"Heartbreaking" - new child poverty figures

09:20 am on 6 December 2021

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Photo: 123rf

Māori, Pacific and disabled children experience material hardship and vastly higher rates than the general population according to this year's Child Poverty Monitor.

The Monitor is put out each year by the Children's Commissioner, Otago University and the JR McKenzie Trust.

It finds that just over 11 percent of all children are experiencing material hardship on current data, but for Pacific children this is one in four, and both mokopuna Māori and disabled children, this is one in five. 

This compares with just under 9 percent for Pākehā children. Lynn speaks with the assistant Māori children's commissioner Glenis Philip-Barbara.