Sam #17 Unfortunately things happen in life that is unplanned and certainly un asked for! When we were blessed with our two precious children we had given up hope of having any, I had experienced a still birth and an ectopic pregnancy. We both had good paying jobs and in fact lived up in Wanganui! Upon having our second child we chose to move to a nicer place to bring up our girls, somewhere that they wouldnt be judged, bullied or become involved in bad influences. We came here on holiday and totally fell in love with the place. My husband got a very good job, we had working for families and yes we were absolutely fine! Sadly a situation in our lives has changed this and we had to use everything we had before being able to receive any help. Looking back I wouldnt change anything for having the girls, and life throws you some doozies which you have to work through! I am blessed with wonderful friends who have been more than supportive during our difficult time and I have evey intention of showing my gratitude back in some way when its possible. This IS just a temporary time for us but sadly some out there are going through worse and so please just show some human kindness to these people and not judging them.

School uniforms - Designed for the most inane and obscure reasons. Equality? All the kids know who the wealthy kids are. All the kids from the lower income families wear worn out uniforms. They look untidy and unkempt compared to the brand new ones. And what purpose a school uniform really? So school boards continue to live in the past? I'm surprised they don't have them marching to class to military bands blaring over the loud speaker system.

If a school was in touch with reality they would realise their task is to educate kids. Let kids wear whatever they please. It makes no difference to whether they learn or not by wearing prescribed clothing versus, say, jeans and a tee shirt. Ditching arcane uniforms would minimise the annual s--t fight over uniform costs and people get cranky because they know it's a complete and utter waste of money better spent on necessities.

Poor Ruth. Don't sweat the small stuff, because at the end of the day that is what the uniform is. Continue to encourage your children with the big stuff, finishing school with the ability to read, calculate and building relationships with others. Afterall Ruth, when you grow old and are unable to take care of yourself, unlike the Dan's of the world who have the 2.5 kids you will have plenty of family. His kids will be successful in perhaps London maybe Japan but he will depend on somebody else's kids to change his dirty undies.

Dont choose to have children if you cant comfortably afford to house, feed, educate and clothe them completely until age 18. $200 for a few changes of a whole outfit of clothing for a year is not expensive, it may last longer - you set a budget for your income and make it work.

The child/children's clothing budget must include uniform, perhaps it eats in to their out of school wear allowance. or their Xbox game allowance... or your own sky tv bill...

We chose a government who gives huge tax cuts to the rich, not the struggling. Vote to change if you are not happy.

Pay for one uniform they wear the whole year, and the next... or buy enough clothes for them to wear everyday at school and at home with no uniform, and we all know kids don't want to wear the same clothes everyday unless its uniform.... I wonder which is cheaper in the end???? Uniforms are equalisers and I think they're fantastic. If you can't afford uniforms how do you afford their clothing, its just a lump sum instead of spread out. We save a little each week in preperation for the statrt of the school of year. Its simple, you want kids to have education you'll need stationary and clothing for them. Can't afford, don't have kids. But don't get me wrong I do sympathise, its not like our governemnt is making any effort to help families make ends meet. The rich get richers... all 1% of them while the rest of us struggle onwards. ANd please let your kids go on school camp!!! how upsetting for them to see their friends go without them, its the fun value for them wiht their mates instead of with parents (no offense to us parents but we're not as fun!!)

Primary school is cheap. Those costs are really minimal. Wait until High School and the costs really shoot up. Blazers, sports uniforms, activities and now laptops. We are looking at around $3,000 to kit out a child for year 9 with a uniform and laptop. And not a private school.

Dan #7&8

Some people have kids and struggle through life and some have none and life is a holiday but one thing is certain---when the people without kids are old they will be looked after by the peoples kids that they have maligned-----Those 6 future tax payers will do more for this country than the childish people that refer to such as "Breeders" with actual vitriol.

The truth is Dan those lot will have a bigger impact in NZs future than childless people.

Anita #5 .... in reply to your comment the reason my husband is studying as I am is so we can eventually come off government assistance. A situation I am unable to mention on a public forum was the cause of us needing the help in the first place and with the help from various organisations including Workbridge and various medical professionals has got us both to the point of being able to move forward. I am sorry I am unable to say more than that but I hope you can understand in some way. The main reason for this article was to make more people aware of how difficult it is for a large amount of us to do what we have to do and to make people know they are not alone.

When I was at school in the UK, Harrods was our school uniform supplier; we just went up annually to get what we needed or my mother sent for it. I would imagine a full uniform would currently set you back in the region of $5,000. Think about the cost of that before moaning at the few dollars it costs here.

Stationary was supplied by the school. Why is it not here?

This is crazy. Two people apparently not working and living in poverty have 2 or more children and then complain they can't afford them.

Are they on drugs?

There is a undercurrent of acceptance this sort of thing in Nelson that doesn't seem to exist to the same extent elsewhere in NZ.