59067 (2025). Hon Jan Tinetti to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction

59067 (2025). Hon Jan Tinetti to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction: What progress, if any, has the Government made toward meeting the official child poverty reduction targets set under the Child Poverty Reduction Act 2018?

Hon Louise Upston: The second intermediate targets were set by the previous Government in June 2021. Stats NZ has assessed compliance with the targets in 2025 and has found that none of the targets were met. Most of the second intermediate target period (2021/22–2023/24) was under the previous Government. The second intermediate target period was a difficult one for the New Zealand economy and for households. Incomes were relatively flat in real terms, housing costs rose, and the cost of living rose sharply. These factors are likely to explain why the targets were not met. In June 2024, the 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. Commitments were made across Budget’s 2024 and 2025 to support this, in line with the fiscal strategy. Stats NZ will assess compliance with the targets in 2028.