Pre-Election Child Poverty Update

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) are shining a light on the state of child poverty with the Pre-Election Child Poverty Update. 

Saturday 17 October marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which began as World Child Poverty Day.

In the lead-up to the election, both organisations are calling on the next government to increase investment in reducing Aotearoa New Zealand’s shocking child poverty rates.

“Child poverty is a political choice,” says CPAG spokesperson Isaac Gunson.

“We’ve seen how political choices have made child poverty worse across the decades, and how they’ve made it better, too.”

The Pre-Election Child Poverty Update pulls together data from across Government agencies, original research by both organisations, and a timeline of policies which have positively and negatively contributed to child poverty rates, to paint a clear picture of the struggle our tamariki face.

“This document is not intended to attack one party over another. In fact, it makes clear that both governments led by both National and Labour have achieved reduction in child poverty,” says Gunson.

“Sadly, both parties have led governments which presided over increases in child poverty, too.” 

NZCCSS Chief Executive Alicia Sudden says hardship and poverty are not inevitable.

“Poverty impacts children at all stages of childhood. It not only makes it harder to meet children’s basic needs, but limits their participation, achievement and sense of hope for their future. Too many families are being trapped in poverty and hardship by failing systems that no longer provide a safety net. Our member organisations see firsthand children arriving at their services with lingering coughs, shoes that are too small and the stress they are carrying.

“With the right policy choices and investment in our children, New Zealand can build a just and compassionate society where every child has enough.”

Both NZCCSS and CPAG have made clear policy asks of the next government to immediately address rising rates of material hardship and stagnating rates of income poverty.

“In 2018, our politicians made a promise to halve child poverty rates by 2028. Today, material hardship is worse than when the Child Poverty Reduction Act was signed into law, despite meaningful reductions in the early 2020s” says Gunson.

“Child poverty affects us all. A child who grows up in poverty faces significant barriers throughout their life, and with one in seven children (14.3%) living in material hardship, that will have a flow-on effect on our economic output in generations to come.”

The Pre-Election Child Poverty update lays bare both major parties’ record on dealing with this significant issue.

“We love all Kiwi kids. We know what we need to do. Let’s get on with it,” says Gunson. 

“Enough is enough.”