“Poverty” down 3%

Stuff reports:

Child poverty rates overall have declined slightly, but Maori and Pacific children are suffering disproportionately, according to the Child Poverty Monitor released today.

The second annual Child Poverty Monitor showed a slight decrease in the number of Kiwi children living in income poverty, from 27 per cent to 24 per cent. However, there was still much to address in terms of health impacts, the researchers said.

Not only is “income poverty” down (which is basically income inequality) but so is the more useful “material hardship” which has 17% of children living in a household with material hardship.

In 2008 a survey found 22% of children in material hardship.

The surveys use different methodology so one can’t compare them, but the ongoing survey does also show a decline in 2012.

So the next time someone on the left claims child poverty rates are increasing in NZ, make sure you correct them, and say they are currently dropping.

UPDATE: Contrast the reasonably factual Stuff story with this NZ Herald story that basically totally ignores the drop in child poverty, focuses on the increase in the small Asian population, and doesn’t even give any data on poverty rates. It presents what is an overall improvement in the most negative light possible. The only reference to the drop is an admission that other ethnic groups has seen a drop since 2012.