NZ child poverty

NZ 20th in child poverty survey

A United Nations report ranks New Zealand as having the 20th worst level of child poverty out of 35 developed countries

Radio New Zealand,

30 May

UNICEF classified any household earning below half the median family income in their country as being below the poverty line.

UNICEF New Zealand executive director, Dennis McKinlay said he was not surprised that New Zealand compared poorly with many other developed countries.

He said the report found the amount the country spends on the early years of a child's life is less than half the OECD average.

While the report shows a lot of money had been spent on children, he said it has not improved child poverty.