Sleeves Rolled Up

In the third episode of our Pathways and Politics series Paul Barber interviews Labour MP Dr Neru Leavasa, who is the MP for Takanini in South Auckland. Dr Leavasa talks about his pathways in life and faith, and his work in Parliament as a first-term MP. He has run a GP practice in South Auckland and takes with him into Parliament the desire to make changes for the better in the health and prosperity of his community and the whole country. 

This interview is part of our 8-part series where we interview 8 current MP's about their faith, backgrounds, politics and key issues for Election 2023. 

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyNZFTS

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/salvationarmynzfts

Ever wondered how a foodbank operates behind the scenes? We were fortunate enough to chat with Joel Williams, team leader at Manukau Community Ministries, one of the busiest Salvation Army foodbanks in New Zealand.

We discuss: 

- how the foodbank operates and gets enough food for the community 

- the impact a food parcel can have on someone's life 

- maintaining wellbeing when working in an environment that can be highly emotional 

It was awesome talking to Joel about his passion for this work - enjoy the episode! 

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyNZFTS

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/salvationarmynzfts

In the second episode of our Pathways and Politics series, Ana Ika from our Social Policy and Parliamentary unit interviews National MP Melissa Lee about journalism, politics, faith and the challenges Aotearoa faces today. Melissa discusses the impact of her faith on role as a MP and also highlights some of the challenges she faces particularly around the Conversion Therapy Bill. Melissa also delves into some of the National Party's policies around education and young people. 

This interview is part of our 8-part series where we interview 8 current MP's about their faith, backgrounds, politics and key issues for Election 2023. 

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyNZFTS

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/salvationarmynzfts

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyNZFTS

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/salvationarmynzfts

Join us as we chat with Gabrielle Martell-Turner who is super passionate about her rewarding role managing the True Heroes programme.

You'll learn about the True Heroes programme, its impact on communities, and the incredible stories behind the generous donors who make a difference in the lives of those in need. We also talk about how even the smallest donations can create a significant impact, and how some True Heroes have been recipients of The Salvation Army's assistance in the past.

If you've ever considered becoming a True Hero or simply want to know more about the vital work of The Salvation Army, this episode is a must-listen. Get ready to be inspired by heartwarming stories and the powerful message of hope and compassion that lies at the heart of the True Heroes programme.

Find out more about our True Heroes programme: 

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyNZFTS

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/salvationarmynzfts

In this episode, we delve into the findings of the crime and punishment section of the 2023 State of the Nation Report, discussing the challenges and disparities within New Zealand's justice system. 

Our guest, Salvation Army social policy analyst Ana Ika, helps us unpack the reasons behind the increase in victimizations and the decline in proceedings against alleged offenders, as well as the implications of the soaring remand population.

We talk about the pressing issue of family violence and its impact on the justice system, exploring potential steps to mitigate this crisis. Our conversation highlights the disparities in imprisonment and recidivism rates between Māori and non-Māori, and we discuss possible solutions to promote a more equitable justice system for all New Zealanders.

We also chat to Dr. Gina Colvin, about the challenges facing Māori in New Zealand, including the consequences of colonization and the importance of whānau wellbeing. 

State of the Nation is a report released each year by The Salvation Army (now in its 16th year), that tracks the progress and decline of key wellbeing areas for communities across New Zealand.

You can read the full State of the Nation report here: www.salvationarmy.org.nz/research-policy/social-policy-parliamentary-unit/state-nation-2023

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyNZFTS

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/salvationarmynzfts

In this thought-provoking episode, we tackle pressing issues surrounding New Zealand's housing crisis and social hazards. Social policy analyst and lawyer Ronji Tanielu helps us break down the factors contributing to the improvements in social housing waiting lists and building consents, while also discussing the increasing trend of household indebtedness and its impact on people's ability to secure housing.

We delve into the unique challenges faced by Māori and Pasifika communities in the housing crisis, exploring potential solutions that take cultural and community-specific needs into account. Our conversation also covers both short-term and long-term approaches to addressing affordable housing in New Zealand.

Shifting gears, we discuss the concerning rise in ready-to-drink (RTD) spirit-based drinks marketed towards young people and the role policymakers can play in addressing this issue. We also examine the surge in gambling and its impact on communities with high levels of social deprivation, particularly the stubborn profitability of pokie machines in these areas.

State of the Nation is a report released each year by The Salvation Army (now in its 16th year), that tracks the progress and decline of key wellbeing areas for communities across New Zealand.

You can read the full State of the Nation report here: www.salvationarmy.org.nz/research-policy/social-policy-parliamentary-unit/state-nation-2023

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyNZFTS

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/salvationarmynzfts

Children and youth of today face particularly unique challenges post-pandemic. In this episode, we chat to social policy analyst Paul Barber about the youth and children & the work and incomes sections of the 2023 State of the Nation report. 

State of the Nation is a report released each year by The Salvation Army (now in its 16th year), that tracks the progress and decline of key wellbeing areas for communities across New Zealand.

We discuss: 

- latest child poverty figures

- employment levels

- cost of living crisis

- disparities in ethnicities of children in material hardship

- concrete actions we'd like to see from the Government to improve life for youth in New Zealand

You can read the full State of the Nation report here: www.salvationarmy.org.nz/research-policy/social-policy-parliamentary-unit/state-nation-2023

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyNZFTS

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/salvationarmynzfts

Ever wondered what it's like to edit a magazine? In this episode, we chat to Vivienne Hill who edits and manages The Salvation Army's monthly magazine SALT. 

We discuss: 

- Vivienne's background and how she came to work at The Salvation Army 

- why the name of the magazine changed from War Cry to SALT 

- the process of how the magazine comes together each month 

- the mission of the magazine and why it's such an important piece of work for The Salvation Army 

You can read SALT magazine online here: www.saltmagazine.org.nz

You can also find physical copies available for free from your local Family Store or Salvation Army centre. 

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyNZFTS

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/saltmagazinenz

In this episode, we chat to Salvation Army social policy analyst Ronji Tanielu about the impact of harmful gambling on Kiwis, how companies prey on vulnerable communities and what The Salvation Army is doing to combat this.

ABOUT RONJI:

After spending several years overseas as a self-funded Christian missionary (along with his wife Rabena), Ronji returned to Aotearoa in 2017. He works in our Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit, trying to be as positively disruptive in his advocacy to government and stakeholders as possible. 

You can read the full State of the Nation report here: https://www.salvationarmy.org.nz/research-policy/social-policy-parliamentary-unit/state-nation-2022 

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SalvationArmyNZFTS 

Follow us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/salvationarmynzfts/