Child material hardship reaches 170,000, MSD report finds

MSD's latest report shows 13% of New Zealand children were in material hardship — meaning families can't afford basic needs — in 2023–2024, up from 11% three years earlier. That's 47,500 more children since 2022, bringing the total to 170,000. Children's Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad called it "a national shame" and urged cross-party action. New Zealand fell behind Lithuania, Latvia, Italy, Portugal and Cyprus in international rankings.