Media statement for Hikoi of Hope follow-up delegation visit to Parliament

9 December 1998

Church leaders today from all over the country are visiting representatives of all major political groupings within Parliament, as the next stage in the journey of the Hikoi of Hope. The delegation of eleven men and women includes leaders of the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches and the Salvation Army, as well as Anglican Bishops, members of the Anglican General Synod and social policy and social justice workers.

Among the Anglican leaders are people from the three Tikanga (cultural strands) of the Anglican Church - Tikanga Maori (Bishop Whakahuihui Vercoe and Professor Whatarangi Winiata), Tikanga Pakeha (Bishop John Paterson and the Revd Charles Waldegrave) and Tikanga Pasifika (Archdeacon Winston Halapua and Ms Kiwi Tamasese). Anglican Social Justice Commissioner Stephanie McIntyre is also a member of the party. The Revd Robert Yule of Palmerston North represents the Presbyterian Church, Ms Margaret Hamilton and the Revd John Salmon the Methodist Church, and Major Campbell Roberts the Salvation Army. During the day of visits around Parliament, the Church leaders are seeking Parliamentary responses to the stories of pain and hope entrusted to the month-long, 4000-kilometre Hikoi, and to the areas of social concern identified by the Anglican General Synod in May - poverty, unemployment, education, health, and housing. "We look forward to hearing how our Members of Parliament plan to address the concerns of the Hikoi," said the Rt Revd John Paterson, Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church. "As we travelled through the country in September, we felt the pain and saw the deprivation of people throughout our land. We have a responsibility to follow up the stories they told us, just as Members of Parliament have a responsibility to identify and implement policies which will address these concerns. "The bottom line for the Hikoi is the condition of the poor in our society, those who told their stories and shared their hopes with us. The churches have been part of building the caring community which New Zealanders seek, providing and continuing to provide millions of hours of voluntary and professional social services. We know that living conditions of those New Zealanders on lower incomes have been eroding over years and throughout successive governments.

That is why we walked for change, why we gathered to tell Parliament that "enough is enough". "We recognise that to repair the damage will take time, but we seek a significant change of direction so that we can restore a society in which all New Zealanders can be part and benefit from constructive policies and social opportunities."

The church leaders expressed their "deep concern" at the pursuit of an economic model of social policy, without recognition of ethical and social considerations and outcomes.

"We recommend the complete fulfilment of the Treaty of Waitangi as the basis for policy development, a strong focus on the needs and solutions of Pacific Island people and robust political monitoring of social policy outcomes of the kind set out in the two associated papers."

Following the visit to Parliament to Parliament today, the Anglican Church is to convene regional and local hui throughout the country, at which local Members of Parliament and other community leaders can explore their particular areas of need and concern, and both build on and recommend policy directions. These gatherings will take place early in the new year, and planning is already under way.