Published December 13, 2016 on Stuff.
New Zealand child poverty has hit a "crisis" point
New Zealand's child poverty rates aren't greatly improving
We are starting to "wake up to this serious problem"
90,000 children are living in severe poverty in New Zealand
14% of children are living in material hardship where they are living without seven or more necessary items for their wellbeing
28% of children are living in low income homes
More than 8% of children are in severe poverty, experiencing material hardship and living in a low income household.
14% of children lived in low income homes in 1982
Child poverty is one of the most significant issues facing our country.New Zealand has a goal to halve all poverty by 2030.
How many more winters are children going to be living in cars?
Living in poverty has serious implications for a child's health, well-being and life outcomes.
Children living in the lowest income households were more likely to be living in crowded, damp and mouldy spaces, which can lead to illness.
Children living in the most disadvantaged communities are more likely to miss seeing a GP when they are unwell, due to a lack of transport to get there.
A young Thames mum is worried her Housing New Zealand home is causing her children to get sick. Maia Randall, 21, has been living in her Housing New Zealand home for a year and is concerned about her two sons.
"Ever since we've moved in here, not really me because I don't usually get sick, but my two sons have been getting sick every two weeks," Randall said. "They [doctors] keep telling me it's a virus but now I'm thinking it might be mould."
Photo and story by Cameron Massey