much wider acceptance of classes. CYFS is a child protection services not a child respite service and many New Zealanders are not aware of this. Setting up separate child protection and child support services are essential to the support of families at risk of child abuse rather than CYFS attending to attend to both and failing miserably at both.