December 02, 2022
Tough times for parents
A state of the nation parenting survey by health insurer nib has found most parents are struggling.
Neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis, who helped with the survey, says the rising cost of living is a major reason why 62 percent of parents struggle to balance work and family life.
He says Maori faced particular challenges.
“I don’t think that’s a surprise because Maori and Pacific Island families are generally at the lower end of the economic table, just through colonisation and all those various reasons, but basically we are poor, so when the country gets under tighter conditions then I think Maori and Pacific island families who are suffering suffer the most,” Mr Wallis says.
He says what gets Maori through tough times is the larger support networks they can call on from being in a more collective culture.