We are seeking young people between the ages of 18 and 25 to attend the TacklingPovertyNZ workshop.
Purpose:
The workshop will bring together 30 young New Zealanders, who will work together to prepare a youth perspective on the issue of poverty in New Zealand and how we might, as a country, go about tackling it. This workshop is being held from the evening of Sunday, 6 December 2015 until the evening of Wednesday, 9 December 2015 in Wellington. If you would like to register your interest to attend this workshop, please see the Registrations page of the TacklingPovertyNZ website. Registrations close on Friday, 6 November.
Programme:
The workshop programme is still in development; however, confirmed speakers thus far include Max Rashbrooke, author of Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis (June 2013) and the author of The Inequality Debate: An Introduction (July 2014); and Suzanne Snively, Transparency International Chair, Independent Director of the New Zealand Army Leadership Board and former director of the Reserve Bank.
Over three days participants will engage with and learn from policy analysts within the Treasury and other government departments, key people in the wider community and individuals who have experienced poverty first-hand. The discussion aims to build a shared understanding of the complexities surrounding the current policy landscape, matching knowledge with public policy tools. Participants will grapple with key questions, such as:
- What does the term poverty mean in 2015?
- Do poverty traps exist? If yes, what do these obstacles look like and how do communities find ways to overcome these?
- What are the underlying trends that are likely to impact on poverty in New Zealand in the next 25 years?
- Which policy tools have worked in the past and which have not?
- What knowledge and insights are missing from the discussion?
Participants:
The Institute seeks to build a group of engaged and enthusiastic young people (18 to 25 years of age) who fit at least one of the following descriptions. They:
- Have experienced poverty or hardship first-hand.
- Work in positions (voluntary or paid) dealing with issues of poverty at the front line.
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Study a course that involves relevant topics such as economics, design, media, ethics, arts, law, politics or public policy and have a strong interest in reducing poverty in New Zealand.
- Have none of the above, but have a strong interest in and knowledge of issues surrounding poverty.
Participants will work hard over three days both at Treasury and then in Parliament, where they will present their findings to MPs and invited guests. This workshop follows the model of previous workshops held at the Treasury – see LocalNZ, LivingStandardsNZ and LongTermNZ. Participants’ food and accommodation will be covered during the workshop, as well as travel costs to and from Wellington.
The Institute prepares youth workshops in collaboration with the New Zealand Treasury; without their continued support we would not be able to make these events happen.
If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact Madeleine at tacklingpovertynz@mcguinnessinstitute.org.