Albany lecture investigates welfare reforms

Auckland City Missioner Diane Robertson will speak about her vision to lift people from poverty at a lecture on the Albany campus on Wednesday night.

As City Missioner, Ms Robertson manages the Mission’s $8 million budget, 100 staff, hundreds of volunteers, five social services and a chain of second-hand shops which contribute a valuable source of income to support the social work of the Mission.

“Many of the welfare reforms that are currently being instigated are simplistic, aimed at the wrong people and doomed to fail,” she says. “The reformists vilify the poor, calling them lazy and promiscuous. Being poor is hard work. New thinking and new approaches are needed if we want to lift families out of poverty.”

Ms Robertson made history in 1998 by becoming the Auckland City Mission’s first non-clergy, female City Missioner. A qualified teacher, ACC counsellor and family therapist, her background includes teaching, establishing counselling and social services, and service as a computer consultant for community groups and individuals.

She is a strong advocate for social justice, and believes every New Zealander should have access to the same rights and opportunities.

The lecture, Being poor is hard work, starts at 6pm at the Sir Neil Waters Lecture Theatre at Massey University on the Albany Expressway, SH 17, and is expected to be finished by 7.30 pm.

Tea and coffee will be available before the lecture, so RSVP by contacting Marianne Mannering: email: m.mannering@massey.ac.nz or phone: 09 414 0800 ext 9555.

The 2012 Massey University Public Lecture Series is free and anyone is welcome to attend.

Future lectures:

• 3 September: Richard Shaw, Associate Head of the School of People, Environment & Planning: There is no depression in New Zealand: Are Blam Blam Blam still right about politics in New Zealand?

• 3 October: Mojo Mathers, New Zealand’s first deaf MP: Hearing-impaired New Zealanders – what does the future hold?