NZ fares poorly in child report

New Zealand is spending considerably less on child welfare than other OECD countries, a report from the organisation says.

The report, Doing Better for Children, was the first time the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development had reported on the wellbeing of children in its 30 member countries.

It identified New Zealand's biggest shortfall as its limited spending on children under the age of 5, which it said was less than half the average among OECD nations.

New Zealand was also struggling in dealing with child health.

It had the highest youth suicide rate in the OECD and an above-average child mortality rate.

Children lived in poor conditions, average family incomes were low by OECD standards and child poverty rates were high.

New Zealand children had high rates of educational achievement, but the gap between top and bottom performers was large.

Immunisation rates for measles were the second-worst in the OECD, and for whooping cough, the fifth-worst.

The report said the Government should be spending considerably more than it does on younger, disadvantaged children.

It should also make sure higher rates of spending on older children met the needs of the disadvantaged.

France, Germany, Britain and Belgium spent the most on children; Switzerland, Ireland, Australia and Italy spent the least.

Despite spending more than the OECD average on children, the United States and Britain had high teenage pregnancy rates.

The US was among the worst countries in terms of infant mortality and child poverty.

A comparison of underage drinking rates showed Britain was the worst in the OECD.

OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria acknowledged that the world financial downturn had squeezed budgets of governments around the world.

"But any short-term savings on spending on children's education and health would have major long-term costs for society," he warned.

- NZPA