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Download AudioThe author of a study that fitted wearable cameras to children says it may wake people up to the reality of child poverty.
The University of Otago-led study collected data from 168 randomly selected 11 to 13 years olds from 16 schools across Wellington.
Each camera recorded an image every seven seconds over four consecutive days, with the study generating almost 2 million images.
Professor Louise Signal says the extent of poverty observed was shameful.
Tamariki Māori in particular was less likely to have healthy food, books, technology and sports equipment, and they were in poorer quality housing.
“When we compare ourselves with other countries like Sweden for example where there is very little child poverty, there are policies we could put in place that we as adults could take to make sure this is not occurring in this country. We’ve seen some leadership on the issue from the Prime Minister but we really don’t seem to shift that severe poverty which sadly too many tamariki Māori are suffering from,” Professor Signal says.
There have been improvements since the camera data was collected in 2014 and 15 including the introduction of the warrant of fitness for rental housing.
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