58771 (2025). Hon Jan Tinetti to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction

58771 (2025). Hon Jan Tinetti to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction: How does she intend to ensure that child poverty reduction targets remain on track given current fiscal constraints?

Hon Louise Upston: Our Government is committed to reducing child poverty and material hardship. There are a variety of factors that contribute to child poverty rates but economic factors play a significant role. Wider economic conditions have been challenging, with an increase in unemployment rates and an increase in the number of children in benefit-receiving households. New Zealand’s economic conditions have reflected wider global volatility. In June 2024, our Government set the third intermediate child poverty targets, as required under the Child Poverty Reduction Act 2018. In setting the targets at that time, our intent was to commit to targets that would be achievable. We’ve made commitments across Budget’s 2024 and 2025 to support this, in line with our fiscal strategy.