CPAG Summits
Each year Child Poverty Action Group convenes a summit. The events attract a wide array of speakers and audience members dedicated to ensuring all children in Aotearoa can flourish. They are a chance for experts and advocates to gather to discuss solutions to child poverty in New Zealand, and have proven to be valuable events attracting media attention to keep child poverty on the political agenda.
For individual presentations, or those pre-dating 2015, please contact us.
CPAG Summit 2020 & 2021
CPAG did not hold a summit in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We expect to be back in 2022. Sign up to our newsletter to receive further information.
CPAG Summit 2019: Whakamana Tāngata: Where to from here?
The theme for 2019 was ‘Whakamana Tāngata: Where to from here?’ and aimed to reflect the recent work of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) and discuss its implications for welfare reform.
Experts discussed the priorities for reform in Aotearoa, with a common goal of ensuring that all people can live dignified lives and all children can thrive. The speakers including Professor Innes Asher (CPAG), Honorary Associate Professor Susan St John (CPAG), Laura O’Connell Rapira (ActionStation) and Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft.
Moira Lawler of Lifewise provided an excellent summation: “It’s our understanding that New Zealanders really want to see children and families living above the poverty line, and to have a society where children are able to thrive and have all their needs met. We all share the view that if the Government invested in the recommendations of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group then things can be different.”
CPAG Summit 2018: Rethinking the Welfare System for the 21st Century
The event was held in partnership by Child Poverty Action Group and The University of Otago in Wellington.
The purpose of the Summit - Rethinking the Welfare System for the 21st Century – was intended to fulfil an urgent need to influence the welfare reform agenda, which was a key focus for the Government at the time. A full-day programme of speakers aligned to this cause and provided their perspectives and recommendations on an effective welfare system.
Speakers at the Summit included Dr Jess Berentson-Shaw, Associate Professor Susan St John, Dr Michael Fletcher, Dr Hirini Kaa, David Hanna, Dr Bill Rosenberg, Alan Johnson, Sam Orchard, Dr Amanda D'Souza, Associate Professor Mike O’Brien.
CPAG Summit 2017: Beyond Social Investment
Together with The Retirement Policy and Research Centre and the Centre for Applied Research in Economics at the University of Auckland, CPAG held a summit examining and critiquing the Government's view of welfare provision. Speakers discussed what a social welfare system that genuinely put "the well-being of children at the centre” would look like, and what changes to policies and budgets would enable all children to thrive.
Speakers at the Summit included Professor Peter Whiteford, Dr Simon Chapple, Peter Alsop, David Kenkel, Dr Jess Berentson-Shaw, Associate Professor Susan St John, Dr Bill Rosenberg, Alan Johnson, Len Cook, and Associate Professor Mike O’Brien.
CPAG Summit 2016: "Investing in children"
On 2 September 2016, CPAG co-hosted the Summit "Investing in children" with the Retirement Policy and Research Centre at the University of Auckland.
The theme of the summit – Investing in children – invited speakers to discuss the then-government’s social investment approach and suggest alternative approaches that would genuinely put children at the centre.
It was noted that for more than two decades, the primary focus of governments in New Zealand was workfare, not welfare. Welfare itself was becoming ever more targeted but had not resulted in any alleviation in child poverty.
Speakers included Shamubeel Eaqub, Prue Kapua, Efeso Collins, Gerry Cotterell, Susan Morton, Peter Sykes, Fiu Anae Uesile Wesley Tala’imanu, Darrin Hodgetts, Ottilie Stolte, Bill Rosenberg, Mike O’Brien and Susan St John.
CPAG Summit 2015
On 8 September 2015, CPAG held a summit at the University of Auckland to discuss the current direction the New Zealand welfare system was going in, how this would affect children and families, and solutions to fix the situation.
The Summit was proudly supported by the University of Auckland’s Centre for Applied Research in Economics, Retirement Policy and Research Centre, and Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health.
Speakers included Trevor McGlinchey, Susan St John, Mike O’Brien, Gerry Cotterell, Sarah Thompson, Moira Lawler, Ben Spies-Butcher, Max Rashbrooke, Hirini Kaa, Innes Asher, Reb Fountain, Mike Treen, Alan Johnson, Michael Fletcher, Nardos Tilahun, Claire Dale, Ian Hassall, Deborah Morris-Travers and Len Cook.