dvocacy group warns young people’s voices are being overlooked amid growing food and mental health pressures
Save the Children New Zealand is urging the Government to make rangatahi wellbeing a major priority in Budget 2026, warning many young people across Aotearoa are struggling with food insecurity, mental health pressures and rising stress linked to the cost of living.
Advocacy Director Jacqui Southey says stronger investment is needed in youth wellbeing, nutrition and community support services, particularly as economic pressures continue affecting whānau nationwide.
The organisation is highlighting concerns raised in the report Tīhei Manaora: Rangatahi-led eating and wellbeing guidelines for young people, which centres the voices and lived experiences of rangatahi themselves.
The report explores how young people view food, wellbeing and health, with many describing growing anxiety around affordability, access to healthy kai and wider pressures impacting their physical and emotional wellbeing.
Save the Children says rangatahi are calling for more culturally grounded, accessible and youth-led approaches to wellbeing that recognise the realities many young people face daily.
Concerns raised include rising food costs, social pressures, housing stress, mental health challenges and barriers to accessing nutritious meals, particularly for low-income households and rural communities.
The organisation says Māori and Pasifika rangatahi are often disproportionately affected by inequities within the health and food systems, making targeted investment even more important.
Southey says despite the significance of the findings, the report has received little public attention, raising concerns that rangatahi perspectives are still not being taken seriously enough within political and policy discussions.
Advocates warn ignoring youth-led research risks deepening long-term problems around poor health outcomes, mental distress and widening social inequality.
Save the Children says investment in school food programmes, youth mental health support, community services and culturally appropriate wellbeing initiatives would help create healthier futures for tamariki and rangatahi.
The organisation is also calling for greater inclusion of young people in decision-making processes, arguing policies affecting youth wellbeing should be shaped directly by the voices of rangatahi themselves.
As Budget discussions continue, child advocacy groups are warning the long-term social and economic costs of failing to support young people now could be far greater in the future.
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