Child Poverty Monitor 2014

Abstract

This Report provides data and technical information on child poverty measures, economic indicators, and child health measures. It builds on the information previously reported in the Children’s Social Health Monitor, thereby providing consistently in these measures.

The child poverty measures in this report examine aspects of income poverty, material hardship, and severity and persistence of child poverty. For these measures, we rely heavily on data available in the Ministry of Social Development report Household Incomes in New Zealand: Trends in Indicators of Inequality and Hardship 1982 to 2013.

Data are also provided on a few indicators that have economic implications for child poverty: income inequality, unemployment, GDP and reliance on benefits. A new set of measures included in this Technical Report relates to housing. Household crowding and housing costs are highly relevant to child poverty. Data for these indicators have been drawn from the 2001, 2006 and 2013 Censuses and Household Incomes in New Zealand: Trends in Indicators of Inequality and Hardship 1982 to 2013.

The health and wellbeing indicators look at hospital admissions and deaths from conditions associated with child poverty, including some infectious and respiratory diseases and injuries; the assault, neglect and maltreatment of children; and infant mortality. For each indicator, there are large disparities for children related to socioeconomic status and ethnicity. Monitoring these health indicators is entirely appropriate, as they are the early signs of the consequences of children living in poverty. Over time, we will look to include additional indicators of child poverty, related to issues such as education, social inclusion, disability and quality of life.