Your view: How to get out of the poverty cycle

Glen Green gives his view on how children in South Auckland could get out of poverty.

Year 11 student Glen Green, from James Cook High School in Manurewa writes to the Aucklander about the minimum wage and why children in South Auckland are getting stuck in the poverty cycle.

Your view:

In Manurewa there is a lot of stress on parents to provide for their families and, with there being so few jobs around this area with good pay, they are often forced to take low paying jobs.

I think it would help a lot of deserving families if the minimum wage of $14.75 was raised to a living wage of $19.25 because it means parents won't have to be stressed every day and night about their children getting fed.

It's hard for me to see mums and dads struggling to make ends meet because you can see how much more they want to give to their children but just can't afford it.

If the government really wants to tackle the problem of poverty in New Zealand I think they should have a serious look at bringing in the living wage for New Zealand workers. This would give children in poverty a chance to get out of the poverty cycle.

That's why I think companies should be paying their employees a living wage; so it eases the stress off parents to provide for their families and it will help decrease the amount of people in poverty.

Moreover, a Living Wage is good for employers too.

It gives companies lower turnover, a more motivated workforce and the increased goodwill of the community.

This makes a living wage good for everybody it doesn't just help families but it also helps companies as well.

Glen Green,
Year 11
James Cook High School, Manurewa