14 February 2007

Children’s Commissioner says child well-being report debate important

The seventh Innocenti Report Card: Child poverty in perspective: An overview of child well-being in rich countries released today by UNICEF provides some valuable insight into how well children are doing in OECD nations including New Zealand says Children’s Commissioner, Dr Cindy Kiro.

The report card compares child well being in material well-being, health and safety, education, peer and family relationships, behaviours and risks, and young people’s own subjective sense of well-being.

Dr Kiro says the report card contains information that is valuable for the debate around the direction of this country and the development of child-centred policies that get it right for New Zealand’s children and young people but this information should be viewed in context and with perspective.

“The New Zealand data is varied, incomplete and some of it is outdated. Much of the data in other countries was collected from the World Health Organisation’s survey of Health Behaviour in School Age Children. New Zealand is not part of this survey and this makes comparisons more difficult. In addition, the data is aggregated and does not highlight what is happening in different groups e.g. Maori and Pasifika children. This data would provide a clearer picture as to why these results had occurred. ”

“There are some conclusions that can be reached from this report. We do very badly on childhood injuries and preventable deaths and illness. We also do badly on child poverty although these figures are from 2001 and therefore somewhat outdated. They also use the percentage of children living in homes with equivalent incomes below 50% of the national median whereas it is more common to use a 60% indicator. On the positive side, we do well in educational achievement.”

“We need to look to develop a sound policy basis that increases the chances that children will have what they need across the political spectrum and that their families will have the support to ensure that they can provide that.”

“Having good information about children is important to inform those polices. My Office is currently working on a report card for New Zealand children that will measure the performance of New Zealand in respect of poverty, violence towards children and child rights.”

“Access to good health care is a major issue for New Zealand children. In 2006, My Office published a report entitled More than an apple a day: Children’s right to good health that listed a number of concerns around children’s health and evidence that children and young people were often unable to access appropriate and affordable health services. The report contained a number of recommendation to address this including greater co-operation and co-ordination of strategies and actions between those whose work affects children’s health.”

“I have also proposed the development and implementation of Te Ara Tukutuku Nga Whanaungatanga o Nga Tamariki: Weaving Pathways to Wellbeing which is a 10-year long-term vision for the wellbeing of children in New Zealand. It calls for the establishment of an integrated framework for children and their families. This would provide a systematic approach to monitoring the development of every child and young person in New Zealand through co-ordinated planned assessment at key life stages and supporting families to make sure children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. The assessments would take into account the whole child: their physical, social, educational, emotional, and psychological development. The framework would build on current universal health, education and social development services provided to all children and young people in New Zealand and co-ordination between these agencies.”

“This report provides a snapshot for international comparison, and identifies areas where we do well and can do much better. It is a timely reminder of how vital a cohesive framework for addressing child well being is for New Zealand,” said Dr Kiro.

For further information:

www.occ.org.nz

ENDS

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