3 May 2016

Event reveals the challenges of inner-city parenting

Auckland City Library is this week hosting a display that showcases the findings from a study of parents raising young children in the CBD.

The CBD Project – Experiences of parents living in inner-city Auckland focused on 22 parents of under-fives who are living within the square kilometre inside the motorway belt, and was sponsored by Plunket and S.K.I.P (Strategies for kids – Information for Parents).

The study, which involved six collaborating community agencies and several support agencies that work with inner-city families, is the first phase of multi-agency work to explore options, generate ideas, and engage more closely with parents in solutions for their community, Plunket project manager Jacqui Arnold says.

“The families in the study faced difficulties in areas such as immigration, housing, finances, personal relationships, transport and study – adding to an already demanding situation of having a new baby and raising a family.

“Some said living in the city can be difficult with issues such as small apartments, safety, and few warm and dry public places for parents to connect. Parents who felt more comfortable living in the city enjoyed the convenience of having everything on their doorstep, including parks and places to walk.”

There are 828 children aged under five who are registered with Plunket and living in central Auckland (postcode 1010). Of recent births, 46 percent were to Asian families, 17 percent to Indian families and 16 percent to European families.

“The parents in the study included migrants from Thailand, the United Kingdom, Russia, Pakistan, India, Hong Kong and China,” Ms Arnold says. “All had one thing in common - little or no family support.

“This research shows us just how easy it is for people unfamiliar with our systems to become isolated and disconnected from their local community.  It has provided us and other agencies with very useful insights, and we will use the information to better support families in metro areas.”

As a result of the research, a mother who was part of the study has started a Meetup group that provides an online resource for parents to connect and find out what is happening within the city.

The CBD Project – Experiences of parents living in inner city Auckland runs until Saturday 7 May at Auckland City Library. For more information: http://www.plunket.org.nz/news-and-research/research-from-plunket/experiences-of-parents-living-in-inner-city-auckland/

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