I strongly oppose these changes to the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill.

This is a poor attempt at trying to tackle New Zealand’s benefit problems!

Having to rely on government assistance does not make you any less of a person than someone who works or who is supported by a partner.  Being on a benefit does not give the government the right to dictate how good parents should parent their children.

Children should not be forced in to ECE from 3 years of age.

Parents have the right to educate their children how they see fit.

Punishing good parents is not going to solve your benefit problem or stop more children from being abused.  You are actually going to have to target vulnerable families not the entire community.

As a homeschooling parent, I find this to be nothing short of bullying.  I am happily married but if anything was to happen and I needed government assistance then I would want to continue homeschooling my family.  If my children were forced in to ‘State Education’, that would have a negative impact on them which would then have a negative impact on their education.

We do not all fit in the same box, we all have different needs to suit our own families.  If you need to make changes then don’t penalise good parents.  Deal with the real issues and penalise those who are taking advantage of our benefit system and those who are harming our beautiful children.

I strongly urge you to reject these changes.