New Zealand’s children’s advocacy community agrees that the time is now to create a strong, enduring and non-partisan commitment to reducing child poverty.

We can expect to see some immediate improvements to income support through Working for Families, as Labour has indicated in an agreement with the Green Party.

It is crucial that that the education system is resourced adequately so that children from all socioeconomic backgrounds can flourish.

Families are living in substandard housing that is causing alarming rates of illness, particularly among young children, and many do not have a home at all.

Building on the 2016 event, this Summit will focus on the Government’s proclaimed ‘social investment approach’ to welfare reform.

“It is worrying that so many are in hardship and that is impacting negatively on their education.”

The upcoming election provides an opportunity for all political parties to put the wellbeing of all New Zealand’s children at the centre of their policies.

CPAG believes it is possible to halve the number of these hospital admissions, and in addition reduce the chances of preventable illness harming our tamariki in the long term.