Bullying, poverty and natural disasters distressing Kiwi kids

Most Kiwi kids reckon the world would be a better place if world leaders listened to them. Photo / Supplied

Bullying is the biggest thing keeping Kiwi kids awake at night.

An alarming 93 per cent of New Zealand children worry about bullying, 89 per cent stress about poverty and 86 per cent are concerned about violence against children, according to a new survey released by Unicef to coincide with World Children's Day today.

The global survey, which asked kids about issues that were important to them, also found that 69 per cent of Kiwi kids worried about natural disasters personally affecting them, 62 per cent about mistreatment or bullying, and 53 per cent about threats to nature.

The 9-to-18-year-olds also thought the world would be a better place if world leaders listened to them, but more than half said they didn't.

They felt their opinions were dismissed most by world leaders and the Government, but most appreciated by family, friends and then teachers.

Unicef NZ executive director Vivien Maidaborn said it would be amazing if young people did not have to feel concerned for their safety and wellbeing and if they felt they were being listened to.

"If our young people are telling us that they don't feel listened to, then we need to start listening."

But when it comes to who kids most wanted to have at their birthday parties - international singers are the most popular, with the exception of former US president Barack Obama, who was only slightly behind Justin Bieber.

More than half of the children use laptops and smartphones and Kiwi kids were also plugged into technology with 73 per cent frequently using social media and 83 per cent watching TV.

Unicef commissioned research company Kantar and its data insights agency Lightspeed to poll more than 11,000 children based in 14 different countries, including New Zealand.