NEW ZEALAND: This is how I see it - Children, young people and young adults' views and experiences of poverty

Children and young people have a right to an adequate standard of living to support
their positive development and wellbeing.  In 2007 and 2008 the Office of the Children’s Commissioner examined the incidence of poverty among children and young people in New Zealand and its impacts on them. As part of that work a project was set up to get the views and experiences of children, young people and young adults. Between August 2007 and June 2008 the Office worked with nine community partners, 56 children, 32 young people and eight young adults1 living in low socio-economic communities throughout New Zealand.

The purpose of the project was to explore the following questions:

1. Does poverty exist in New Zealand?
2. How would you define poverty?
3. How does poverty affect children and young people?

The result is the report 'This is how I see it: Children, young people and young adults’ views and experiences of poverty, a collection of photos, poems, artwork, stories and autobiographical accounts.

This report aims to contribute to building knowledge and understanding on how poverty affects children and young people in New Zealand.

You can read the full report here or visit http://www.occ.org.nz2

Further information

• More on child rights in New Zealand  
• About child rights