We cannot waste our precious children
Not another one, not another day.
It is long past time for us to act on their behalf
Nelson Mandela
Poverty - it's a complicated issue. The problems caused by childhood experiences of poverty are wide-ranging and interconnected. CPAG experts from many fields work together to understand these problems and their roots in our society. From there, we propose policy solutions and generate public debate.
CPAG believes our children's contribution to society, both now and in the future, is vitally important but often overlooked in a world driven by adult agendas. Real recognition of children's worth and contribution means government support for children's development that is generous and secure. No child's meals should ever come from a foodbank, for example, due to inadequate income when there are health or employment problems in the family.
In this section we outline the facts about child poverty in several key areas:
We propose a plan for immediate government action to address child poverty in New Zealand and then look at long term solutions.
We also attempt to
get behind the dry statistics to look at the human cost in "The grind."