Election 2014: Our children, our choice
In the lead up to the 2014 general election, CPAG produced a series called Our Children Our Choice. This series provided an overview of issues affecting New Zealand’s poorest children and urged child-focused policies be adopted.
In producing this series, CPAG was looking for a firm indication from political leaders they were committed to giving all children a fair go.
The series came out three years after CPAG’s report, Left Further Behind (2011), six years after CPAG’s report, Left Behind (2008), and ten years after the New Zealand government announced the rollout of its flagship family assistance policy, Working For Families. CPAG's analysis provided ample evidence that the poorest children were continuing to be left behind relative to their peers and were likely to suffer harmful consequences.
The series recommended changes to policy relating to children’s health; early childhood education and care; provision of compulsory education; housing; and family incomes. Each policy paper was authored by experts in their field.
The series shows it is not inevitable that a quarter of New Zealand children should grow up in poverty. As a society, we could choose a different outcome – we could protect our children from hardship as we protect our elderly. These are our children – this is our choice.
Read CPAG's full policy paper series Our Children, Our Choice: Priorities for Policy (PDF) here
Part One: Child Poverty and Health
The first part of the series focuses on the health of the poorest children in Aotearoa New Zealand. It closes with recommendations for better policies for our children’s health. It was written by Dr Nikki Turner and Dr Innes Asher.
Read CPAG’s full 2014 paper Our Children, Our Choice – Part One: Child Poverty and Health (PDF) here
Part Two: Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and Child Poverty
Part two looks at early childhood care and education and poverty. It was written by Dr Jenny Ritchie, Nola Harvey, Marianne Kayes, and Carol Smith.
In the report, the authors discuss how the first years of life are when the foundations are laid for lifelong wellbeing and learning, and hot critical it is that we as families, communities and as a society get this right. In this policy paper on ECCE, CPAG makes ten recommendations which would significantly improve long term educational outcomes for children in poverty, starting from their earliest experiences.
Part Three: Compulsory Schooling and Child Poverty
The third part of the series discusses public education and how as a society, we can help level the playing field for children through education.
Quality schooling, that also addresses children's disadvantages outside the school gate, can help counter the worst effects of poverty and inequality on children's lives. Schools can contribute to greater justice and equality, by redistributing financial resources so disadvantaged children do not fall further behind their more advantaged peers.
In Part Three of CPAG’s series Our Children, Our Choice, CPAG makes ten recommendations to improve compulsory schooling for New Zealand’s children. Part three was authored by Dr John O’Neill.
Part Four: Housing market changes and their impact on children
Part four of the series, written by Alan Johnson, focuses on housing and how society could choose to do better for our children by ensuring they grow up in a warm, dry, secure house. In this paper, CPAG makes six recommendations on housing policy which are straightforward, simple and achievable. While the initial cost in money terms may seem large, in the long run, for our children, they are economically efficient and socially-just choices.
Part Five: Adequate Incomes to Address Child Poverty
Adequate incomes to address child poverty is the fifth and last paper in the series and presents ten recommendations to improve income support for families and address child poverty. It was written by Dr Mike O’Brien and Dr Susan St John.
Launch of Our Children, Our Choice
The launch of the Our Children, Our Choice series was held on the 9 September 2014, in both Auckland and Wellington.
Read transcripts of speeches from the Auckland launch of CPAG’s Our Children, Our Choice by Associate Professor Susan St John, Fa’anana Efeso Collins, and Innes Asher.
Read transcripts of speeches from the Wellington launch by Brian Easton, M. Claire Dale, Geoff Curson, and Graham Howell.