One in seven children in Aotearoa is living in material hardship, prompting two leading social advocacy organisations to call on the next government to make child poverty reduction a national priority as the country heads towards the November 7 general election.
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) have released a Pre-Election Child Poverty Update, highlighting the ongoing struggle facing thousands of tamariki and their whānau.
The report comes ahead of October 17, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and examines the impact of government policies on child poverty over successive administrations.
Both organisations argue that poverty is not inevitable and that decisions about income support, housing, employment and public services have a direct influence on the wellbeing of children.
One in Seven Tamariki Going Without Essentials
The update highlights figures showing 14.3 percent of New Zealand children are living in material hardship, equivalent to approximately one in seven tamariki.
Material hardship measures whether families can afford basic necessities and participate in everyday activities, including access to suitable clothing, heating, nutritious food and other essentials.
For children experiencing hardship, the consequences can extend well beyond immediate financial pressures.
Poverty can affect physical health, educational achievement, social participation and long-term opportunities.
NZCCSS Chief Executive Alicia Sudden says community organisations are seeing the effects firsthand, with children arriving at services wearing shoes that no longer fit, experiencing ongoing health problems and carrying the stress of financial hardship.
The organisations warn that inadequate household incomes and gaps in social support are leaving too many families struggling to provide the basics.
Māori Tamariki Face Disproportionate Challenges
The findings also raise important questions about the impact of poverty on Māori whānau.
Māori children have historically experienced higher rates of material hardship than the national average, reflecting wider inequalities in household income, housing affordability, employment and access to essential services.
For whānau already facing rising food, electricity, transport and housing costs, financial pressures can quickly affect children’s health and wellbeing.
Overcrowded or inadequate housing, difficulty accessing healthcare and food insecurity can compound the challenges facing tamariki.
The organisations’ call for stronger investment in poverty reduction highlights the importance of policies that address these interconnected issues rather than treating child poverty as a problem of household income alone.
For Māori communities, solutions also need to recognise the importance of whānau-centred support, kaupapa Māori services and the role of iwi and community organisations in improving outcomes.
Government Promised to Halve Child Poverty by 2028
CPAG spokesperson Isaac Gunson says the report examines the record of successive governments and the policies that have contributed to both improvements and setbacks in child poverty reduction.
In 2018, Parliament passed the Child Poverty Reduction Act, establishing statutory targets aimed at substantially reducing child poverty.
The legislation included a commitment to halve selected measures of child poverty over a ten-year period.
However, CPAG says material hardship is now worse than when the legislation was introduced, despite improvements recorded during the early 2020s.
The organisation argues that the lack of sustained progress demonstrates the need for stronger political commitment and investment.
Importantly, CPAG says its analysis is not intended to single out one political party.
It acknowledges that governments led by both National and Labour have overseen periods when child poverty declined, as well as periods when hardship increased.
Poverty Has Long-Term Economic Consequences
The organisations warn that the consequences of child poverty extend beyond individual households.
Children growing up without adequate food, housing, healthcare and educational support can face barriers that affect their opportunities throughout adulthood.
Those challenges can contribute to poorer health outcomes, reduced participation in education and employment, and increased demand for public services.
CPAG argues that reducing child poverty should therefore be considered both a social responsibility and a long-term economic investment.
The report draws together government statistics, research undertaken by both organisations and an examination of policies that have influenced child poverty rates.
Election 2026: Pressure on Political Parties to Deliver
With the election approaching, CPAG and NZCCSS are calling on political parties to commit to practical measures that reduce material hardship and improve household financial security.
Both organisations have published election policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the support available to children and families.
Their priorities include improving income adequacy, addressing housing and food insecurity, and ensuring essential services are accessible to families experiencing hardship.
The organisations argue that meaningful progress will require sustained investment rather than short-term interventions.
Their message is that child poverty can be reduced when governments make it a clear policy priority and follow through with effective measures.
A National Challenge for the Next Government
The latest update comes at a time when families are already facing increased costs for groceries, electricity, transport and housing.
For many whānau, those pressures are making it increasingly difficult to meet everyday expenses, let alone build financial security for the future.
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty provides an opportunity to reflect on the commitments made to New Zealand children and the progress still required.
With approximately one in seven tamariki experiencing material hardship, CPAG and NZCCSS are challenging the next government to demonstrate how it will turn the promise of reducing child poverty into measurable improvements for children and whānau across Aotearoa.
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