October 27, 2005

One-Parent Families To Reach Quarter Million Mark

Projections released by Statistics New Zealand today show that one- parent families with children will number over 250,000 by 2021, according to Lindsay Mitchell, petitioner for a Parliamentary review of the DPB.

"This represents 37 percent of all families with children, compared to 31 percent in 2001."

"One-parent families have, on average, the lowest weekly incomes in New Zealand. These projections confirm that more children are going to grow up in relative poverty and without fathers."

"By continuing to subsidise sole parenthood the government is actively encouraging this negative trend."

Two-parent families with children; 2001 445,800 2021 426,600

One-parent families with children; 2001 198,400 2021 254,000

Lindsay Mitchell petitioner for a Parliamentary Review of the DPB