Vulnerable children and families: Some findings from the New Zealand General Social Survey

Vulnerable children and families: Some findings from the New Zealand General Social Survey  –  Media Release

One in four New Zealand children live in households with multiple risks of poor outcomes, according to findings released from Statistics NZ’s 2010 New Zealand General Social Survey. Eleven economic, housing, health, and social outcomes were used to identify disadvantaged households containing vulnerable children.

Twenty-five percent of New Zealand children live in households defined as medium or high risk, meaning there are three or more specific risk factors present in the household. Six percent of New Zealand children live in high-risk households with five or more risk factors.

Households where children are most at risk are those receiving benefit income, sole-parent households, large households, households with Māori respondents, and households where the mother had given birth to her child before the age of 21.

The New Zealand General Social Survey (NZGSS) is a unique survey of 8,000 New Zealanders (aged 15 years and over) that measures well-being across many areas. The survey, run every two years, collects evidence on income, health, housing, neighbourhood, and social connectedness. Information from the survey allows us to compare those who are doing well and not so well in New Zealand.

To read the full report, which also includes the specific risk factors, see Vulnerable children and families: Some findings from the New Zealand General Social Survey.