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The economic recession has left an alarming number of New Zealand children suffering in poverty, according to research released today.
The Children's Social Health Monitor's study shows there were about 2000 more hospital admissions last year compared to those in 2007 for children with medical conditions that occur more frequently in those living in poverty.
The report's findings also show that admissions for socio-economically sensitive conditions were consistently higher for Maori and Pacific children. These conditions mostly consist of infectious and respiratory diseases and occur more frequently in economically deprived areas.
Daryl Evans, from the Mangere Budgeting Services Trust, said evidence of this is easy to find.
"We are seeing families coming in daily needing food assistance, we're sending them to WINZ to get food grants. More importantly, local schools and principals are telling us the kids are going to school hungry," he said.
But despite the increase in socio-economically linked hospital admissions, there was a decline in the number of deaths from such conditions.
The findings, put together by Te Tuia Well Child, a group of academics, show around 20% of New Zealand children now live in families who rely on a benefit as the main source of family income.
It added these families are more likely to be living in significant hardship, and Te Tuia Well Child's Catherine Poutasi said it is this hardship that impacts on children.
"Children bear the brunt, they experience stress of their parents and families being on benefits. And the impact - there's a significant impact on a child's ability to learn and to have a healthy life," she said.
Dr Elizabeth Craig, Director of the New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service, said the results were concerning.
The report concluded that the findings suggest New Zealand's current social safety nets may be inadequately protecting children from severe or significant hardship.
Poutasi said the study is critical in deciding how to deal with the issue.
"These statistics are really important to be able to prioritise child health outcomes in New Zealand. We need to know what's happening... and we need to prioritise what budget we do have within the health sector," she said.
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) said it was concerned by the results.
Spokesperson Nikki Turner said that the deteriorating state of children's health was the most obvious sign that New Zealand is not investing enough in children's early years.
"These children are tomorrow's citizens. Many respiratory illnesses suffered in childhood result in permanent damage and disability in adulthood," Turner said.
"We have an ageing population, and cannot afford to ignore the wellbeing of these children."
The group is calling for greater support for families receiving benefit payments.
Click here to see the full report - pdf
