Top Stories for Monday 13 February 2017
The Human Rights Commission is leading a call from dozens of social sector leaders for the Government to launch an inquiry into historical abuse suffered by children in state care. Social Development Minister Anne Tolley issued a written statement. In it she says" Any kind of abuse against kids in state care is abhorrent." She points to the overhaul of the state care system that has led to the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki and an independent youth advocacy service as ways she's ensuring the state will keep children and young people safe. Anti-violence campaigners are calling on the government to give victims of domestic violence paid leave to help them deal with their situation. Volunteers helping stranded whales at Farewell Spit faced a near hopeless task rescuing survivors of what's now mainland New Zealand's biggest stranding. RNZ's Tracey Neal was there. DOC considers building a fence around the carcasses of 300 whales on Farewell Spit to keep them in place. Prime Minister Bill English took a low key aproach to Big Gay Out, leaving his deputy Paula Bennett to speak. Mr English says at community events, there is no need to be political if you're just there to meet people. One person has been injured, houses reported lost and properties under threat as fire fighters battle roughly 80 bush fires in Australia. A taskforce headed by the ACC is looking to reduce the incidence of brain damage in newborns- which is costing the country hundreds of millions of dollars.
