Have your say on the Child Poverty Reduction Bill

The Social Services and Community Committee is seeking submissions on the Child Poverty Reduction Bill. The bill aims to reduce child poverty and improve the overall wellbeing of children.

The purpose of the bill is to:
• encourage governments and society to focus on reducing child poverty
• hold governments to account against published targets
• require transparent reporting about levels of child poverty.

To achieve its purpose the bill would specify child poverty measures and ensure agencies work together to improve the wellbeing of children. It would also require:
• specific child poverty targets to be set
• reports about child poverty to be produced and published independently of Ministers
• the Government of the day to adopt, publish, and review a Government strategy for improving the wellbeing of all children, with a particular focus on child poverty and the needs of children at greater risk.

Social Services and Community Committee chair Gareth Hughes says the aim is to take significant, substantial, and sustained action to reduce child poverty and hardship in New Zealand.

“Children growing up poverty is one of the most important issues facing New Zealand and all Kiwi kids deserve the best start in life. I urge New Zealanders to have their say on this bill that will ensure present and future governments focus on reducing child poverty.”
Tell the Social Services and Community Committee what you think
Send your submission on the bill by midnight on 4 April 2018.
For more details about the bill:
• Read the full contents of the bill
• Get more details about the bill
ENDS

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