23 July 2026 Media Releases
New Zealand’s children can’t keep waiting, urgent action on child poverty reduction needed now
The Children’s Commissioner says a new report released today provides a detailed picture of the 170,000 children living in poverty, and is a stark reminder that New Zealand is failing to uphold the basic rights of too many children.
Dr Claire Achmad says the latest data and analysis, compiled in Child Poverty in New Zealand by Bryan Perry for MSD, shines more light on a national shame and should be a wake-up call for leaders across the country, especially those in Parliament and seeking to enter it this year.
“This report lays bare that New Zealand is moving backwards on child poverty. Material hardship has risen since 2022, meaning more children are going without the essentials they need to learn, grow and thrive,” says Dr Achmad.
“This is not simply about having less than others. Material hardship means children are missing out on things that all children should have. It is the experience of being excluded from the minimum acceptable standard of living, because families do not have enough resources.
“The data is clear. More children are being pushed into poverty and hardship, and that means the Government is failing to meet its responsibility to protect their most basic rights.”
The report also highlights the disproportionate impact of poverty on disabled households.
“Almost 60% of children experiencing material hardship live in households with at least one disabled person. Of children facing even more severe material hardship, two-thirds come from these households.
“These figures reflect the significant barriers and pressures many disabled people and their families face. Any serious plan to reduce child poverty must recognise and respond to those realities.”
Dr Achmad says it is essential not to lose sight of what poverty means in children’s everyday lives. “Poverty feels like hunger. It means living in a cold home, missing out on school trips and sport, or ending up in hospital with preventable illnesses linked to poor living conditions that can impact them for a lifetime, or even cause death.
“Poverty also means being shut out of opportunities and experiences that help children learn, develop and feel they belong. Instead of enjoying the possibilities of childhood, too many children are focused on simply getting through each day.”
New Zealanders should be concerned not only about the hardship children are experiencing today, but also about the lifelong consequences.
“We know that growing up in poverty can have lasting impacts on health, education, wellbeing and future opportunities. These costs are carried not only by children and families, but by all of us.”
The Commissioner says urgent action is needed and points to her open letter sent earlier this week to all party leaders, calling for a renewed commitment to children and a comprehensive plan to reduce poverty.
“Children cannot wait for the economy to improve. Poverty is harming childhoods right now. Every year we delay meaningful action is another year that tens of thousands of children miss out on opportunities many others take for granted.
“Today’s report reinforces why every party leader should commit to a Child Poverty Accord and a sustained, cross-party plan to reduce poverty.
“I encourage New Zealanders to think carefully about the hardship that so many children in our communities are experiencing, and to ask their local MP what their plan is to address it this coming election. Every child has the right to an adequate standard of living. That is a fundamental foundation of childhood, and political leaders should be able to explain what they are doing to make it a reality.
“We cannot build a prosperous future while leaving 170,000 children behind. Ending child poverty must become a national priority and a shared commitment across Parliament.
“If leaders across our Parliament take the time to read this report, the conclusion is unavoidable: we cannot keep failing children in this way. New Zealand will not move forward while so many of our children are left behind.”
Media contact:
Melissa Wastney
029 909 2715