Meaningful solutions to child poverty urgently needed in New Zealand

The 2014 Child Poverty Monitor released today, reinforces the need for a relentless and coordinated effort to lift all children out of poverty. In particular, it calls for improvements to the incomes, housing and health of the roughly 110,000 (10 per cent) children living in severe poverty and material hardship.

These children are more likely to live in homes where there is a lack of nutritious food, where houses are overcrowded, doctor’s visits are postponed and houses are not heated – all factors contributing to immediate and longer-term health issues.

Deborah Morris-Travers, UNICEF NZ National Advocacy Manager, said of the new data, “It's encouraging to see that there has been a small drop in poverty rates from 27 per cent (285,000 children) to 24 per cent (260,000 children), using the measure of 60 per cent of median income after housing costs, as we move out of the Global Financial Crisis.

“However, the Child Poverty Monitor is supported by child health indicators showing that babies living in poverty are five times more likely to die in their first year of life than children in less deprived areas; 40,000 hospital admissions occur annually for conditions related to a social gradient and there are very concerning ethnic disparities evident throughout the data."

The data shows that children are more than twice as likely to live in poverty than elderly New Zealanders, with higher poverty rates for very young children, those in sole parent families and those in homes with no adults in paid work.

Government policy has the single-biggest impact on poverty rates and is a central part of ensuring that families and communities have the resources necessary to meet the needs of their children.

Ms Morris-Travers added, "It is greatly concerning that on so many measures, entrenched disparities are still present for Maori and Pasifika children.”

During 2010-2013, roughly 34 per cent of Maori children lived in poor households – more than twice the rate of European children. 28 per cent of Pasifika children live in poverty. Similar disparities are evident in household overcrowding rates.

Ms Morris-Travers said, “The data published today comes as the Prime Minister is considering what he and the new government will do to address poverty – and as public interest and concern is at an all-time high.

“It is a reminder that a more comprehensive response from all of Government is needed in the critical areas of family income, education, housing and health – with a particular focus on the most deprived communities, young children, sole parents, those living on welfare benefits, as well as Maori and Pasifika.

“Amid growing community concern about Government plans to sell State houses, UNICEF NZ urges the Government to look at building and maintaining a stock of affordable, accessible State houses as a practical contribution to the wellbeing of families and their ability to provide for their children. Adequate housing is a fundamental right and necessity for providing shelter, enabling stability and supporting child health. The Child Poverty Monitor shows that increases in housing costs have hit those on the lowest incomes hardest.

“UNICEF NZ reminds the Government of its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to ensure that every child in New Zealand has a standard of living that supports their physical and mental development. This can be achieved through a comprehensive, child-centred plan to address poverty - delivered by Government in partnership with communities.

"The disparities in child health status signal the need for universal health services responsive to the needs of Maori and Pasifika children - and this needs to start with good antenatal and maternity care.

"We also urge a focus on education-based solutions to poverty such as schools as community hubs and literacy programmes. The Accommodation Supplement must also be reviewed to ensure it is adequate, and provides greater flexibility in benefit arrangements so that parents can more easily participate in paid work.

“We urge the Prime Minister and his Cabinet to move quickly to implement policies and robust policy processes that will make a measurable difference to children's health and wellbeing,” concluded Ms Morris-Travers.

The Child Poverty Monitor is available at www.childpoverty.co.nz

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