National MP Argues that the Left does not have ownership over the Poor or the Workers in Parliament
In his first maiden speech to the 54th New Zealand Parliament, new National Party MP James Meager asserted that there was a dire need for change in the system. He emphasized that the existing system creates broken families and turns good people into lost souls, which is fundamentally unjust and in need of reform.
He shared his humble roots, growing up as a part-Māori boy raised by a single parent in a state house on benefits. Although his upbringing was financially challenging, he credited his hardworking mother for providing for their family, rather than relying solely on state assistance.
Meager also illustrated the struggles of his father, who was expelled from school at a young age and worked in a freezing works for most of his life. He underscored that the government has a responsibility to create a system that enables good people to make positive decisions instead of perpetuating broken families and disenfranchising individuals.
Addressing the notion that the left traditionally represents the less well-off, he highlighted that no party or ideology has a right to claim ownership over specific groups or issues, emphasizing that it is the family unit that knows what’s best, not the state or any political entity.
He advocated for social investment as a means to improve the living conditions of the poor, emphasizing the need to focus on outcomes that benefit both the individual and the taxpayer. Meager stressed the importance of leveraging data to enrich and optimize beneficial programs while discarding ineffective ones, with an overarching focus on social investment to bring about positive change.
