Save the Children New Zealand are delighted to see that the Government’s Child Poverty Reduction Bill has received unanimous support from the Social Service and Community Select Committee, and has cross party support including the National Party.
SCNZ Child Rights Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey said, “We are pleased that the Bill has cross Government support. We would like to congratulate the Government on their commitment to lifting children out of poverty and ensuring children are a priority in our country.
Save the Children’s submission was one of the 632 submissions on the Bill. They also collaborated on a high-level joint submission lead by Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (ACYA) and Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), which was supported by 41 organisations and individuals across the children sector.
“We agree that this landmark legislation has the potential to be game changing in transforming the lives and wellbeing of our children.
“We are heartened to see that some of the recommendations from our submission have been considered and taken on board. Particularly the inclusion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which provides an opportunity to advance implementation of the Convention, especially for those children whose rights are currently least met. The inclusion of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is also incredibly positive, as this will help to ensure children with disabilities are not forgotten, Ms Southey said.
“While much remains to be done to tackle child poverty in New Zealand. This Bill is a fundamental step towards ensuring that governments will prioritise ending child poverty now and into the future.
“We fully support the sentiments of the Prime Minister’s goal of making New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child; ending child poverty is essential if this goal is to be realised.
“We look forward to the progression of this Bill and once implemented, seeing how it will improve the lives of children in Aotearoa for the better.”
