Concern over child poverty is growing

TOP YEAR: Children's Commissioner and 2014 Hawke's Bay Today Person of the Year Dr Russell Wills reflects on a successful year tackling child poverty in New Zealand. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

It's been a busy year for Dr Russell Wills and now all he wants is to relax on the golden Mahia sands with his family and stand up on a surfboard.

The Children's Commissioner and 2014 Hawke's Bay Today Person of the Year said he has had a "terrific year" and was overwhelmed at the widespread political and public support he received after issuing the latest child poverty statistics.

Dr Wills released his annual Child Poverty Monitor this month which showed that 29 per cent of children now live in households earning below 60 per cent of the median income after allowing for housing costs.

He said while the number of children living in poverty is growing, so is the level of public concern.

Dr Wills has started a new social media campaign to promote actions tackling child poverty.

The hashtag #itsnotchoice, hitting back at a common belief once expressed by Prime Minister John Key that "anyone on a benefit actually has a lifestyle choice", was trending on Twitter the day after the report was released.

"I'm incredibly proud," I think this shows that we are a country that loves its children and believes that all children should have a fair go."

The Hawke's Bay Hospital paediatrician said he and his team have made some great strides this year.

"Although the medical and social complexity of children continues to increase our relationships with police, health and education services continues to grow, we now have a far more collaborative approach.".

In the new year Dr Wills will be busy working on his child poverty action plan.

"We will work across governments on measures to reduce child poverty.

He also wants to work with businesses as he sees plenty of opportunity to combine business and philanthropy.

He said Countdown now have free fruit for children and contribute $3.5 million of product into foodbanks nationally.

"A lot of businesses do it not for the marketing, but simply because it's the right thing to do."

On the rare occasion Dr Wills gets some spare time he spends it doing a spot of gardening.

"I planted another 300 trees this year, the small native forest out the back of our place continues to grow."

He will spend Christmas with his wider family in Waimarama before he and the family head off on their annual pilgrimage to Mahia.

"We fish, we camp, go for bush walks, play with the children and eat good food, it's great."