D grade is warning that time for action on child poverty is now

The Salvation Army’s ‘D’ grade for the Government’s lack of progress on child poverty must be seen as the final warning and that the time to act is now, the Green Party said today.

“A ‘D’ for child poverty is a failure for our kids, there is no other way to read it,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

“How many more reports cataloguing its failure to address child poverty does the National Government need before it will step outside of its denial politics and do something about it?

“This must be the last alarm bell that gets the Government moving on child poverty.

“The time for action is now.

“The Salvation Army, in its State of the Nation report, says that, despite the growing concern of New Zealanders, little has been achieved in reducing the rates of child poverty and improving housing.

“It calls these problems a ticking time-bomb that will ultimately harm the future of all New Zealanders.

“The report shows that while some indicators are improving for our kids, others are getting worse and that child poverty remains basically unchanged. More children are relying on food banks to survive and more kids are suffering violence and abuse.

“Inequality will be the defining issue this election, and the National Government is being shown up for failing to even recognise that it is a problem.

“It was Government decisions that caused poverty to double over the past 30 years, and Government action is required to restore the balance for our kids.

“The Green Party will establish legislation to eradicate child poverty, and make ministers accountable for making real progress against real targets.

“A ‘D’ grade is nowhere near good enough for our children. We can and we must make children the absolute priority and make Aotearoa New Zealand the best place in the world to grow up for all our children,” Mrs Turei said.

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