‘Significant, enduring’ poverty in New Zealand

New Zealand’s child poverty rates aren’t improving, but we are starting to ‘‘wake up to the serious problem’’, according to the 2016 Child Poverty Monitor.

The monitor, released today, shows there has been no real improvement in child poverty rates.

Fourteen per cent of children are living in material hardship where they are living without seven or more necessary items for their wellbeing and 28 per cent of children are living in low income homes, up from 14 per cent in 1982.

Creating a plan to reduce the number of children in poverty in New Zealand must be a priority if we are going to prevent a third generation of children in poverty, Children’s Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft said.

‘‘This is not the New Zealand I grew up in nor is it the New Zealand most of us want,’’ Becroft said.

‘‘However you cut it, there are at least 85,000 children in this country who are living in very tough circumstances.

‘‘I accept it’s not the sort of abject poverty you see on the banks of the Ganges River – but it’s not what we want for our children.

‘‘It is significant, enduring and seriously affects a child’s ability to grow.’’

Child poverty has been identified by New Zealanders in recent opinion polls as one of the most significant issues facing our country.

‘‘New Zealanders are starting to wake up to the serious problem we face. We are in real danger of creating pockets of a third generation of ingrained poverty – which seriously impacts children’s health, ability to learn and contribute to society.’’

New Zealand has a goal to halve all poverty by 2030.

‘‘To attain this goal within the next 14 years, we need a plan to reduce child poverty. It must be a government-led plan all New Zealanders can work towards. It should involve business, community and non-government groups.’’

Becroft’s concern is that we are set to have another winter with children living in cars and marae having to take people in.

‘‘Our monitor shows that New Zealand’s lowest income earners are spending an average of 50 per cent of their income on housing.

‘‘As the Auckland City Mission well knows, this means families are forced to line up for food banks and use emergency accommodation.’’

New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service director Dr Jean Simpson said living in poverty has serious implications for a child’s health, well-being and life outcomes.

She said children living in the lowest income households were more likely to be living in crowded, damp and mouldy spaces, which can lead to illness.

‘‘Research tells us that children living in the most disadvantaged communities are about 18 times more likely to miss out a visit to the GP when they are unwell due to a lack of transport to get there than those in the least disadvantaged communities.

‘‘Reducing the number of young children living in poverty is critical to improving the health of the whole population,’’ Simpson said.