Relative poverty and material deprivation

Gabriela Mistral (n.d) writes “ Many things we need can wait.  The child cannot.  Now is the time his bones are being formed; his blood is being made; his mind is being developed.  To him we cannot say tomorrow.  His name is today”

(www.enviroschools.co.nz, n.d).   

Of the approximately 270,000 New Zealand children that live in poverty and experience some form of material deprivation, 51%  are Pasifika children.  For Maori, more than half of the families that live in poverty also experience this deprivation and rely on a regular benefit income (Freeth, 2013).  Child poverty has become a real social issue that is costing the country billions of dollars every year. The 2007 median households income measure shows that between 2007 and 2011, the child poverty rate for New Zealand stayed at 22% (Johnson, 2013).

Many factors need to be considered in the cause of these appalling statistics.  Since the 1980’s income inequality has grown in New Zealand more than in any other OECD nation (www.enviroschools, n.d).  The causes of child poverty in any country are indeed complex and cannot be correlated with one particular thing.

The Salvation Army published a report this year that found a 0.5% increase in unemployment.  The cost of living and number of food parcels distributed has also increased by 1.1% (Johnson, 2013).  This reflects a society that is struggling in the current economic climate. 

As no formal measure of child poverty exisits, instead a commonly used measure is household income at 60% of the national median.  Data from the Household Economic Survey in 2011 indicates a strong relationship between children in single and two parent homes both experiencing relative poverty.  The survey shows 56% of children living in single parent homes and 13% of children living in a two parent home, who receive a market income, are affected by relative poverty and material deprivation.  Interestingly this survey also shows that 8% of children with both parents working are experience relative poverty (Johnson, 2013).  The same survey shows that over 21% of our children live in families that are dependant on benefit incomes, while over 17% of our children live in families who are unemployed.  These figures are much the same over the last five years, with these children remaining “most at risk of material hardship as a consequence of the employment status of their parents and current welfare policy settings” (Johnson, 2013).

 Consequences for children living in poverty are often multi faceted and have a serious impact on their health and wellbeing.   This can often be seen through social impairment and behavioural disorders (Baker, 2012). The Ministry of Social Development’s annual report last year, states that for those children living in poverty, deprivation could include “having to wear worn out shoes or clothing, sharing a bed or bedroom, cutting back on fresh fruit and vegetables and postponing doctors visits” (The Children’s Social Health Monitor, 2012) due to the costs.  Baker (2012) also writes that it is common for children living in low-income families to experience more than twice the rate of severe illness and disabilities in comparison with children living in families on higher incomes.   Missing out on seemingly basic things such as these may seem unimportant and ridiculous to some, but the effects of these basic hardships are great and ongoing.  When considering evidence such as this, it is no wonder that poverty can also be linked to low educational success, high unemployment rates and poor health and nutrition.   

Paula Bennett, Minister of Social Development, published The White paper for vunerable children in October 2012.  It was written to protect vunerable children and proposes to have implemented a Vunerable Children’s Bill by the end of 2013.  Bennett (2012, p.1) writes that “protecting vulnerable children is everyone’s responsibility”.  She urges the country to work together to improve outcomes for these children.  This paper was preceded by The Green paper for vunerable children, which includes submissions and advice from experts in health, education and justice.  Evidence of international best practice was also considered.  Overall, The White paper for vunerable children hopes to create accountability and most of all protection for all children at risk.  Perhaps the result of the changes to be made to relevant policies and practices will increase the levels of successful living for our children and their families.