UNICEF Report Indicates We Need to Do Better for Our Children And Young People
New Zealand is a relatively rich country as measured by income per capita. You would think this would be a place where
children and young people are flourishing. For many this is not the case.
According to the recent Innocenti Report Card 14 by UNICEF, out of 41 high-income countries, New Zealand ranks 34th for
the wellbeing of children and young people on the internationally agreed sustainable development goals. In the health
and wellbeing goal New Zealand ranks 38th having the highest rate of suicide for young people aged 15-19 at 15.6 per
100,000. In New Zealand 19.8 per cent of children are living in relative income poverty with food insecurity having an
impact on 10.9 per cent of our children below 15 years. We rank 34th in the promoting economic growth and work goals
with 7.1 per cent of young people aged 15-19 not involved in education, employment or training.
‘These statistics paint a picture of many young people being left behind in a country that should be able to provide for
all’ said Quentin Abraham, President of the New Zealand Psychological Society. ‘However, this is not a time for
wallowing in pity and attributing blame’, he said, ‘this report calls for action from the Government and us all to
develop policies and programmes that make sure children and young people are able to live full and active lives. Our
children and young people deserve a fairer distribution of New Zealand’s resources. Let’s make this happen now’.
About the New Zealand Psychological Society
The New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS) is the largest professional association for psychologists in Aotearoa New
Zealand with over 1700 practitioner, academic and student psychologists as members or subscribers. The Society aims to
improve individual and community wellbeing by representing and promoting wellbeing by advancing the scientific
discipline and practice of psychology.