"Many things we need can wait. the child cannot. Now is the time his bones are being formed; his blood is being made; his mind is being developed. To him we cannot say tomorrow. His name is today." Gabriela Mistral
Poverty leads to poor health
"Income is the single most important determinant of health. There is a persistent correlation worldwide between low income and poor health.“(The National Health Committee in its report to the MOH in June 1998 “Determinants of Health in New Zealand: Action to Improve Health) Dr Nikki Turner recently gave a presentation on Poverty and health with particularly emphasis on child poverty. Click here to view full presentation Poverty leads to poor health
Professor Innes Asher's Porrit lecture on Improving our poor child health outcomes
Professor Innes Asher gave the Porritt Lecture given in Whanganui on 3 November, 2010 and the full presentation is available here: Improving our poor child health outcomes - Professor Innes Asher's Porritt Lecture
The Best Start in Life: Achieving effective action on child health and wellbeing.
A report to the Minister of Health Prepared by the Public Health Advisory Committee(PHA). Read the full report here and read our Media Release:Children continue to be left behind
CPAG/Paedeatric Interest Group Writing Competition 2011
In 2011 CPAG in conjunction with the Paediatric Interest Group, a student based organisation at the University of Auckland ran a Child Poverty Writing Competition. And the winners are:
Kate Duggan for her academic essay on Health equity: what it means for child health which has also been published in the New Zealand Medical Journal. Congratualations to Kate for her exception work.
CLaire McLean for her creative writing piece - a thought provoking poem entitled Bellingham Road
Prof Innes Asher's med students share their experiences of child poverty and health
Child health and child poverty in New Zealand – a medical student’s experience #1. Timothy Godwin MBChBV June 2011
Child health and child poverty in New Zealand – a medical student’s experience #2. Sarah Merry MBChBV June 2011
Healthy homes, healthy children
Campbell Live interviewed Professor Asher on the impact why New Zealand children suffer from so many preventable diseases. This interview can be viewed here: Healthy homes, healthy children
Northland: shocking rheumatic fever rates and the highest child poverty rates in the country
The Whangarei Branch of Child Poverty Action Group has been working very hard to draw attention to the high child poverty rates and poor health statistics in Northland. A doumentary piece was produced by Radio New Zealand which can be heard here: Shocking Rheumatic Fever rates. The local newspaper, the Northern Advocate also published an article on this issue: "Highest child poverty rate in the country"
Our Objectives
A child's potential is a terrrible thing to waste.
Child Poverty Action Group is an independent charity working to eliminate child poverty in New Zealand. CPAG works on behalf of the 230,000 New Zealand children whose well-being and future is compromised by their meagre standard of living.
The Latest
Released Jan 2012
CPAG is pleased to release its critique of the Welfare Working Group's Final Report and Recommendations pertaining to the wellbeing of children.
2012 Appeal
The High Court agrees that the In Work Tax Credit discriminates against some of our poorest children.
Yet discrimination continues.
We need your help to stop Government discrimination and take our case to the Court of Appeal.
Our guiding principle, is the right of every child in New Zealand to security, food, shelter, education and healthcare. Child Poverty Action Group