Editorial: State failing to heed the call

The death of Emma-Lita Bourne was blamed in part by her sub-standard housing.

It's heart-wrenching to think that, in a country which used to have one of the best welfare systems in the world, children are dying in substandard state housing.

I say "used to" because it seems the state is failing to provide adequate assistance to the most vulnerable people in our country, and it's getting worse.

Time and time again, we hear about the widening gap between the rich and poor.

We hear about the Government cracking down on welfare fraudsters, which is fair enough, but how often do we hear about those well-heeled fraudsters ripping off mum and dad investors doing time in our overcrowded prisons?

Not enough, in my opinion. As shocking as it was, we all heard about South Auckland toddler Emma-Lita Bourne, whose death was blamed, in part, on the poor condition of the family's state house.

And if it's happening in Auckland, then surely it's happening here in the Bay.

To paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi - the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members - and it seems the state is failing to heed the call, as our most vulnerable also seem to be the most forgotten.

The issue is also being taken up by medical professionals around the country. So why does it seem the Government is doing nothing about it?

The call for a housing warrant of fitness scheme seems like a good first step, unless of course you are the owner of one of these sub-standard properties.

Surely a healthy, strong, productive nation is what we should be striving for.

Not sitting back and watching the less well off suffer while we warm our feet by the fire.

Matthew Martin is the chief reporter of the Rotorua Daily Post.