According to the Children's Commissioner in 2006/07 there were 22 percent of our countries children living in poverty. Many of these children are born into poverty stricken areas of society, where culture and economic levels are proven to be amoung many highly influencing factors.
Dictionary.com defines poverty as "the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor" (2013). To be born with this "condition" can have life long implications;such as a higher risk of poor health and educational outcomes, unemployment and links to criminal activity (The Children's Social Health Monitor New Zealand 2013). A treasury report in 2012 states that measures of poverty combine the concepts of " inequality and hardship". These concepts compare those that experience a low level of wellbeing with those that are "constrained" from experiencing a decent level of wellbeing (Treasury Report, 2013). How are children expected to achieve accomplishment and success in their lives if they are first conditioned and constrained to such extremes? Living in poverty ensures unfair access to basic needs, such as clothing, food and shelter for children. It also gives them an unfair disadvantage in education, social skills and later in life employment opportunities.
Why are these children living this way? Is it because parents are incompetent and uncapable of providing the basic needs for their children? Or is it due to unfair and inadequate government policies that determine unequitable access and distribution of basic services and needs in society? Perhaps it is time goverment officals re-examined the quality and provison of such needs, like housing, healthcare, education and employment; or the reformation of current Working for families benefits. Such action could enable those living in financial hardship to experience a decent level of wellbeing.
The Children's commissioner appointed an action group to closely examine child poverty in New Zealand. The groups findings,Solutions to child poverty in New Zealand: evidence for action were published in 2012. They state that "no child should experience severe and persistent poverty, least of all in a land of relative abundance. Child poverty imposes costs on the children involved and on our society". If child poverty already imposes on the lives of New Zealand society, would it not be both common sense, and decency to do something positive to rid ourselves of this social tragedy?
Hi Carol, I am really interested in others veiws of child poverty because of the hardship that I have seen families experience in Hawkes Bay. I have heard various personal opinions disputing that child poverty exists in NZ and in my opinion it does!In my previous life (before I had my youngest two children) I worked for a NGO as a family support worker for eight years and have seen first hand the effects of poverty. It is heartbreaking to see children suffer in that way and I am hopeful of the work that the Children's Commissioner is heralding. When I looked through the report 'Solutions to Child Poverty' that you mentioned in your blog I noticed that it identifies the importance of investment in Early Childhood Education as a potential solution to child poverty. The current commissioner Russell Wills is entering into his second year of a five year term, which leaves me feeling hopeful that his leadership in the child poverty area will remain strong. I am looking forward to reading more of your blogs.
ReplyDeleteYou might be interested to know that the Children's Commissioner is speaking at a public forum on child poverty in New Zealand held at the Napier Municipal Theatre on the 10th April 7pm, gold coin donation.
ReplyDeleteHi Carol,
ReplyDeleteIt would be useful to hear what he has to say - sadly I am in Christchurch else I would be going. This is an academic blog - so watch the use of emotive language. I also feel you need to draw on statistics and increase the research based evidence. The causes of poverty are complex and I think your blog needs to reflect this. You need to look at the Vulnerable Childrens Report. The Salvation Army also put out an excellent report. You have not really placed your issue in its historical context. For example what has been the impact of neo-liberalism on the gap between rich and poor in this country?
Cheryl
Carol this is a very topical subject, many people have varying perspectives about poverty, some think poverty doesn't exist at all in New Zealand, whereas others believe poverty is in fact an issue in New Zealand. I would be interested to know how the children's commissioner's action group define 'severe and persistent' poverty. For example, would it be a child who is clothed well who turns up to school without lunch three of four days a week? Or a child who has no lunch each day, minimal clothing and lack of warmth in the home over winter? I wonder how this is classed... Or are there different levels of poverty? Interesting read though, I look forwards to reading more.
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