A Minister’s pet scheme to employ 300 disabled people in Christchurch seems to be short on facts, says Labour’s Disability Issues spokesperson Poto Williams. 

“Nicky Wagner cannot provide solid evidence to show that her much vaunted Project 300 has actually helped disabled people into employment. 

Christchurch East MP Poto Williams is welcoming the stay of execution for the Burwood Birthing Unit, which the Canterbury District Health Board has announced will remain open until June. 

“The Government should never have considered closing this unit in the first place.

It’s no surprise that today’s report on family violence finds Government agencies have to better coordinate when funding to anti-family violence networks was cut by two-thirds, says Labour’s spokesperson on Sexual and Domestic Violence Poto Williams.

“Agencies that deliver victim services were desperately underfunded. This goes to the heart of the Family Violence Death Review Committee’s finding that these agencies have to work better to prevent family violence.

A new report on violence and Samoan women, A malu i 'āiga, e malu fo'i i fafo ,has to be taken on board by the whole community, says Labour’s Associate Justice spokesperson Poto Williams.

“It’s important for Pacific communities to come up with culturally appropriate solutions.

The Government needs to act on, not just consider, a recommendation from the Law Commission to establish a separate court for victims of sexual violence, Labour’s Associate Justice (Sexual and Domestic Violence) spokesperson Poto Williams says.

“The Commission’s report, The Justice response to victims of Sexual Violence: Criminal trials and alterative processes, is both a brave and exciting piece of work.

A petition launched following a walk-out of women MPs earlier this month  will be presented to Parliament today, says Labour’s Christchurch East MP Poto Williams.

“The petition, which expresses the disgust over John Key’s comments that Labour backs rapists and murderers, has already received nearly 13,000 signatures.

Housing New Zealand has built just one house in the past month in Christchurch, says Labour’s Associate Housing spokesperson Poto Williams. 

“If Housing New Zealand continues to only build one house a month it will be 2050 before the Government reaches its target of 700 homes promised in 2013.

Housing New Zealand should stop playing the blame game and admit it is at fault for delays to its building programme, Labour’s Associate Housing spokesperson Poto Williams says.

“HNZ was supposed to have built 2000 new homes by December. It has only completed a third of that number

The Government’s mishandling of tax status for charitable community housing providers is jeopardising projects to house some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable families, Labour’s Associate Housing and Community and Voluntary sector spokesperson Poto Williams says. 

“National has allowed this confusion to continue for almost two years. Their latest move, rules that mean Far North Iwi He Korowai Trust will lose its charitable status if it allows families to pay off their homes, is simply nuts.

As we celebrate 122 years of women having the vote in New Zealand tomorrow, court battles to ensure women get paid the same as men show there is still a long way to go, Labour’s Woman’s Caucus chair Poto Williams says. 

“It is a shame in this day and age that female aged care workers are paid $7 less an hour than prison guards – a job considered comparable.