September 16, 2014
Greens weaving policy around pepe


The Green Party is offering a woven flax sleeping pod for every baby.
The Wahakura Welcome Pack also includes bedding, blanket, sheets, a towel, clothes, bibs, beanies, socks and reusable nappies.
It's based on a highly successful programme that has been running in Finland since the 1930s that means a large proportion of Finnish babies sleep in a cardboard crib supplied by the state.
Green's co-leader Metiria Turei says based on Finnish take-up rates, the scheme will cost about $15 million a year.
She says it will take a lot of stress and financial strain out of the birth of a new child, and help all children get a good start to life.
The wahakura was originally designed as a safe sleeping option for Maori parents who practice bed sharing, but Ms Turei says its appeal is universal.
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