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Summarised by Centrist
For the year ended June 2025, 169,000 children, or roughly one in seven were living in material hardship.
Stats NZ senior insights analyst Ryan Sutcliffe confirmed there was no statistically significant shift compared with the previous year.
However, compared with 2022, there are 47,500 more children living in material hardship. Stats NZ said hardship levels have returned to those seen in 2019.
Material hardship is defined as going without seven or more of 18 basic items or services, such as the ability to visit a doctor when sick, afford utilities, heat the home, or pay for internet access.
The report also examined income-based poverty measures. One in six children lived in households earning less than 50% of the median income after housing costs, and one in eight before housing costs.
For both measures, there was no statistically significant change since 2024, and rates remain below 2019 levels.
Nearly one-third of Pasifika children were living in hardship. About a quarter of Māori children and disabled children were also affected.
Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston said there had been “no statistically significant changes in the three primary child poverty measures” since she became minister and pointed to employment and economic growth as key factors.
