Call to bring back mothers-in-law

The country needs to bring back mothers-in-law to help with the raising of families, Social Development Minister Steve Maharey said yesterday.

The 52-year-old father of two grown-up stepsons lamented the huge number of families who did not know how to raise kids and did not have a mother-in-law or grandmother to turn to for advice.

"Bring back mothers-in-law is what I say ... It reflects our concern that there are a lot of families - whether it is a health issue, an education issue or a parenting issue - who are struggling."

Mr Maharey said an alternative to mothers-in-law was the SAGES programme, which enabled older people to hand on their skills in areas like budgeting and parenting.

His frank views on the family came at a public meeting on the Government's social track record in the National electorate stronghold of Helensville. About 25 people and a handful of Rodney District councillors questioned him on working for the dole, housing, the disability benefit, rates rebates - and veered off the subject to ask about roads and public transport.

The senior Cabinet minister said extra social spending by Labour since 1999 had contributed to economic growth, jobs and dividends in regions like Rodney, so much so that it was the most benign election campaign he had participated in.

To a question by councillor Greville Walker on the spiralling cost of housing in Rodney, Mr Maharey said the Government was trying to figure out how to help people into home ownership and had already come up with the KiwiSaver scheme that helps first-home buyers get together a deposit.

"We have a vision in New Zealand of private ownership and we want to help people do that. It is still the Kiwi dream," said Mr Maharey, who is also the Minister of Housing.

He said Labour would "greatly come back into the housing market" but not to the same extent as the old days. Partnerships with councils, iwi, churches, trust groups and others would be encouraged.

Mr Maharey said the only undeveloped land available in Auckland for state housing was Hobsonville airbase. The Government was also looking at land swaps with the Auckland City Council to reduce the concentration of state housing in areas like Glen Innes.

Mr Maharey said he was opposed to work for the dole because it locked people into working for a benefit. "I want people getting a real job for real wages and have a real future."