Income Splitting Still the Best Option for Parents

Tax Reform is back in the spotlight. During the next 18 months the opportunity exists to empower parents by allowing income splitting for tax purposes. Parents Choice is reviewing its plans for 2009 and is seeking expressions of support from regional contacts around the country.

If you are willing to distribute newsletters or act as a regional contact for Parents Choice we would like to hear from you. Just email us at parentschoice08@gmail.com

Playcentre struggles without funding

Playcentre funding is back in the spotlight following revelations that the promised funding increases for the early childhood education provider seem unlikely to be delivered.
The NZ herald reported that the u-turn on funding commitments could see centres clsoing.
Playcentre struggles without funding - Preschool - NZ Herald News

Parents Choice 08 Succeeds in Raising Income Splitting

The value of parenting has again been underscored. This time through a United Nations Report expressing concerns about the impact of childcare centres. More on this at www.roger-ellis.blogspot.com

Parents Choice was formed in early 2008 to campaign for income splitting for tax purposes and other reforms which would provide greater recognition of the value of parenting. Ten months, several media interviews, several blogposts and many letters to MPs later we have succeeded in bringing the idea of income splitting to the fore. Several articles have subsequently appeared in the mainstream press about income splitting.

The election result did not show significant support for the one party promoting income splitting - United Future. However, the poor election result may be due to factors other than one of its policies. For example, the two large parties clearly drew more support from the smaller parties as voters tried to express their preferences regarding a centre-left government or a centre-right one. Despite the low vote for United Future the incoming government has agreed with United Future to support the Introduction of a new Bill into Parliament for income splitting. While this falls short of guaranteeing income splitting it does at least get a draft law into Parliament and will get it to the Select Committee stage so that the public can have its say. This is a significant step in the right direction and represents the best hope yet of securing income splitting here in New Zealand.

Parents Choice 08 also gave renewed hope to parents around the country who understand the importance of the parent-child relationship and the need for it to be valued by society. Indeed many hundreds of these parents have written to express their support for the campaign this year. Parents Choice appreciated that feedback and wants to take this opportunity to thank you for your support during this year and to wish you and your families/whanau a Merry Christmas and a fantastic 2009.

Parents’ Choice supports United Future’s Families Policy

Parents Choice’08, today announced that it would be drawing the attention of its supporters to United Future’s policy of supporting Income Splitting for tax purposes.
Parents Choice Chairman, Roger Ellis, said “We have been in discussions with several political parties to see which ones were most supportive of parents at home”.
“We recognise that there are aspects of most parties policies that will help parents raise their children as responsible and confident adults. However, United Future has a comprehensive policy programme centred on parenting and raising children. For Parents Choice Income Splitting is a key enabler for parents who deserve recognition for the time they spend investing in the next generation” said Mr Ellis.
Today we are announcing that in our view United Future’s support for parents makes it worthy of serious consideration by voters. We commend such policies as:
• Income Splitting – to recognise the work done by at home parents
• More support for children with disabilities through a Caregivers Allowance.
• Income tax reductions - A simplified personal tax system (10% on income up to $12,000; 20% on income between $12,000 and $38,000; and 30% on income above $38,000.)
• Character education programmes in schools and
• One-stop shop family service centres for parents and children.
We hope that United Future will make the introduction of optional Income Splitting a bottom line in any post-election discussions.
We urge our supporters to consider which parties will best give recognition to parenting as a priority and to vote accordingly.

Playcentres Grossly Underfunded Report Finds

Playcentres are being grossly underfunded. That's the finding of a new report released last week. The report, prepared by Woodhams Research Associates, found that government funding was substantially lower than required for Playcentre to be sustainable due to a systematic discounting on Playcentre costs. It also found that parents are frustrated by the need to waste their time on Ministry of Education red tape rather than providing the programme for their children.

The New Zealand Playcentre Federation said the report highlighted how the government has undermined parents wanting to educate their own children.

Political reaction has been swift with National promising to incorporate Playcentre within the free early childhood funding model and United Future urging action to support Playcentre http://www.unitedfuture.org.nz/default,995,playcentres_being_systematically_under-funded.sm

"We have been trying for years to get the government to recognise the stress they have been putting Playcentre under. Now we have documented evidence of their systematic underfunding" said Playcentre Federation President, Marion Pilkington.

Key findings in the report include:

* The Ministry of Education appears to have ignored 31% of Playcentre costs when calculating funding rates;

* There is no adequate argument for excluding Playcentre from the 20 hours free ECE policy;

* Playcentre members, at centre and association level, have to volunteer for over 2000 hours per year for each centre on activities other than running the educational programme.

* Government policies have discriminated against parent provision of ECE.

"We have always known that Playcentre provides high quality education for our children" said Mrs Pilkington. "The report shows how the Playcentre model of education matches the best international research on high quality outcomes for children and their families as well."

Rural Playcentres often form community hubs and meeting points, especially after the closure of small schools and services such as post offices. It is in the interest of all communities to see that the Playcentre model remains healthy and viable.

"Playcentre calls on all political parties to support our drive for fair funding, effective structural support and reduced bureaucratic red tape" said Marion Pilkington.

The full report is published at www.playcentre.org.nz

National's Families Policy Welcomed

National has released its Families Policy and it contains some impressive changes to the status quo. For instance it extends the 20 hours free Early Childhood Education to Playcentres, Kohanga Reo and Pacific language nests. It's also promising to increase the number of Plunket or Well Child services for new parents who need extra help and to fund Plunketline. Labour has refused to properly include Playcentres within the ECE 20 hours policy.

While National fails to include income splitting for tax purposes there is a pledge for further tax reform. Parents Choice 08 does not see the National Party's family policy as being inconsistent with either its own policies or those of United Future if Saturday's election leads to a National-United Future government.

Recycling Electronic Waste - A Smart Move

Children are becoming increasingly aware of the need to recycle and reduce energy use. e-Day 2008 is an initiative to promote the recycling of e-waste. Old mobile phones, PCs, adaptors are too often ending up at NZ landfills. e-Day has been organised to give kiwis the opportunity to bring in their old mobile phones and PCs, to clean house (and garage) and to do it in a way that is gentler on the planet.

The Minister for the Environment, Trevor Mallard MP, this week launched e-Day in Wellington with e-Day Chair Lawrence Zwimpfer and around 35-40 other guests in attendance. More information about e-Day can be found at www.eday.org.nz

Why not make it a family event, tidy up the unused e-waste and teach the kids about care for the environment?