Poverty disturbs

Barnardos is disturbed by data showing marginalised children remain disproportionately impacted by poverty. This year’s Child Poverty Monitor shows Ma¯ori and disabled youth are more than twice as likely to live in material hardship than Pakeha and nondisabled. On average, 6 per cent of kids live in damp homes . . . but it’s 12 per cent for Pasifika, and 10 per cent for Ma¯ori. Barnardos chief executive Mike Munnelly says poverty is down overall, however.