What is the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)?

We are an independent, registered charity who believe in an Aotearoa where children can flourish, free from poverty. We were founded in 1994 and have members and supporters across the country, including leading academics, doctors, economists, researchers, teachers, and community workers.

We research the drivers and consequences of poverty for children and their whānau. We use this evidence to produce policy recommendations. We advocate for the adoption of our recommendations through our research reports, media engagement, presentations, submissions, meetings with public officials, and events.

Why does the Child Poverty Action Group focus on children?

Poverty affects children differently to adults, and we focus on children because:

• Overall effects of poverty are worse for children: Child development is adversely affected by poverty, and can lead to detrimental effects for an entire life.
• Children are more likely to experience poverty: Children are over-represented among those in deprived households.
• Children don’t get a say: Decisions affecting children are made without their input; only adults can vote for parliamentary representation.

As a nation, we have a legal obligation to protect children and ensure they have what they need to live happy and safe lives. At Child Poverty Action Group, we seek to hold the Government and New Zealanders to account in achieving this.

How do we define child poverty?

We want all children to thrive. For too many children in Aotearoa New Zealand, their experience of growing up is one of being unable to fully participate in society.

Poverty is about lacking the basics, such as a change of clothes, adequate and nutritious food, and a warm and dry home. But it is also about missing out on opportunities to participate and engage in life as other New Zealand children do. For instance, experiences such as lacking access to internet, or living in an overcrowded home, can pose many barriers to New Zealand children’s wellbeing and development. The consequences of growing up in difficult environments can be significant and long-lasting.

Poverty is not inevitable or natural, but results from policy neglect. That child poverty is a political choice is particularly evident in New Zealand’s comparatively low rates of poverty among the elderly as a result of the NZ Superannuation scheme. As a country, we have made the decision to support our elderly; we too can choose to invest in our children and begin to reverse the impacts of material deprivation.

How is child poverty measured in NZ?

The measurement and reporting of child poverty statistics was mandated by the Child Poverty Reduction Act 2018. There are two key ways that Stats NZ reports on child poverty to meet these requirements.

The first is material hardship, which captures the day-to-day living conditions of a household. Households are asked about the frequency with which they are going without food, clothing, accommodation, heating, transport, and/or other items that most people would regard as essential. There are 17 questions, such as whether people often go without fruit or vegetables, or whether they have two pairs of shoes in suitable condition. A household that has 6 or more things they go without because of cost (‘enforced lacks’) is considered to be in material hardship, and a household with 9 or more 'enforced lacks' is considered to be in severe material hardship.

The second key way child poverty is measured is through income measures. These compare a household’s income to the median (middle) income of New Zealanders. This income is equivalised (adjusted for household size), and is measured both before and after housing costs, as the cost of housing can significantly influence how much money people have. Stats NZ reports on the number of children living in households earning less than 60%, 50% and 40% of the median equivalised disposable income, both before and after housing costs.

While these are the official child poverty measures, there are many other indicators we use to assess how children are doing. Our Latest Statistics section highlights some of these, including Foodbank Data, Housing Register figures and the number of Hospitalisations. The Child Poverty Monitor reports on some of these indicators, providing a more comprehensive picture of how children in Aotearoa NZ are tracking.

You can read more about the official child poverty statistics and what they mean on our Latest Statistics page.

How many children live in poverty in NZ?

See our Latest Statistics page for up-to-date figures.

What are the realities of poverty for our children?

In Aotearoa, we all share in the hope that our children can pursue their goals and dreams. Distressingly in 2019/20 (pre-Covid) roughly 15 percent of children were living in the most severe income poverty. That is more people than were living in the country’s fifth largest city, Tauranga.

The realities of living in poverty for children may include poor health and wellbeing, inappropriate housing conditions, food insecurity, and poor educational outcomes.

Inadequate income relative to outgoing costs such as rent, utilities and transport can mean children lack the essentials they need, such as warm clothes, decent shoes, or power/heating for the home. Prolonged periods of having to make ends meet on an inadequate income can result in a toxic stress response, affecting children’s long-term health and development.

Children growing up in poverty are likely to experience food insecurity, as food is often the first expense to be cut back in times of economic hardship. The ability of families to secure enough food may be uncertain, and compromises may be made on how often they can eat, or what they can eat (e.g. trading off fresh food for cheaper, processed foods).

Children in poverty frequently face challenging home environments, for example through overcrowded living or in damp/mouldy housing. Renting can pose challenges in terms of stability and consistency, and children may move many times if their parents are renters, disrupting their ability to build connections at school and in their neighbourhood. Parents who are overloaded with juggling multiple low-waged jobs and trying to stretch a limited budget may have limited time and energy to spend with their children.

Why does child poverty exist in NZ?

Many of us like to think of Aotearoa as a place of fairness and equal opportunity. Yet despite being a comparatively wealthy nation, our resources are not distributed equitably.

Colonisation has laid the foundations for a fundamentally unequal society in Aotearoa. Māori have been (and continue to be) systematically disadvantaged through policies and practices that undermine the resource base of Māori, and privilege Pākehā ways of doing things. For instance, Māori whānau have faced land confiscations (with significant impacts for intergenerational wealth and wellbeing), and cultural marginalisation (where European culture is imposed and their language/cultural practices/education, health systems etc were prohibited). Such colonial policies and practices – of which there are many examples - have created significant inequities for Māori. Social inequities affect both the material resources people have, but also their relationship to power structures (such as government) and the control they have over their lives. We can see these ongoing inequities reflected in the overrepresentation of tamariki Māori in child poverty statistics today.

As well as these inequalities that have been present since Europeans arrived in Aotearoa, there have also been more recent policy decisions of successive governments that have resulted in significant increases in wealth inequality. In the 1980s, economic reforms resulted in widespread job losses in the manufacturing sector. Rising unemployment disproportionately affected Māori and Pacific people. Then, in 1991, more economic decision-making – this time, the ‘Mother of all Budgets’ - significantly cut income support rates for those not in paid work. Those who had lost work due to economic restructuring of the 1980s, and those for whom paid work isn’t appropriate (such as some sole parents, or people with disabilities), saw their incomes slashed by more than 20%. As a result, child poverty increased exponentially virtually overnight, as children in benefit-receiving households no longer had the resources they needed to participate in their communities. Despite small increases to benefit rates since then, politicians have not restored benefits to their 1991 levels even today.

Who is responsible for child poverty and how is it fixed?

Child poverty is not natural or inevitable. It exists in Aotearoa NZ in large part due to poor policy decisions. Consecutive governments have underinvested in families. Wages have not kept pace with housing costs over the past thirty years, and alongside this, those in government have not invested enough resources into services that support low-income families. For instance, public housing has been undervalued and sold off, and income support has not kept pace with the cost of living.

Parents can only support their children with the resources they have available to them. We need a robust safety net for those who can’t engage in full-time paid work – for instance due to illness or disability, childcare responsibilities, or a lack of suitable job vacancies – so that their children are supported no matter what. When household resources aren’t enough, families can find themselves in a constant state of lack, the stress of which has long-term implications for the wellbeing of both parents and children.

As New Zealanders, we all have a responsibility to use our voice to demand better policy decisions that support families who need it. Politicians are swayed by public opinion, so highlighting that we care about child poverty and want concrete action is important. We can do this by voting for political parties that prioritise the wellbeing of low-income children and families, writing to decision-makers to tell them these issues are important, and engaging in informed conversations with our friends and whānau.

What are CPAG's key policy recommendations?

With political will, child poverty could be solved in New Zealand. Ahead of the 2020 General Election, Child Poverty Action Group outlined its policy recommendations in the areas of income, housing and health to better inform voters and political parties about how incoming politicians could most effectively reduce child poverty. You can read our policy recommendations here.

What legal instruments exist to protect children from poverty?

New Zealand is a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNROC). The UNROC is an international human rights treaty that was adopted by the United Nations in 1989, and outlines universal standards for the treatment of children. This treaty explicitly gives those under 18 various rights including the right to the Government prioritising the best interests of children when making decisions that affect them, the right to grow up in a happy and loving environment, and the right to develop their personalities, abilities and talents. New Zealand must report on its UNROC progress every five years.

In 2018, the Child Poverty Reduction Act was established to ensure an ongoing commitment to reducing child poverty and promoting child wellbeing. This Act requires the government of the day to report on various child poverty targets and measures, and to report each Budget day on how the Budget will reduce child poverty. This Act helps to keep child poverty on the agenda and ensure that successive governments are held to account for the impact of their decisions on child poverty rates.

Child Poverty Action Group is member of the Children's Rights Alliance, a collective of individuals and non-government organisations committed to making children’s rights real in their daily lives here in Aotearoa. The Children's Rights Alliance leads reporting, from a civil society point of view, on how well the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is being implemented in Aotearoa New Zealand.

What is poverty?

Poverty is when people don’t have the things they need to live a healthy, happy life.

This includes basic things like food, running water and a warm, dry house.

It can also mean that people don’t have what they need to be a part of their community. This could mean not having the internet, shoes or proper clothing. They might not have a fridge, a car, or be able keep the power on at home or keep their phone connected.

This may mean that people living in poverty spend all their spare time and energy on working out how they will pay everyday bills, making sure they have enough money to pay for food or transport to get to the doctors, and worrying about going into debt to pay extra costs like fixing the car or going to the dentist.

What is the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)?

Child Poverty Action Group is made up of lots of people from around New Zealand who think that all children should have the things they need to survive and flourish. Flourishing means growing up healthy, happy, and have the chance to reach their potential. To do this, we do research, education and advocacy.

RESEARCH: We do studies to find out why children are in poverty in New Zealand. We also look at what happens to children and their families when they live in poverty. We also find out what things we can do to make sure no children are in poverty.

EDUCATE: We tell people what we know about poverty, and what changes need to be made to end child poverty.

ADVOCATE: We talk with the Government and people who make decisions about how New Zealand spends its money and how it treats people. We make suggestions about things they can change so that everyone in Aotearoa has the same chance in life no matter who their parents are, what area they live in, what colour their skin is and whether they have a disability or not.

What does poverty look like for children in New Zealand?

Children in poverty may miss out on things that every child should have. When a child lives in poverty they may not have a bed to sleep in or they might not have what they need to keep warm. When they go to school, they might not be able to:

• Bring lunch to school
• Wear the school uniform
• Wear shoes that fit or aren’t broken
• Bring a device to school
• Join a sports team or music group
• Go on outings and day trips.

They might:

• Not have internet at home to be able to keep up at school
• Live in a house with too many people
• Live in a house that is always cold or damp
• Not have enough fresh fruit, vegetables, meat or milk in the fridge
• Not be able to go to see the doctors when they are sick because their parents don’t have petrol or bus money to take them.

What does poverty feel like for children?

Poverty can make life very hard for children. Poverty can mean that children feel:

• Like they don’t fit in or are missing out
• Embarrassed
• Sad
• Worried about themselves or their family
• Like they don’t have the things they need to do their schoolwork
• Like they should drop out of school to get a job to support their family
• Cold and uncomfortable at home
• That their parent/s are always worried about money

How is child poverty measured?

Every year, Stats NZ, which is part of the Government, goes around and talks to people across New Zealand and asks them questions about what they spend their money on and if they have enough.

They measure poverty in two ways:

Disposable income: This is how much money a family has to spend. It asks how much money you have left over after you have paid rent or the mortgage on your house. This is then compared to other families of the same size in New Zealand.

Material hardship: This looks at how many things a family doesn’t have or avoids doing because they don’t have enough money. They ask questions like:

• do you go without fresh fruit or vegetables?
• do you put off going to the doctor because you don’t have enough money or can’t afford to get the bus there?
• can you pay electricity, gas, rates or water bills on time?

If you don’t have six or more things on the list because you do not have enough money to buy them, you are in material hardship.

You can find out more on the Stats NZ website (this link opens up in a new window).

How many children live in poverty in New Zealand?

Stats NZ is part of the Government and each year asks people around New Zealand if they have enough to live on. In 2021, Stats NZ found that:

187,300 children (one in every six) have families who do not have enough money to get what they need compared to other families, after they have paid their rent or mortgage.

125,700 children go without 6 or more things that people think are important to live. (This is called material hardship).

56,100 children go without 9 or more essential items a lot of the time. (This is called severe material hardship).

76,100 children are in the worst poverty. Their families don’t have enough money for their family once they have paid their rent or mortgage. They live in both material hardship and income poverty.

You can find out more on the Stats NZ website (This link opens in new window)

Why are children in poverty in New Zealand?

Before, there were not as many children in poverty in New Zealand. But in 1991, the Government decided to cut the amount of money it was giving to families who really needed it. This meant a lot more children were in poverty.

Some families cannot work or earn more money because they have a disability, they are sick, they do not have the right education, because people don’t want to give them a job, or they have young children or family to look after. This means they don’t always have the basics they need. It also means that they miss out on many things that are an important part of life, like being able to have a friend around for dinner, go to a birthday party, or play in a sports team.

Many families need extra support from the Government but the amount that they give is not enough and this means children are in poverty. The Government could choose to give families with children more money and/or let them keep more of the money they earn. The Government could also make sure all families know what the Government has promised them. This would help.

Which children are living in poverty?

Sadly, even though it is not their fault, some children are more likely to be in poverty than others.

Disabled children and children in households where someone is disabled, are twice as likely to be in poverty than children who are not.

While all children from all types of families live in poverty, Māori and Pacific children are more likely to live in poverty. 1 in 7 children live in poverty across the country, but the number is 1 out of every 5 Māori children and 1 out of every 4 Pacific children.

Children in Northland, Southland and Taranaki are more likely to be in poverty than children living in Canterbury, Otago and Wellington.

We need to do more to make sure that every child in New Zealand has the same chance to be happy, healthy and can live a good life.

You can find out more on the Stats NZ website. (This link opens in a new window).

Who is responsible for child poverty?

Everybody is.

We all need to tell the Government that we do not want child poverty in New Zealand.

Most parents are doing the best they can, but poverty can be very hard to get out of without help.

Some parents are not able to work because there are no jobs that fit around their children, they have an illness or disability, or they don’t have the skills they need for the jobs available. Trying to get an education to get those jobs is very difficult with children and often means they can’t work while they study.

The law says it is our Government’s responsibility to make sure all children have what they need no matter what house they grow up in.

What does the rest of the world say about child poverty in New Zealand?

The New Zealand Government signed a document with the rest of the world to say it would look after its children. It is called the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCROC) and every few years the United Nations asks the Government to write a report about how it is looking after children here. This is what is in the document and what the New Zealand Government must do for children.

Everyone under 18 years has the right to:

• life
• a name and nationality
• have their best interests considered when decisions are made about them
• be with their parents or those who will care for them best
• have a say about things that affect them and for adults to listen and take their opinions seriously
• have ideas, say what they think and get information they need
• meet with other children
• privacy
• protection of reputation
• protection from harm and abuse
• special care, education and training, if needed
• healthcare, enough food, a place to live and clean water
• an adequate standard of living for physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development
• education
• learn about and enjoy their own culture, speak their own language and practise their own religion
• rest and play
• not be hurt, neglected, used as a cheap worker or used as a soldier in war
• know about their rights and responsibilities.

When there is still poverty in New Zealand, it makes it hard for us to be able to do these things that we have promised like making sure all children have good healthcare, enough food, a dry, warm home, a good education, rest and play, and to live without neglect.

How can poverty affect children’s health and wellbeing?

Poverty affects children in many ways.

It can make children sick.

Families who live in poverty spend less on fruit, vegetables and essentials like milk. When you don’t eat healthy food, you are more likely to get sick.

Living in poverty, crowded houses, or eating poorly can make you more likely to get sick with some illnesses, like rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever mostly happens in children under 19 years old and can be very dangerous. It usually happens in countries with lots of poverty, but New Zealand has one of the highest rates of rheumatic fever of any wealthy country in the world.

They are twice as likely to end up in hospital than children who aren’t in poverty.

Many children in poverty live in cold, damp and mouldy homes that can make them sick. Some are also living in housing with too many people.

The Child Poverty Monitor showed that 189,000 children missed out on healthcare when they needed it in 2018/19. Poverty can mean children are more at risk because they aren’t able to get to a different doctor for help when their local doctor can’t see them.

It can make learning hard.

Children living in poverty may be living in in crowded homes with too many people, which can disrupt their sleep. This can make it hard to focus in class.

Skipping meals because your parents don’t have enough money for food can also make it difficult to focus in class.

Living in poverty can mean you don’t have access to a phone/laptop/tablet or internet, making it hard to complete homework or do online learning like other students can.

Older kids might need to work a job as well as attending school to earn money for their family so that they can pay for housing, bills and food. This can make it difficult to fully focus at school and do all the learning outside of class that you need to.

It can make children feel stressed.

Children who live in poverty are more likely to grow up to have mental health problems like depression and anxiety. Ending child poverty can help prevent mental illnesses.

The stress that poverty causes mums and dads can affect how they parent their children. This can mean that kids live with a lot of stress too – sometimes they even live with neglect and violence.

Children in poverty can live with worry and sadness. Their parents can be stressed a lot of the time. This means they don’t get the chance to be happy and carefree like children should be. They are more likely to grow up to have mental health problems.

Poverty causes many reasons that can make things hard for whanau to protect and care for their children. This means a lot of children end up in hospital from being assaulted, neglected or treated badly.

Is child poverty getting better or worse in New Zealand?

There are some signs that child poverty is getting a bit better but far too many children are still in poverty.

The Government has started counting the number of children in poverty and has set goals to try and make this number smaller over the next few years. But the goal is quite small and even if they meet it, there will be too many children still in poverty.

COVID-19 has also made it hard for some families as many people lost their jobs or cannot work as much as they want to. This means the Government needs to work even harder to make sure that each year more and more children are lifted out of poverty.

How is child poverty fixed?

Because the reasons behind poverty are man-made, ending child poverty is also up to people. The people in government will need to be brave and make sure all families have what they need, because it is the right thing to do.

Why does the Child Poverty Action Group focus on children?

Out of all the different groups of people in New Zealand, children are the group most likely to be in poverty.

Poverty affects children differently to adults:

• because they are young, they cannot always have a say in decisions that affect their lives
• because they are still growing and learning, they need good food to help their brains and bodies develop
• because their bodies are still growing, children are more like to get certain types of sicknesses than adults when they live in cold, damp housing.

It is the law that we protect children and make sure they have what they need.

Our country does a great job at making sure most people over 65 years have enough money to live. We need to make sure that children also have enough.

How can I help children in poverty?

There are many ways that you can help children in poverty.

One of the most important things that you can do is to tell people about the problem and why you believe that no children should have to live in poverty. We need to show the people who make decisions about how New Zealand spends its money and how we treat people (like people in government) that it’s not OK for any child to live in poverty.

For ideas of how to help, visit Other Ways to Make a Difference.