Source: Radio New Zealand
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Child poverty activists say families are having to make impossible decisions and go without life’s essentials following the release of new Stats New Zealand data.
The statistics agency said one in seven kids are living in material hardship, according to research conducted between July 2024 and June last year.
Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston has said reducing child poverty was a priority and that the government is making changes to improve the lives of families.
Advocates were calling for change after the latest data on child material hardship did not show a statistically significant difference compared to 2024 and 2018.
But it did show a statistically significant increase compared to 2022.
The Children’s Commissioner said the data shows there are 47,500 more children in material hardship in 2025 than there was in 2022 (169,300 compared to 121,800).
Children’s Commissioner Claire Achmad said affected kids were going without key life essentials.
“I’m talking about things like access to fresh fruit and vegetables, being able to go to the doctor or the dentist, being able to have a good bed to sleep in.
Children’s Commissioner Claire Achmad. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
“I think we can all agree no child in New Zealand should be going without these things.”
Dr Achmad said half of the children in poverty had parents that were in work – so it was important people have pay that can lift kids out of deprivation.
She said child poverty needs to be a priority for successive governments.
“Children cannot wait for our economy to improve. Children get one chance at childhood, and we’ve got to act and get this right now.”
Child Poverty Action Group communications manager Isaac Gunson said some families were being forced to make ” impossible decisions”.
“They are paying power and rent so they can keep the lights on and keep a roof over their head, and they are going to see if there is anything for them at the foodbank.
“No one in this country should be having to make decisions like that.”
Social advocate and BBM founder Dave Letele said there needed to be change.
Social advocate and BBM founder Dave Letele. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Unless support was provided, Letele said the conditions kids lived in would deteriorate.
“The New Zealand that our grandkids grow up in will be even worse. It is going to be seen more unsafe.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the current stats weren’t good enough.
“We want to see a reduction in child poverty, but I also have to acknowledge it has been an incredibly difficult time.”
Luxon said it was important the economy was run well for low-income New Zealanders.
Upston said reducing kids’ material hardship was a priority in the government’s child and youth strategy.
Upston said they have made a number of changes to improve the lives of Kiwi families such as the in-work tax credit and introducing their FamilyBoost policy for childcare.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
