Latest from Poverty

'I can barely live Tuesday to Tuesday'

A third of people in need of food parcels this Christmas are new, showing a "reflection of the child poverty stats".

'Born poor' needn't be life sentence

The goal of a positive start for every child is achievable if we recognise its importance, support it, set our minds to it, writes Graeme MacCormick.

Diane Robertson: Poverty only grows despite charities' best efforts

Again this year, I can say we are seeing the longest queues the City Mission has ever seen and that we will hand out the highest number of food parcels given to families, writes Dianne Robertson.

Sue Bradford: Hashtags and selfies no substitute for child poverty action

The child poverty crisis in Aotearoa is serious, writes Sue Bradford. No nice words or fancy messaging can alter the fact that until power is confronted and very different jobs, welfare and housing policies set in place, nothing will change.

Dr Russell Wills: Child poverty recommendations need to be acted on

When money is tight, we may need to make trade-offs to make this investment in our children and our future, writes Dr Russell Wills. What are we prepared to give up, so that Govt can prioritise children?

Editorial: Child poverty needs more direct action

The latest report tells us 29 per cent of children lived in poverty in 2014, up from 24 per cent the previous year. About 14 per cent live in material hardship, lacking several of the items most New Zealanders would consider essential.

One in three Kiwi children 'living in poverty'

The number of NZ children living in households earning below 60 per cent of the median household income has almost doubled.

Richard McLachlan: Faces of wage inequality around the world

There is a growing impetus in some countries to consider providing everyone with a fixed sum of money that would help address basic needs such as food and housing, writes Richard McLachlan.

Moira Lawler: Finding better ways to help troubled families

The CYF review panel recommends a child-centred system, "where the voices and needs of children and young people are at the forefront of everything the agency does".

Global extreme poverty poised to hit record low

The number of people living in extreme poverty is set to fall to the lowest on record, according to the World Bank.

Murray Sheard: Lofty goals for global development

Our week below the breadline

Some Kiwis have been living on $2.25 of food and drink a day this week to experience Third World poverty. Andrew Laxon decided to join them.

Richard Wagstaff: Private interests won't help vulnerable kids

The idea of Serco being responsible for a pipeline guiding children through their lives from cradle to grave - from CYF to prison - sounds like something from a dystopian novel, writes Richard Wagstaff.

Sam Judd: Feed the kids

It is extremely difficult to improve peoples' behaviour towards the environment, when their basic needs are not being met, writes Sam Judd.

Michael Timmins: Children at the heart of better policy

The Government's 2015 Budget had at its centerpiece a push towards "compassionate conservatism", writes Michael Timmins. While more compassion is indeed welcome, the end result is mere tokenism.

A child abuse solution beyond CYF

Fixing child abuse and neglect is all about building relationships with families in need, social workers say.