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Risk That Child Poverty Is Becoming Ingrained
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, the Catholic Bishops' agency for justice, peace and development, is concerned that the latestchild poverty numbers show that there has been anincrease in material hardship,with 4100 more children living in homes that are without fresh fruit or vegetables, putting off a visit to the doctor, or not being able to pay bills on time.
The housing shortage
continues to create barriers for families trying to overcome
poverty. The just released Statistics NZ survey* shows that
after housing costs are taken into account, the percentage
of children living in poverty is 21 percent – down two
percent to about one in five children.
"There is
still a huge amount to be done before we are even close to
providing an opportunity for all New Zealand children to
flourish," says Caritas Director Julianne
Hickey.
The figures also showed that almost one in
four Māori children were living in households facing
material hardship - about 23 percent. That figure was higher
for Pacific children at close to 29 percent. That compared
to about one in 10 for New Zealand European
children.
"The fact that so many Māori and
Pacific children face material hardship should be a real
cause for concern and for action among political leaders.
Active participation of tangata whenua will be imperative in
designing effective solutions. Such solutions will be key in
overcoming what are becoming ingrained hardships," says Mrs
Hickey.
"New Zealanders have long held a vision of
an egalitarian society where anyone could succeed. That
vision is being eclipsed by unaffordable costs for housing,
food and healthcare. Māori and Pacific children are not
being treated justly if they do not have fair access to the
necessities of life. We are at risk of creating deeply
ingrained social problems that will blight the futures of so
many children and could undermine both the common good and
social cohesion," says Mrs Hickey.
* Thesurvey was taken between July 2018 and June 2019, and people were asked to providetheir income level for the year prior, meaning the impact of the July 2018 Families Package will not be visible in the numbers for up to 18 months.
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