The Child Wellbeing Poverty Reduction Group (CWPRG) has now moved to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). Information about the CWPRG and its work is available on the MSD website.
If you need to contact the CWPRG you can also reach them via email at: [email protected]
The Government is committed to reducing child poverty and improving the wellbeing of all children and young people.
Why it matters
New Zealand should be a place where all children and young people are loved, confident, happy and healthy, and are empowered to reach their full potential.
While most of our children and young people enjoy relatively high living standards, this isn’t the case for a significant proportion of them.
Too many children and young people live in families where it’s a struggle to meet every day needs and do things that others take for granted.
Evidence shows that the experience of poverty, especially when that experience is severe and persistent, adds a burden of stress on families and can have a negative impact on the lives of children. It can negatively affect children’s development and health, and can reduce their educational and life opportunities. The harmful effects can last into adulthood and impact on society as a whole.
Improving the material wellbeing of households affected by poverty will have significant impact on their overall wellbeing and help unleash the skills and capabilities of our children, young people and their whānau.
Find out more about levels of child poverty in New Zealand
Child Poverty Reduction and Wellbeing Legislation
Legislation, introduced by the former Prime Minister, Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, who was also the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction, aims to help achieve a significant and sustained reduction in child poverty and to improve the wellbeing of children and young people in New Zealand.
The legislation, passed in December 2018 with near unanimous support, establishes an ongoing level of political accountability that we’ve never had before. It is a key lever in ensuring policy momentum endures through successive governments.
Find out more about the legislation, including information releases
Child poverty measures, targets and indicators
The Child Poverty Reduction Act requires current and future Governments to set three year and ten-year targets for reducing child poverty.
The Child Poverty Reduction Act requires current and future Governments to set three year and ten-year targets for reducing child poverty. It also establishes a suite of measures that will track progress on reducing child poverty, and requires annual reporting on identified child poverty related indicators.
Regular reporting requirements provide a high level of transparency and accountability.
Who we are
The Minister for Child Poverty Reduction is the lead Minister for this work.
The work is being led by the Child Wellbeing and Poverty Reduction Group, which sits within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. TThe group's role includes:
- embedding the child wellbeing and poverty reduction legislative framework (including the Strategy) positioning it to effect positive change for children and young people
- supporting the system to focus on the things most likely to make a positive difference to child and youth wellbeing and child poverty reduction
- influencing change and driving action across the system to advance the Government’s child and youth wellbeing and child poverty reduction objectives.
Find out more about the Child Wellbeing and Poverty Reduction Group.