PARENTS

Credits & Description:

Advertising Agency: WHYBIN\TBWA, NEW ZEALAND, Auckland
Creative Director: Andy Blood
Scriptwriter: Mike Ballantyne/Guy Roberts
Agency Producer: Fiona Champtaloup
Account Supervisor: Aidan Harvey/Jenny Wildner
Sound Engineer: Clive Broughton


Script in English
FVO: The following letter is the true story of a New Zealand police officer. Names have been changed to protect the people involved.

Policeman (Maori):

A letter to parents who don’t give a toss.

Dear Mrs Harrison

My name is Constable Tamati.

You’ll remember me – I have visited you twice over the last week.

Initially, I was concerned that your six-year-old boy wasn’t in school that day, and as you know, I gave him a lift there.

On the way to the school I asked if he’d eaten, and he told me he hadn’t had breakfast because there was no money for food. I was disturbed by this, but happy to buy him lunch.

Two days later I came back to check on him, and learned that his sister wasn’t at school either because she didn’t have shoes.

You told me you couldn’t afford shoes, so I found her an old pair. But on the way out, I noticed all the recycling bins full of empty beer bottles outside your house.

Surely your kid’s health and welfare takes priority over drink?

What sort of a future will your kids have to look forward to if you don’t care about what happens to them?

I know you have to overcome all kinds of challenges as a parent, but these shouldn’t be your kids’ problems.

You may think that I don’t understand your situation. Well, I grew up in your neighbourhood, and I’ve had to work hard to put food on my son’s plate.

And while I’m doing this job, I’ll be doing everything I can to help your kids get a decent chance at life.

But without your help, I’m wasting my time.

Yours sincerely,

Constable J. Tamati.

FVO: If you're ready to take on the challenges of life as a police officer, and make a difference in your community, call 0800 newcops. Or visit newcops.co.nz.
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