"In Aotearoa New Zealand, we pride ourselves on our sense of community"

"In Aotearoa New Zealand, we pride ourselves on our sense of community. We have a deep-seated collective identity, rooted in how much we care for our people. 

But child poverty is one of the major failings of our national conscience. And it’s a failing that’s been persisting for generations. Our society makes the political choice to put child poverty in the ‘too hard’ basket, and the can has been kicked down the road for years while our most vulnerable young people miss out. 

However, UNICEF Aotearoa has been working to bring the reality of poverty back into the national conversation. July’s Parliamentary Forum for Children’s Rights, hosted by UNICEF Aotearoa at the Beehive, focused on the first United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: Eliminating Poverty. 

The forum highlighted the effects of child poverty on health, education, and wellbeing, from the perspectives and lived experiences of a panel of UNICEF Young Ambassadors from across Aotearoa. Stepping into my new role as a Young Ambassador, it was an honour to share local stories on a national platform. 

Growing up in Te Tai Tokerau, I was eager to speak on the challenges I’ve witnessed facing our communities. I wanted to make it clear that social investment in health and education for the children of today will pay dividends for New Zealand’s future. 

It’s a special experience to be speaking at Parliament about issues close to your heart, just a couple of days into a new role. It’s a testament to the UNICEF Aotearoa commitment to youth voice - having Young Ambassadors speak on child poverty at a national forum is a crucial example of prioritising youth leadership when it comes to the issues that impact youth the most. 

The forum was sponsored by Hon. Camilla Belich MP, who brought UNICEF Aotearoa history into her introduction, honouring the legacy of her grandfather Sir James Belich - the first president of UNICEF Aotearoa as a National Committee, and a man determined to empower young people across the motu. 

Looking into the audience, it was invigorating for me to see that some very busy people had taken the time out of their packed schedules to listen to a bunch of new Young Ambassadors speak at Parliament. Hon. Willow Jean-Prime from Te Tai Tokerau, Hon. Carmel Sepuloni (my local MP, go Avondale!), Green Party MP Celia Wade-Brown and Chief Children’s Commissioner Dr. Claire Achmad were all in attendance. 

The energising conclusions from UNICEF Aotearoa CEO Michelle Sharp and Director of Advocacy Teresa Tepania-Ashton were a call to action to all in government and the NGO sector. 

Ending child poverty should be a top priority, but it’s a conversation that often gets left behind.

It shouldn’t be. 

And with forums like last week’s, I know that there are voices fighting for change. I have reasons to hope for a better tomorrow. 

Young people aren’t going to sit back and let this injustice continue. Young people know that the time for meaningful change is now. 

And if you agree, you should join us.