Jan Tinetti Labour MP

When I visit schools here in Tauranga I see so many children full of energy because each of them has the essentials they need to thrive – enough to eat, warm clothes, sturdy shoes and a place to call home.

But sadly this isn't true for every child. Child poverty in New Zealand is completely unacceptable. I know we won't eliminate it overnight, but this Government has laid the solid foundations for change and we are starting to turn things around.

Last week Statistics NZ released the latest figures on child poverty in New Zealand which showed that during the past year we have lifted 18,400 children out of poverty and in that time seven out of nine child poverty measures have shown improvement.

In future years we're likely to see more improvement because since this Government came into office we've introduced the Families Package, we're steadily lifting the minimum wage and we will index main benefits to wage growth.

The Families Package alone is forecast to lift up to 74,000 children out of poverty over the next few years.

Minimum wage increases will help tens of thousands of kids and their parents.

Read more at: www.sunlive.co.nz