14 Oct 2013

Govt 'needs to do more' to combat child poverty

10:11 pm on 14 October 2013

The Government needs to do more to help children from struggling families, the Waikato District Health Board's Maori health service says.

A report by the Children's Commissioner's Expert Advisory Group on Child Poverty, released in December 2012, says 270,000 children are living below the poverty line.

The report made 78 recommendations, including that there be a government-funded food in schools programme for low-decile schools.

In May, the Government committed $9.5 million over five years to expand the KickStart breakfast programme run by Fonterra and Sanitarium.

Te Puna Oranga general manager Ditre Tamatea says the initiative is a positive start but breakfast alone is not enough to ensure children are able to concentrate and learn well at school.

The Government, communities, iwi and businesses need to work together to combat child poverty, Mr Tamatea says.