Save Our Children says it’s unacceptable that tamariki poverty rates haven’t dropped in two years.
Statistics New Zealand data shows no significant change in any of the nine child poverty measures from June 2022 to June 2024.
The 2018 Child Poverty Reduction Act, passed under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, set a 10-year plan to tackle child poverty, with long-term strategies due by July 2025.
Save Our Children research director Jacqui Southey says the law had cross-party support in 2018, so despite the 2023 government change, it must remain a priority and not be pushed aside.
“When our children do well, all of Aotearoa, New Zealand does well. We’re more productive, we’re healthier, we’re happier. And you know, we can have successful futures to look forward to,” says Southey.
The law requires the Government Statistician to report on child poverty at the end of each financial year.
However, current Statistician Mark Snowden is stepping down next month following Stats NZ’s poor protection of data while working with Manurewa Marae in 2023.
