The Minister for Child Poverty Jan Tinetti has failed to guarantee Government support for any Māori led policies and initiatives targeting tamariki Māori.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer took Minister Tinetti to task over the absence of data for transient and kore kainga whānau.
The latest Stats NZ’s child poverty statistics for June 2022 showed 1 in 10 children in Aotearoa live in material hardship.
Te Pāti Māori say the story is much worse for Māori and Pasifika, with 1 in 5 Māori and 1 in 4 Pasifika tamariki living in poverty. The rate of poverty for tamariki with disabilities is 1 in 5, but Stats NZ have no data on tamariki Māori with disabilities.
“The reality is likely worse than these figures show, given the that the whānau struggling the most, who are homeless, living in cars, garages, and motels, were not even surveyed.
“The government cannot reach our most vulnerable people unless we empower whānau, hapū, iwi and community leaders on the ground who are connected to and trusted by our Māori, Pasifika, and transient whānau. said Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Minister Tinetti said no initiative or policy is off the table.
