The interests of large businesses and chief executives may be willing to let single parents and children live in hard poverty. But I'm not. Education, not welfare cutting.

This is absolutely ridiculous. Whether people like it or not, a chunk of our tax dollars are always going to go towards helping other people. Welcome to a modern, civilised society. Get over it!

It's a disgusting simplification to suggest Maori women can be deterred from having children by taking away the DPB. That's almost as bad as claiming prison acts as a deterrent for crime.

Do people honestly believe it's a case of "oh, damn, we're behind on the rent. Honey, we need to have another kid to cover next month's bills"?

Instead of suggesting excuses to get out of paying welfare to various groups of people, why don't we hear some suggestions for getting those groups of people out of poverty, so they don't have to rely on welfare in the first place? Hey, we could sort out some of our crime problems at the same time!

A nations greatness is measured by the individual achievment of its people as a whole.

I'm a middle income earner living a very very middle income lifestyle and I pay my dues to society in the form of a waking great tax bill along with a lot of other middle income NZers. I don't begrudge paying for the elderly and the retired; they have done their bit for this country, but there are too many freeloaders out there and we make it too easy for them. And yes, once again Maori are doing there bit top the statistics. If you find it embarrassing then do something about it but don't keep holding your hand out and asking for more .........

Every one has a choice. Some choose different than others. I'm 6th of 8 kids, born to lower socioeconomic, abusive and alcoholic et al... parents. I chose a different path than they chose. We all have a choice irrelevant of where we "come from". We do have a choice as to where and how we progress. I do not buy into racial, situational or generational victimisation and poverty. We all have a choice to change.

To Steve

Just remember on whose Confiscated lands this country has become wealthy on. Its easy to talk about all the opportunities that Māori get but look around you, if you are Pākeha you live in your system which by default is a privilage you take for granted. Māori and others have to adapt in a world of white privilage, eg In politics Māori have no choice but to take what is dished out to them eg the Seabed and Foreshore law and numerous council bylaws. Māori have 2 tv channels that they fought tooth and nail for, non Māori have the rest of them. The same goes for other forms of media. The print media are in the whole owned and controlled by non Māori. To say that Māori woman go on the DPB out of concious choice is wrong in my view, lets face it! try bringing up a family on your own with the amount of money paid from the DPB and you will soon see how hard it is. I know I will probably get a few nasty letters for this but thats fine. I agree with Ghandi we need to look after those most vulnerable in our society not send them out on the streets with nothing.

Moki

Re: Nightwing... Yes, I'm sorry to inform you, but there is a shortage of jobs at the moment. A member of my family was laid off due to lack of work in January and even with frequent searching in EVERY area of work has been unable to find another job. This is due to the fact that so many other people are also looking and business are slowing down so don't need to employ as many staff. This is not an isolated case as I'm sure others would agree with. Please get your facts right before calling them "facts".

Shame on you Dominion Post for publishing this drivel and calling it 'news'. Racist policies from business people is not new, nor is it news worthy. Publishing this only serves to validate this hateful message. Contrary to popular belief, the DPB is not some cushy pay check from the government. Try raising a child and living on (maximum) $272.72 per week after tax. Once you add rent, power, phone, food, clothing, petrol costs you will understand how hard it is. Maori have higher rates of welfare usage, not because it is a tempting option, but because of a complex number of issues. One important issue is the process of colonisation and institutionalised racism. This issue has been highlighted in this article in which a group of affluent, mainly Pakeha, assume to know the answer to a complex issue and have suggested a policy that will only further increase inequalities in our country.

And to nightwing...the DPB is available to solo parents, not to families such as the family on your street. Furthermore, I laugh at your suggestion that the government pays a family $130 a week for each child.

What a brilliant idea. Discourage freeloaders - Raising a family should be a privilage that only responsible people undertake. No children should be raised into poverty / hardship.

Sadly thou, the deprived and poor won't see it the same way. Tough - It is about time society took the approach that if you can't afford it you simply can't have it.

Easy credit lines and a generation that has to have everything has been the primary cause of this global recession (and I'm paying for it hugely through taxs) I've had a guts full of supporting those who can't help themselves.

Sorry if the truth hurts

"The report is the fifth working paper on Maori from the Business Roundtable, which represents the interests of large businesses and whose membership is dominated by the chief executives of major firms."

Cos everyone knows that businesses are the BEST at dictating social policy. I've never heard such knee-jerk rubbish. Why do the Business Roundtable feel the need to weigh in on the benefit and who gets it? This is just another example of rich people thinking that their money gives them the right to dictate terms to the rest of society and it has to stop.