New strategy focuses on first 2000 days of life, reducing poverty.
The New Zealand Government has launched its new Child and Youth Strategy, aiming to make the country the best place in the world for children and young people. The strategy identifies three key priorities: supporting families in the first 2000 days of a child's life, reducing child material hardship, and preventing harm against children.
Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston stated that while progress has been made, there is more work to be done. To achieve lasting reductions in child poverty rates, the Government plans to focus its investment on areas that can make a meaningful difference, such as improving housing affordability and student attendance.
The strategy includes five refreshed Child Poverty Related Indicators, which will measure long-term disadvantage affecting children's future life chances. These indicators are designed to drive accountability for improvement and focus government efforts on areas with the greatest impact.
According to Minister Upston, breaking cycles of disadvantage and intergenerational benefit dependency is crucial in achieving lasting reductions in child poverty rates. The Government's new strategy aims to make New Zealand a stronger and more resilient nation by investing in its people and communities.