> download Submission for Support for Children in Hardship Bill. (PDF, 440KB)
Child poverty in New Zealand is at unacceptable levels and there has been no concerted effort to reduce it by successive Governments. The Salvation Army State of The Nation reports evidence that there has been no improvement in the area of child poverty.
We submit that In order to boldly address the issue of child poverty in New Zealand there needs to be brave, purposeful and significant intervention by Government. All legislation and policy that is considered by Government and Government Departments should consider the effect that the proposed policy and legislation has on child poverty and families in hardship. We refer the committee to the excellent work of the Children’s Commissioner’s expert task group on child poverty and the recommendations they laid down for New Zealand.
We submit that the proposed Supporting Children in Hardship Bill is not an intervention that is effective in the reduction of child poverty in New Zealand. The Salvation Army cannot be fully supportive of the proposed Bill.