New research raises important questions about Kiwi kids

New research raises important questions about Kiwi kids

Superu (formerly the Families Commission) welcomes the release of the latest report from the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study.

Chief Executive Clare Ward says the findings from the report called ‘Residential Mobility Report 1: Moving House in the first 1000 days’ have the potential to change the way the social sector delivers services.

The report found that between birth and two years of age, just under half of the children had moved at least once, and over a third had moved twice or more. A small number of children had moved house up to eight times before they turned two.

“Moving from house to house over a short period of time means it’s harder for service providers such as nurses and other healthcare professionals to keep an accurate record of where young children live,” says Ms Ward.

“The risk is that some children aren’t receiving the help and support they need to grow into healthy kids.”

The report points to housing tenure as the key reason why households move often.

“Families living in private rental accommodation are the most likely to move, and generally they’ll move into another private rental,” says Ms Ward.

“Some families are moving to a bigger or better house but we fear that, in some cases, rising rents may be contributing to this mobility and pushing families into poorer quality homes.”

Children may also move to different homes due to the break-up of their families or the forming of new relationships by their parent.

Children born to European or Māori mothers, a younger mother, living with extended families and in rental accommodation were most likely to move during their early stages of life.

“The high level of mobility we are seeing in New Zealand is not seen in similar countries. We have to rethink how we keep track of families with young children,” says Ms Ward.

More research will be done into the wider impacts that moving frequently has on children and their families.

About Superu
The Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (Superu) is the operating name for the Families Commission. Our purpose is to increase the use of evidence by people across the social sector so that they can make better decisions – about funding, policies or services – to improve the lives of families and whānau.

About the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study
Growing Up in New Zealand is a longitudinal study tracking the development of approximately 7,000 New Zealand children from before birth until they are young adults. The contract for the study is managed by Superu and the research is led by the University of Auckland.

ENDS

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