Twelve per cent of children in those wards are in “severe material hardship”, the most severe form of poverty – double the national average. And 23% of households in those wards had used a foodbank at least once in the past 12 months, compared with 12% nationwide.
The South Auckland figures are an average from surveys taken in 2023/24 and 2024/25 in order to create a large enough sample size to give accurate data.
“There is no evidence of any upward or downward movement between the two years so taking the average does not lose any information,” the report says.
The statistics come from the latest Child Poverty in New Zealand report, which is prepared for the Ministry of Social Development using data from Stats NZ’s Household Economic Survey (HES) and Household Income and Living Survey. The report’s authors urged caution in drawing clear narratives from the data, citing a methodological change.
The data for this report was published in February and was included in the Child Poverty Report published with the May Budget. However, this document is the first granular analysis of the data. It was published on Thursday to little fanfare.
Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says the issue is a long-term challenge. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The reports aim to dive into child poverty data to give a better understanding of what causes the problem.
Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston told the Herald, “every child in New Zealand should grow up safe, well, and supported to reach their full potential”.
“While it was encouraging there has not been a significant increase of children in material hardship since 2017, the report reinforces child poverty is a long-term challenge, and not one that can be solved overnight.”
The report shows 13.3% material hardship in 2017/18 and 14.3% in 2024/25. It had got down to as low as 10.6% in 2021/22.
“We can clearly see in the data what we already know: the existence of a cost-of-living crisis since around 2021,” Upston said.
“This is not a surprise to many Kiwis who have been doing it tough. That’s why the Government is so focused on economic growth, because with it comes a better quality of life for New Zealanders.
“We know disability has a disproportionate effect on the likelihood of material hardship, across governments. The Government remains committed to reducing child poverty for all children, regardless of their circumstances.”
One of the most stark figures was the link between poverty and growing up in a household with a disabled parent. Disability support has been a political lightning rod recently.
About three out of five (59%) children in hardship come from a “disabled household”, that is a household with at least one disabled member, the report says. Some 67% of those experiencing severe hardship come from a disabled household.
The report considers whether the added costs households with disabled people face might be having an impact, although it says it is difficult to consider disability costs when looking at household income as a measure of poverty.
The report also says children growing up in private rentals were increasingly growing up in poverty.
Some 40% of children in private rentals receiving the accommodation supplement, a payment to people on low incomes who live in private rental accommodation, are in material hardship, compared with 10% in private rentals without it. On average, these households spent about half their income on accommodation.
“This leaves very little for the other necessities and it is not surprising that this group has high material hardship rate,” the report says.
In fact, this group had similar material hardship rates to those who lived in social housing, despite the fact social housing tenants have a cap on rent as a portion of their income.
Upston said at the most recent Budget the Government announced it would boost the accommodation supplement while increasing the rent of people in social housing. She said the supplement change would have an impact on poverty in these households.
“As signalled in Budget 2026, rebalancing the social housing system means that, from April 2027, many families receiving the accommodation supplement will see a rise in that support. Budget 2026 also included $45 million for community food support, including kids’ breakfasts, to assist those in highest need,” Upston said.