A new international comparison of child wellbeing has sounded the alarm for Aotearoa New Zealand’s tamariki and rangatahi, with New Zealand ranked 32nd out of 36 wealthy countries for overall child wellbeing – a position that highlights deep challenges for our youngest citizens and an urgent need for action.
Listen to our full interview with Dr Claire Achmad, Chief Children’s Commissioner, here:
https://waateanews.com/2025/05/16/dr-claire-achmad-chief-childrens-commissioner-7/
Dr Achmad – the chief advocate for children in Aotearoa – told Radio Waatea in a 2025 interview that this UNICEF Innocenti Report Card 19 ranking shows the country must go beyond rhetoric and make meaningful investments in child wellbeing, especially in mental health, education and community support services.
The UNICEF report shows that while Aotearoa is a relatively wealthy nation, it still lags behind most peer countries on key measures of child wellbeing including mental health, physical health and educational outcomes. The findings showed particularly concerning results around youth wellbeing – with New Zealand near the bottom of the ranking and among the lowest for mental wellbeing and highest youth suicide rates in the group of wealthy nations analysed.
Dr Achmad said these results underline the urgent need for progress across systems that affect children’s lives – from schools and health services to family support and social protections. She emphasised that policy decisions made today shape children’s lives tomorrow, and that investing in wellbeing isn’t just compassionate – it’s smart for Aotearoa’s future.
The report also draws attention to widespread issues such as bullying, physical health challenges and community pressures that too many children face, and highlights the importance of mental health support, anti-bullying initiatives and preventative services targeted to tamariki, rangatahi Māori, Pasifika and other communities facing heightened risk.
Dr Achmad’s call to action is clear: children’s voices must be central to decision-making, and policymakers must focus on reducing inequality, enhancing access to mental health care, and ensuring that every child in Aotearoa has the opportunity to thrive.
As we reflect on these findings, many communities are recognising that wellbeing is a measure of how we care for one another, and that improving outcomes for children is a shared responsibility – from government to whānau and community organisations.
Stay tuned to Radio Waatea’s #SummerSeries for more kaupapa that matter to whānau, tamariki and the future of Aotearoa.
