26 May 2016

Budget investment in vulnerable children in line with Save the Children’s 2030 ambitions

Budget 2016 aligns well with Save the Children’s ambition around three areas: to reduce the number of children who die from preventable causes; get more children into school; and help children achieve their rights.

“There is a significant amount of Budget 2016 allocated to specific areas where Save the Children aims to make dramatic progress by 2030: children’s health, education, and child rights,” says Chief Executive Heather Hayden.

“Children are extremely susceptible to illness in a cold and damp home. The Warm
up New Zealand programme to insulate rental houses will help low-income families
provide warmer, safer homes for their children. The same goes for the Healthy

Homes initiative, which helps to reduce preventable illnesses among young children due to cold, damp and unhealthy homes.”

“The investment in schools means children at-risk of not getting the best out of
school will have a better chance at staying in school. An education greatly increases their choices later in life,” says Hayden. Save the Children also notes the additional investment in early childhood education, children with special needs, and new schools and classrooms.

“The budget set aside for the reform of services and support for vulnerable children and young people means more New Zealand children will grow up in stable families and communities. Stability means their rights as children are respected and their voices heard,” says Hayden.

However, she notes that there is an area that has been left out of the budget. “While we are pleased with other areas in the budget we hoped to see a similar investment in children to minimise the impact of child poverty.”

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