59060 (2025). Hon Jan Tinetti to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction

59060 (2025). Hon Jan Tinetti to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction: What measures, if any, does the Government plan to introduce within the next 12 months to address the gap between current outcomes and the legislated child poverty reduction targets?

Hon Louise Upston: Investments through Budget 24 and Budget 25 are lifting incomes of working families, supporting parents into paid work, providing secure housing, including additional affordable homes for whānau Māori, and contributing to growing the economy. A Child and Youth Strategy Action Plan was approved by Child and Youth Ministers in March 2025. It identifies the key actions and initiatives the Government is progressing in relation to each of the Strategy priorities, including reducing material hardship. Some of the key actions in the Action Plan that are contributing to reducing material hardship include delivery of the ECE Food Programme, delivery of the Healthy School Lunches programmes, and ongoing implementation of Welfare that Works. There is also increased support to families experiencing material hardship by making early childhood care more affordable through FamilyBoost and extending funding for community providers to source and distribute food through food hubs and foodbanks, for KidsCan for raincoats, and for KickStart Breakfast.