Parent trap leaves little ones in care
1 in 10 babies spend more than 40 hours a week in childcare, writes Jo LinesMackenzie. New breed of biker rides at hog heaven
KATIE Peters has no option but to put her 7-month-old son in daycare for more than 40 hours a week.
She is not alone as the latest government statistics show 10 per cent of babies under one year are in childcare for more than 42 hours a week.
The proportion of babies and toddlers in childcare for long periods has, on average, tripled since 2000.
Peters and her husband Brad work full time and they don’t have access to family help so the long hours of childcare are a necessity.
‘‘He loves going there, he always has big smiles. He spends a lot of time developing his skills,’’ she said.
They don’t feel that Brody is missing out due to being away from them. ‘‘We had to make the decision which was best for our family and that was going to work and putting our son in daycare. I’ve had quite a few people look at me sideways. There are still some judgmental people out there, particularly older people.’’
There are no regulated limits on the hours a child can spend in ECE, however the government subsidy is capped at 6 hours per day, five days per week. In the year to March 2016, 96.6 per cent of children starting school had participated in ECE.
NZEI Executive member Virginia Oakly said if the maternity leave benefit was increased and parents were able to work more flexible hours this trend wouldn’t be rising.
‘‘While it’s not ideal, parents don’t always have a choice. They need to make ends meet, especially in Auckland when you have housing problems and the issue of travelling to work.’’
Auckland University’s Helen Hedges said growing research ‘‘affirms that children spending time in quality ECE centres has a positive effect on children’s development, supports families in child rearing, and has good longterm academic and social outcomes for children’’.
‘‘There is little evidence yet that tells us whether or not shorter or longer hours make any difference to this – it is the quality that matters,’’ Hedges said. GEOFFREY Milne has been to all 11 editions of the Burt Munro Challenge, New Zealand’s largest motorcycling event.
The Invercargill bike enthusiast has seen the event grow year by year, with the bikers’ bacchanal – running in Southland this weekend – now more Suits than Sons of Anarchy.
He can now count lawyers, accountants, real estate agents – even the odd millionaire – among his circle of friends.
It’s a disparate bunch, united by one thing: a passion for motorcycling.
The event – named after the Kiwi motorbike legend who set a land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the US in 1962 – is not what some people might expect. In past years, professional businessmen, doctors, celebrities and MPs have taken a week or two off work to entertain their wild side, Milne says.
Challenge organising committee chairman Wayne Affleck has seen visitors come from all over the world.
More than 20,000 spectators and 700 competitors were expected for this weekend’s gettogether, with up to 2000 competing in the rally.
Motorcycle enthusiasts attending do not fit your typical ‘‘bikie’’ stereotype, Affleck says.
‘‘They are nothing like you’d expect. They’re ‘bikers’, not ‘bikies’.’’
Established people in their mid-50s are now the norm.
Last year, more than 500 people came from the North Island, more JOHN HAWKINS/FAIRFAX NZ than 130 from Australia, and people from Europe, Germany and America.
Perhaps the pin-up boy of wealthy motorbike enthusiasts is economist and political newbie Gareth Morgan.
With wife Jo, Morgan has documented his motorbike trips around the globe on his Ridebybike blog, riding 150,000kms across more than 80 countries.
Despite all the travelling, Morgan still makes time for the Challenge.
It is about the celebration of characters that have influenced motorcycling in New Zealand and was an event that the community enjoys and gets involved in, he says.
It helps promote Southland and draws people from ‘‘all walks of life’’.