September 08, 2015
Pressure mounting to raise age of care
Labour MP Kelvin Davis is backing a push by youth advocates and welfare groups for the age of state care to be raised.
The groups have pointed out problems created by ending support for state wards when they turn 17, when many of the benefits and services they need don’t become available until they are 18.
The result is high levels of homelessness and other problems among former state wards, the majority of whom are Maori.
"You know we’ve got to support our young people for as long as we can and make sure they have the best opportunity to be successful, productive people in life regardless. Many of them have experienced trouble in their early years. We've got to help them through so that everybody has a chance of being successful," Mr Davis says.
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