Pakukore: Poverty, by Design Conference
The 2024 conference explored the systemic causes of poverty and options for change.
This conference addressed poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand. It analysed the economic, governmental, legal and institutional systems that have created poverty, and which continue to lock too many whānau in its grip. It asks whether a developed nation should continue to tolerate poverty and inequality. Invitations to speakers who work at the front lines in the fight against poverty to tell us of the lasting and severe harm it inflicts on people’s lives.
The programme was ordered around the systems that have played, and continue to play, key roles in underpinning and maintaining the crisis of poverty: economic management, the housing, health, welfare and education systems, the courts and corrections, and short-term political thinking. The conference will also look at where hope lies, and how we can choose to re-design Aotearoa to eradicate poverty and heal those who suffer its harms.
The conference was held at Rutherford House, Pipitea Campus, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, from 21–23 November 2024, hosted by the Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies.
Speakers included: Professor Tracey McIntosh, Judge Ida Malosi, Professor Lisa Marriot, Associate Professor Anna Matheson, Rebecca Macfie, Max Rashbrooke, Professor Māmari Stephens, Murray Edridge, Kay Saville-Smith, Philippa Howden-Chapman, James Te Puni, Huhana Hickey, Maria English, Sue Bradford, Jennie Smeaton, Pat Hanley, Jin Russell, Craig Renney, Bill Rosenberg, Miriana Stephens, Nikki Turner, Sarah-Jane Paine, Tagaloa Junior Ulu, Hana O'Regan, Jess Berentson-Shaw, Amanda Coulston, Brooke Pao-Stanley, along with MPs Ricardo Menendez-March (Greens), Ginny Andersen (Labour), and Kassie Hartendorp from ActionStation.
Links to the recordings of the sessions are listed below. Please note that the end of some sessions run into the following session.
Sessions 1 and 2/3
Session 1—The Cost of Poverty
Dr Jin Russell—Consultant developmental pediatrician at Starship Children’s Health, and researcher in public health.
The developmental, cognitive and Neurological cost of poverty to children.
Craig Renney—Economist, Council of Trade Unions
The long-term fiscal costs of poverty to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Session 2—Disruption and Resistance: Voices from the Community
Jennie Smeaton—Pou Ratonga, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira
Relationships, Collaboration and Community Voice.
Pat Hanley—Founder of Poverty Free Aotearoa
Beneficiary rights advocacy in Porirua.
Murray Edridge—Wellington City Missioner
Reinventing the way we do Community.
Sessions 3 and 4
Session 3—The Economics of Poverty
Max Rashbrook—Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Victoria University of Wellington, Professor of Taxation, Victoria University of Wellington
Lisa Marriott—Professor of Taxation, Victoria University of Wellington
Discussion of the true state of the government’s finances, and options for providing the resources needed to sharply reduce poverty rates.
Session 4—Poverty and Prisons
Judge Ida Malosi—Principal Youth Court Judge
The Youth Court in action: disrupting the trajectory.
Māmari Stephens—Reader in Law, Victoria University of Wellington
Tikanga Māori, muru and the criminalisation of a redistributive Māori legal practice: legal effects and modern implications.
Tracey McIntosh—Professor of Indigenous Studies, University of Auckland
Slow violence, poverty and prisons.
Session 5
Session 5—The State of the Welfare State
Dr Huhana Hickey—Lawyer and Disability Advocate
The Impact of poverty by design on indigenous and disability communities in Aotearoa in light of recent cuts.
Sue Bradford—Unemployed workers activist, former Green MP, co-founder of Auckland Action Against Poverty, and current coordinator with Kōtare Research and Education for Social Change.
Maria English—Chief Executive, Impact Lab
Social Investment in the field.
Sessions 6 and 7/8
Session 6—Work and Wages
Bill Rosenberg—Labour economist, former CTU economist, former Commissioner of the Productivity Commission.
Disempowerment by design—What is to be done?
Session 7—Housing in Aotearoa NZ—a luxury for some or a human right for all?
James Te Puni—Chief Executive Te Ahuru Mōwai
Reflections from a Māori CHP.
Miriana Stevens—Trustee of Te Awhina Marae and director of Wakatū Incorporation
Home on the Whenua: papakainga development, Motueka.
Philippa Howden-Chapman—Professor of Public Health, Otago University
Housing, health, and the role of the State.
Dr Kay Saville-Smith—Director, Centre for Research, Evaluation and Social Assessment
The Changing Housing System in New Zealand—Investment of Welfarism.
Sessions 8 and 9
Session 8—Making progress on access, equity and the determinants of health
Aprof Anna Matheson—Health Policy, Faculty of Health, Victoria University.
Growing the agency of place-based communities to improve health and equity.
Prof Nikki Turner—GP, Professor in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Principal Medical Advisor to the Immunisation Advisory Centre, University of Auckland, and health spokesperson for Child Poverty Action Group.
Poverty and poor health—the drivers, the outcomes, and more equitable ways forward.
A/Prof Sarah-Jane Paine—Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, and Research Director of the Growing Up in New Zealand study.
Poverty – what future?
Tagaloa Dr Junior Ulu, Director of Pacific Health for the Ministry of Health.
Tupu Ola Moui—Growing a prosperous and healthy life.
Session 9—Education: pathways for thriving Tamariki and rangatahi
Dr Hana O’Regan—Tumu Whakarae CE Officer of Tātai Aho Rau Core Education, member of the Waitani Tribunal.
Educational inequity by design.
Amanda Coulston
CEO of Whānau Manaaki Kindergarten Association.
Session 10—The Politics of Poverty and a plan for change
Panel discussion
Ginny Andersen, MP Labour Party
Ricardo Menendez March, MP Green Party
Kassie Hartendorp, Convenor of ActionStation
Chaired by Nic Smith, Vice Chancellor, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
Aotearoa New Zealand—redesigned for equity
Rapporteur—Bernard Hickey, journalist and editor of The Kaka.
Closing—Professor Brigitte Bōnisch-Brednich
Director, Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies
Panels
- The Cost of Poverty
- Welfare and Inequality
- State Violence and Legacies of Poverty
- Housing and Homelessness
- Health and (In)equality
- The Outcomes of Education
- The Politics of Poverty
- Lines of Hope.