17 February 2011

Whangarei Child Poverty Action Group member Di Lawson has warned that child poverty in Whangarei exists, and is getting worse.

“The increasing cost of milk is just one of many issues stressing families. Child poverty exists, is getting worse, and has huge impacts on the health and education of our children,” says Ms Lawson, who is also the Northland Plunket Area Manager.

“There are numerous ads on television currently inviting people to donate to address child poverty in other countries. Whilst this is admirable we need to remember there is significant poverty happening in our own back yard,” says Ms Lawson.

“We may not have children begging in the streets but recent figures from the Ministry of Social Development highlight that up to 22% of all children in New Zealand live in significant hardship. This means having inadequate income to provide for the necessities of life, things like adequate housing, warm clothes and shoes, enough good quality food to eat,” says Ms Lawson.

A report on Food Costs for Families released in November 2010 from the Wellington Regional Public Health Service found that families on low incomes will need to spend a much higher percentage of income to purchase ‘basic’ healthy foods and many will experience ‘food stress’. These families need to spend between 42-75%, once rent is deducted, to purchase a ‘basic’ healthy diet.

Some Australian research suggests that no more than 25% of disposable income should be spent on food and ‘food stress’ is believed to be experienced when more than 30% of income is needed.

A volunteer working with a budgeting advice service in Whangarei provides the following example: A family of five with two adults, 2 high school aged children and a primary school aged child. One adult a sickness beneficiary and the other working part time, after all costs were deducted only had $90 per week for food.

According to the 2009 Otago University Food Cost Survey for a family such as this to purchase a ‘basic’ healthy diet would cost around $316.88. This is a shortfall per week of $227.00.

““Food insecurity is not just a matter of individual choices. If high prices make milk and other healthy foods unaffordable for families, then not only are they missing out on benefits of those foods, they have to turn to cheaper but less healthy options" says Northland DHB Medical Officer of Health, Dr Clair Mills. “We know that the effects on health from hardship in childhood are life-long. We need to focus on our children in the early years – they don’t get a second chance” she said.

Whangarei CPAG urge the community, community leaders and our politicians to focus on ensuring that families’ wages and government subsidies are adequate to provide the necessities of life so that children can thrive.

ENDS

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