Social Sustainability
#14Key Findings
New Zealand falls into the sample’s middle ranks (rank 14) with respect to social sustainability.
Education spending is below the OECD average. The tertiary sector is underfunded, and lower-level teachers have protested over poor pay and working conditions. PISA test scores have recently shown declines, with Māori and Pasifika students’ performance falling more strongly.
Social spending in New Zealand is slightly below the OECD average. The new government has indicated it would reduce it further. Housing affordability and child poverty remain serious issues. The healthcare system offers high-quality universal care. A Māori Health Authority was established to address poorer health outcomes in this community, but is expected to be abolished.
Paid parental leave lags policies elsewhere in the OECD. Subsidies are provided for early childhood education, but childcare costs remain extremely high. The pension system largely prevents poverty among the elderly. Immigration policies focus on skilled migrants, with considerable support provided for settlement and integration.
Education spending is below the OECD average. The tertiary sector is underfunded, and lower-level teachers have protested over poor pay and working conditions. PISA test scores have recently shown declines, with Māori and Pasifika students’ performance falling more strongly.
Social spending in New Zealand is slightly below the OECD average. The new government has indicated it would reduce it further. Housing affordability and child poverty remain serious issues. The healthcare system offers high-quality universal care. A Māori Health Authority was established to address poorer health outcomes in this community, but is expected to be abolished.
Paid parental leave lags policies elsewhere in the OECD. Subsidies are provided for early childhood education, but childcare costs remain extremely high. The pension system largely prevents poverty among the elderly. Immigration policies focus on skilled migrants, with considerable support provided for settlement and integration.
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To what extent do policies and regulations in the education system hinder or facilitate high-quality education and training?
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9
9
Education policies are fully aligned with the goal of ensuring high-quality education and training.
8
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7
6
Education policies are largely aligned with the goal of ensuring high-quality education and training.
5
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3
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3
Education policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of ensuring high-quality education and training.
2
1
1
Education policies are not at all aligned with the goal of ensuring high-quality education and training.
In New Zealand, policies and regulations aim to facilitate high-quality education and training.
Policies and regulations ensure the provision of necessary financial and human resources for the education system, even during economic crises or government transitions. Education is generally considered a priority area for government spending. For example, the 2023 budget allocated $1.2 billion for new infrastructure, including 300 new classrooms, and $1.2 billion to extend 20 hours of free early childhood education to two-year-olds (Schwanecke 2023). Continuity in funding – particularly core operational funding for schools – has been maintained during economic downturns. This is illustrated by the 2020 government budget during the COVID-19 pandemic, which not only guaranteed operational funds but also significantly expanded the school lunch program (from 8,000 to 200,000 students) and committed an additional $1.6 billion to trades and apprenticeships (Te Bridie Witton 2020).
Second, institutions seek to facilitate the continuous monitoring of labor market demands, enabling the adaptation of education and training programs to provide relevant hands-on skills. Collaboration between government entities, educational institutions, industry representatives and other stakeholders is facilitated through the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, for example.
Third, frameworks within the education system are designed to attract and retain highly skilled educators – for example, by offering competitive salaries and benefits, providing professional development opportunities, and establishing clear career progression pathways. In addition, the Ministry of Education supports schools in recruiting overseas teachers.
How successful the government is in sustaining and enhancing the quality of education is a different question. For one, it should be noted that, across all levels from primary to tertiary education, New Zealand spends less annually per full-time equivalent student than the OECD average ($11,119 compared to $12,647) (OECD 2023). In particular, the tertiary education sector has been suffering from underfunding in recent years, leading to significant job cuts and the closure of entire academic programs (Palmer 2023). Meanwhile, the latest PISA assessment revealed that a quarter of New Zealand students were in schools in which principals said they had inadequate or poorly qualified teaching staff (up from 16% in the previous round of testing in 2018) and nearly half were in schools that struggled to hire teachers (Gerritsen 2023). In 2023, teachers went on a nationwide strike over poor pay and working conditions (RNZ 2023).
Citations:
Gerritsen, J. 2023. “Student hunger, bad teachers revealed in latest PISA tests showing dip in NZ teens’ scores.” RNZ, 6 December. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/504035/student-hunger-bad-teachers-revealed-in-latest-pisa-tests-showing-dip-in-nz-teens-scores
OECD. 2023. “Education GPS: New Zealand.” https://gpseducation.oecd.org/CountryProfile?primaryCountry=NZL&treshold=5&topic=EO
Palmer, R. 2023. “Political parties back extra tertiary education funding.” RNZ, June 27. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/492726/political-parties-back-extra-tertiary-education-funding
RNZ. 2023. “Teachers’ strikes: Secondary teachers start new industrial action, students to be rostered home for term.” New Zealand Herald, June 12. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/teachers-strikes-secondary-teachers-start-new-industrial-action-students-to-be-rostered-home-for-term/52S7NCXZVRFUJHVVY6J6HLVWPQ
Schwanecke, G. 2023. “What this year’s Budget means for the education sector.” Stuff, May 18. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/132079073/what-this-years-budget-means-for-the-education-sector
Te Bridie Witton. 2020. “Budget 2020: Government spends $813.6 million on education.” Stuff, 14 May. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/121472555/budget-2020-government-spends-8136-million-on-education
Policies and regulations ensure the provision of necessary financial and human resources for the education system, even during economic crises or government transitions. Education is generally considered a priority area for government spending. For example, the 2023 budget allocated $1.2 billion for new infrastructure, including 300 new classrooms, and $1.2 billion to extend 20 hours of free early childhood education to two-year-olds (Schwanecke 2023). Continuity in funding – particularly core operational funding for schools – has been maintained during economic downturns. This is illustrated by the 2020 government budget during the COVID-19 pandemic, which not only guaranteed operational funds but also significantly expanded the school lunch program (from 8,000 to 200,000 students) and committed an additional $1.6 billion to trades and apprenticeships (Te Bridie Witton 2020).
Second, institutions seek to facilitate the continuous monitoring of labor market demands, enabling the adaptation of education and training programs to provide relevant hands-on skills. Collaboration between government entities, educational institutions, industry representatives and other stakeholders is facilitated through the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, for example.
Third, frameworks within the education system are designed to attract and retain highly skilled educators – for example, by offering competitive salaries and benefits, providing professional development opportunities, and establishing clear career progression pathways. In addition, the Ministry of Education supports schools in recruiting overseas teachers.
How successful the government is in sustaining and enhancing the quality of education is a different question. For one, it should be noted that, across all levels from primary to tertiary education, New Zealand spends less annually per full-time equivalent student than the OECD average ($11,119 compared to $12,647) (OECD 2023). In particular, the tertiary education sector has been suffering from underfunding in recent years, leading to significant job cuts and the closure of entire academic programs (Palmer 2023). Meanwhile, the latest PISA assessment revealed that a quarter of New Zealand students were in schools in which principals said they had inadequate or poorly qualified teaching staff (up from 16% in the previous round of testing in 2018) and nearly half were in schools that struggled to hire teachers (Gerritsen 2023). In 2023, teachers went on a nationwide strike over poor pay and working conditions (RNZ 2023).
Citations:
Gerritsen, J. 2023. “Student hunger, bad teachers revealed in latest PISA tests showing dip in NZ teens’ scores.” RNZ, 6 December. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/504035/student-hunger-bad-teachers-revealed-in-latest-pisa-tests-showing-dip-in-nz-teens-scores
OECD. 2023. “Education GPS: New Zealand.” https://gpseducation.oecd.org/CountryProfile?primaryCountry=NZL&treshold=5&topic=EO
Palmer, R. 2023. “Political parties back extra tertiary education funding.” RNZ, June 27. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/492726/political-parties-back-extra-tertiary-education-funding
RNZ. 2023. “Teachers’ strikes: Secondary teachers start new industrial action, students to be rostered home for term.” New Zealand Herald, June 12. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/teachers-strikes-secondary-teachers-start-new-industrial-action-students-to-be-rostered-home-for-term/52S7NCXZVRFUJHVVY6J6HLVWPQ
Schwanecke, G. 2023. “What this year’s Budget means for the education sector.” Stuff, May 18. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/132079073/what-this-years-budget-means-for-the-education-sector
Te Bridie Witton. 2020. “Budget 2020: Government spends $813.6 million on education.” Stuff, 14 May. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/121472555/budget-2020-government-spends-8136-million-on-education
To what extent does the current policy approach in the education system hinder or facilitate equitable access to high-quality education and training?
10
9
9
Education policies are fully aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
8
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Education policies are largely aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
5
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3
Education policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
2
1
1
Education policies are not at all aligned with the goal of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and training.
New Zealand’s education policy aims to facilitate equitable access to high-quality education and training.
Early childhood education (ECE) received a significant financial boost in the 2023 budget when the Labour-Green coalition announced an extension of the 20-hours-free ECE scheme to include two-year-olds. The government estimated this will save families about $133 a week, or nearly $7,000 a year. Additionally, the government altered the scheme’s conditions, requiring ECE centers to allow parents to enroll their children for only the free 20 hours rather than in larger blocks that forced families to pay for extra hours (Wiggins 2023). In 2018, the Labour-led administration under Ardern passed a policy making the first year of university education free. This policy resulted in a $194-million decline in borrowing for fees through student loans between 2017 and 2018 (Gerritsen 2020).
The government also seeks to support and promote Māori education, recognizing the importance of cultural identity and language in providing equitable educational opportunities. For example, the 2023 budget committed $225 million to Māori education initiatives, which according to estimates benefited 25,000 students in 325 Māori schools across the country (Wikaire-Lewis 2023).
Despite various policies and initiatives, New Zealand has one of the most unequal education systems in the industrialized world. According to UNICEF’s 2018 Innocenti Report Card, which analyzes the gaps between the highest and lowest performing pupils in OECD countries, New Zealand ranks 33rd out of 38 in the area of educational equality across preschool, primary school and secondary school levels. The reading gap at age 10 between New Zealand’s best and worst readers stands at 230 points, compared to 153 points for the Netherlands – the country with the smallest gap (UNICEF 2018). More recently, the 2022 PISA report showed declines in math and science performance, with Māori and Pasifika student performance falling faster than the average. Almost half (47%) of Māori students performed below the baseline PISA level in math in 2022, significantly higher than the 37% in 2018 (Cheng 2023).
The inequality of the education system also reflects in other indicators. Perhaps most concerningly, Māori and Pasifika students are significantly less likely than Pākehā (New Zealanders of European descent) students to leave the education system with a degree. In the 2018 census, 80.6% of Māori and 83% of Pasifika 15- to 24-year-olds had at least a level 1 qualification or equivalent, compared with 85.8% of 15- to 24-year-olds nationally. Older age groups show an even larger difference, with 73% of Māori and 72.1% of Pasifika 45- to 54-year-olds having at least a level 1 qualification or equivalent, compared with 84.6% of 45- to 54-year-olds nationally (Stats NZ 2020).
Citations:
Cheng, D. 2023. “NZ school students’ performance falling in maths and science: Pisa report.” New Zealand Herald, December 6. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/pisa-report-nz-school-students-performance-falling-in-maths-and-science/IRFO2WL2KNDABPJ2XA4CGNNJHQ/
Gerritsen, J. 2020. “Students Motivated to Enrol by Fees-free Policy Struggle with University, Research Finds.” RNZ, June 16. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/419117/students-motivated-to-enrol-by-fees-free-policy-struggle-with-university-research-finds
Stats NZ. 2020. “Education outcomes improving for Māori and Pacific peoples.” https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/education-outcomes-improving-for-maori-and-pacific-peoples
Wiggins. 2023. “Budget 2023: Savings for parents thanks to boost in early childhood education funding.” New Zealand Herald, 18 May. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/budget-2023-savings-for-parents-thanks-to-boost-in-early-childhood-education-funding/TFNC2ULEIBGINLI33AWTH6Y3IQ/
Wikaire-Lewis, M. 2023. “TAHUA2023: Over Half a Billion Dollars for Māori.” Te Ao Māori News, May 18. https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2023/05/18/tahua2023-over-half-a-billion-dollars-for-maori
Early childhood education (ECE) received a significant financial boost in the 2023 budget when the Labour-Green coalition announced an extension of the 20-hours-free ECE scheme to include two-year-olds. The government estimated this will save families about $133 a week, or nearly $7,000 a year. Additionally, the government altered the scheme’s conditions, requiring ECE centers to allow parents to enroll their children for only the free 20 hours rather than in larger blocks that forced families to pay for extra hours (Wiggins 2023). In 2018, the Labour-led administration under Ardern passed a policy making the first year of university education free. This policy resulted in a $194-million decline in borrowing for fees through student loans between 2017 and 2018 (Gerritsen 2020).
The government also seeks to support and promote Māori education, recognizing the importance of cultural identity and language in providing equitable educational opportunities. For example, the 2023 budget committed $225 million to Māori education initiatives, which according to estimates benefited 25,000 students in 325 Māori schools across the country (Wikaire-Lewis 2023).
Despite various policies and initiatives, New Zealand has one of the most unequal education systems in the industrialized world. According to UNICEF’s 2018 Innocenti Report Card, which analyzes the gaps between the highest and lowest performing pupils in OECD countries, New Zealand ranks 33rd out of 38 in the area of educational equality across preschool, primary school and secondary school levels. The reading gap at age 10 between New Zealand’s best and worst readers stands at 230 points, compared to 153 points for the Netherlands – the country with the smallest gap (UNICEF 2018). More recently, the 2022 PISA report showed declines in math and science performance, with Māori and Pasifika student performance falling faster than the average. Almost half (47%) of Māori students performed below the baseline PISA level in math in 2022, significantly higher than the 37% in 2018 (Cheng 2023).
The inequality of the education system also reflects in other indicators. Perhaps most concerningly, Māori and Pasifika students are significantly less likely than Pākehā (New Zealanders of European descent) students to leave the education system with a degree. In the 2018 census, 80.6% of Māori and 83% of Pasifika 15- to 24-year-olds had at least a level 1 qualification or equivalent, compared with 85.8% of 15- to 24-year-olds nationally. Older age groups show an even larger difference, with 73% of Māori and 72.1% of Pasifika 45- to 54-year-olds having at least a level 1 qualification or equivalent, compared with 84.6% of 45- to 54-year-olds nationally (Stats NZ 2020).
Citations:
Cheng, D. 2023. “NZ school students’ performance falling in maths and science: Pisa report.” New Zealand Herald, December 6. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/pisa-report-nz-school-students-performance-falling-in-maths-and-science/IRFO2WL2KNDABPJ2XA4CGNNJHQ/
Gerritsen, J. 2020. “Students Motivated to Enrol by Fees-free Policy Struggle with University, Research Finds.” RNZ, June 16. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/419117/students-motivated-to-enrol-by-fees-free-policy-struggle-with-university-research-finds
Stats NZ. 2020. “Education outcomes improving for Māori and Pacific peoples.” https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/education-outcomes-improving-for-maori-and-pacific-peoples
Wiggins. 2023. “Budget 2023: Savings for parents thanks to boost in early childhood education funding.” New Zealand Herald, 18 May. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/budget-2023-savings-for-parents-thanks-to-boost-in-early-childhood-education-funding/TFNC2ULEIBGINLI33AWTH6Y3IQ/
Wikaire-Lewis, M. 2023. “TAHUA2023: Over Half a Billion Dollars for Māori.” Te Ao Māori News, May 18. https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2023/05/18/tahua2023-over-half-a-billion-dollars-for-maori
Graph View
To what extent do existing institutions ensure equal access to essential services and basic income support for those in need?
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9
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are fully aligned with the goal of ensuring equal access for those in need.
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are largely aligned with the goal of ensuring equal access for those in need.
5
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are only somewhat aligned with the goal of ensuring equal access for those in need.
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are not at all aligned with the goal of ensuring equal access for those in need.
New Zealand has institutions and policies aimed at ensuring equal access to essential services and basic income support for those in need.
First, several measures are in place to facilitate access to housing support, including social housing programs that provide subsidized housing options for low-income individuals and families (e.g., Kāinga Ora), rental assistance programs, subsidies aimed at supporting individuals and families struggling with housing costs (e.g., Accommodation Supplement), and emergency housing. However, despite these efforts, housing affordability – particularly in urban areas – remains a significant challenge (e.g., Bell 2023), and the limited availability of social housing units has resulted in long waiting lists (Hu 2023). In December 2023, the government announced an independent review of Kāinga Ora due to concerns over the agency’s operating deficit (RNZ 2023).
Second, various initiatives support vulnerable individuals and households with energy needs. These include financial assistance to low-income households to help cover energy costs and the Winter Energy Payment – a scheme available to anyone on social benefits, NZ Superannuation or the Veteran’s Pension.
Third, the government has made efforts to improve the accessibility and affordability of public transport – in particular, through concessionary fares and discounted ticket options for certain groups, such as seniors, students and individuals with disabilities. Some regions also offer transport assistance programs catering to specific needs, such as community transport services for rural or isolated communities. Nevertheless, limited public transport options continue to negatively impact equitable access to transportation support, including in urban areas (Orsman 2022).
Fourth, the government has addressed affordability concerns related to digital infrastructure through several key initiatives. These include programs aimed at improving broadband access, especially in rural or remote areas; financial support for low-income individuals or families to access digital devices and internet services; and the establishment of community digital hubs in libraries and other public facilities. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures revealed a persistent digital divide, with more than 13% of households still lacking internet access (Cook 2021).
Fifth, the government administers various social welfare programs aimed at providing basic income support for those in need – for example, Jobseeker Support, Sole Parent Support and Supported Living Payment for individuals with disabilities. The adequacy of these minimum income benefits – measured in terms of the income of jobless families relying on guaranteed minimum income benefits as a percentage of the median disposable income in the country – is slightly higher than the OECD average (OECD 2023).
However, the new National government has pledged to introduce more sanctions, including benefit suspensions and reductions, for unemployed beneficiaries who “persistently” do not meet benefit obligations – a plan that has been criticized by poverty campaign groups as ineffective and detrimental to people’s well-being (Witton 2023). This is not an unusual outcome when the government shifts from the center-left to the center-right in New Zealand.
Citations:
Bell, M. 2023. “New report ranks Auckland seventh least affordable housing market.” Stuff, March 21. https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/real-estate/131564094/new-report-ranks-auckland-seventh-least-affordable-housing-market
Cook, A. 2021. “NZ’s Digital Divide: Elderly, Poor Families, Rural Kiwis, Farmers Still Missing Out on Internet.” Newshub, September 22. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2021/09/nz-s-digital-divide-elderly-poor-families-rural-kiwis-farmers-still-missing-out-on-internet.html
Hu, J. 2023. “Public housing waitlist spikes, over 25,000 households waiting.” 1News, December 2. https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/02/public-housing-waitlist-spikes-over-25000-households-waiting/
OECD. 2023. “Adequacy of Minimum Income Benefits.” https://data.oecd.org/benwage/adequacy-of-minimum-income-benefits.htm
Orsman, B. 2020. “Transport Survey: Aucklanders Waiting Too Long for Buses, Research Finds.” New Zealand Herald, May 13. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/transport-survey-aucklanders-waiting-too-long-for-buses-research-finds/R33ONDLC5KM7AFMEOXTWENJ7LM/
RNZ. 2023. “Former PM Sir Bill English to Head Review of Kāinga Ora.” 18 December. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/505019/former-pm-sir-bill-english-to-head-review-of-kainga-ora
Witton, B. 2023. “‘Punishing people for their poverty’: Advocates see trouble with National’s ‘traffic light’ plan to cut benefits.” Stuff, 27 September. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/133010385/punishing-people-for-their-poverty-advocates-see-trouble-with-nationals-traffic-light-plan-to-cut-benefits
First, several measures are in place to facilitate access to housing support, including social housing programs that provide subsidized housing options for low-income individuals and families (e.g., Kāinga Ora), rental assistance programs, subsidies aimed at supporting individuals and families struggling with housing costs (e.g., Accommodation Supplement), and emergency housing. However, despite these efforts, housing affordability – particularly in urban areas – remains a significant challenge (e.g., Bell 2023), and the limited availability of social housing units has resulted in long waiting lists (Hu 2023). In December 2023, the government announced an independent review of Kāinga Ora due to concerns over the agency’s operating deficit (RNZ 2023).
Second, various initiatives support vulnerable individuals and households with energy needs. These include financial assistance to low-income households to help cover energy costs and the Winter Energy Payment – a scheme available to anyone on social benefits, NZ Superannuation or the Veteran’s Pension.
Third, the government has made efforts to improve the accessibility and affordability of public transport – in particular, through concessionary fares and discounted ticket options for certain groups, such as seniors, students and individuals with disabilities. Some regions also offer transport assistance programs catering to specific needs, such as community transport services for rural or isolated communities. Nevertheless, limited public transport options continue to negatively impact equitable access to transportation support, including in urban areas (Orsman 2022).
Fourth, the government has addressed affordability concerns related to digital infrastructure through several key initiatives. These include programs aimed at improving broadband access, especially in rural or remote areas; financial support for low-income individuals or families to access digital devices and internet services; and the establishment of community digital hubs in libraries and other public facilities. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures revealed a persistent digital divide, with more than 13% of households still lacking internet access (Cook 2021).
Fifth, the government administers various social welfare programs aimed at providing basic income support for those in need – for example, Jobseeker Support, Sole Parent Support and Supported Living Payment for individuals with disabilities. The adequacy of these minimum income benefits – measured in terms of the income of jobless families relying on guaranteed minimum income benefits as a percentage of the median disposable income in the country – is slightly higher than the OECD average (OECD 2023).
However, the new National government has pledged to introduce more sanctions, including benefit suspensions and reductions, for unemployed beneficiaries who “persistently” do not meet benefit obligations – a plan that has been criticized by poverty campaign groups as ineffective and detrimental to people’s well-being (Witton 2023). This is not an unusual outcome when the government shifts from the center-left to the center-right in New Zealand.
Citations:
Bell, M. 2023. “New report ranks Auckland seventh least affordable housing market.” Stuff, March 21. https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/real-estate/131564094/new-report-ranks-auckland-seventh-least-affordable-housing-market
Cook, A. 2021. “NZ’s Digital Divide: Elderly, Poor Families, Rural Kiwis, Farmers Still Missing Out on Internet.” Newshub, September 22. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2021/09/nz-s-digital-divide-elderly-poor-families-rural-kiwis-farmers-still-missing-out-on-internet.html
Hu, J. 2023. “Public housing waitlist spikes, over 25,000 households waiting.” 1News, December 2. https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/02/public-housing-waitlist-spikes-over-25000-households-waiting/
OECD. 2023. “Adequacy of Minimum Income Benefits.” https://data.oecd.org/benwage/adequacy-of-minimum-income-benefits.htm
Orsman, B. 2020. “Transport Survey: Aucklanders Waiting Too Long for Buses, Research Finds.” New Zealand Herald, May 13. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/transport-survey-aucklanders-waiting-too-long-for-buses-research-finds/R33ONDLC5KM7AFMEOXTWENJ7LM/
RNZ. 2023. “Former PM Sir Bill English to Head Review of Kāinga Ora.” 18 December. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/505019/former-pm-sir-bill-english-to-head-review-of-kainga-ora
Witton, B. 2023. “‘Punishing people for their poverty’: Advocates see trouble with National’s ‘traffic light’ plan to cut benefits.” Stuff, 27 September. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/133010385/punishing-people-for-their-poverty-advocates-see-trouble-with-nationals-traffic-light-plan-to-cut-benefits
To what extent do existing institutions and policies ensure high-quality services and basic income support?
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9
9
Existing essential public services and basic income support are fully aligned with the goal of satisfying basic human needs.
8
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are largely aligned with the goal of satisfying basic human needs.
5
4
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Existing essential public services and basic income support are only somewhat aligned with the goal of satisfying basic human needs.
2
1
1
Existing essential public services and basic income support are not at all aligned with the goal of satisfying basic human needs.
New Zealand’s social welfare system includes various forms of support aimed at fulfilling basic human needs. These benefits programs assist individuals and families with income support, housing costs, energy costs, public transport costs and costs related to accessing digital infrastructure. The effectiveness of these benefits depends on several factors, such as regional differences in living costs and the resourcing of social services.
Generally, social spending in New Zealand – defined as comprising cash benefits, direct in-kind provision of goods and services, and tax breaks with social purposes – is slightly lower than the OECD average (20.8% of GDP compared to 21.1%) (OECD 2022). The new National-led coalition has announced that it will reduce social spending, though it is not yet clear by how much (RNZ 2023).
Evidence suggests that social policies and services are particularly ineffective in the area of housing. New Zealand has been grappling with a long-running housing crisis, and housing affordability is a significant concern, especially for renters. In 2022, one in four rental households spent more than 40% of their disposable income on housing costs (Stats NZ 2023). Upward pressure on house prices and rents has caused the public housing waitlist to balloon in recent years, with the recorded median time needed to find housing rising to nearly 300 days (Hu 2023). Meanwhile, the number of households living in emergency housing for more than two years doubled between 2022 and 2023 (Neilson 2023).
New Zealand continues to face a child poverty crisis. Though the situation has improved somewhat due to a combination of factors – including high employment and expansions to the social safety net under the Ardern government (Prickett 2023) – UNICEF’s 2023 “Child Poverty in the Midst of Wealth” report, which compares child poverty rates in high-income and upper-middle-income societies, still ranks New Zealand only 19th out of 39 countries. Moreover, the report notes that poverty rates are much higher among Māori and Pasifika children (20% and 24%, respectively) than among children of European descent (around 8%) (Gibson 2023). Newly elected Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has promised to lift a further 78,000 children out of poverty by 2028, but this has been criticized as unrealistic given National’s plans to cut social spending (Cheng 2023).
Citations:
Cheng, D. 2023. “Election 2023: Child poverty at issue as National, Labour vie over fiscal holes, welfare changes.” New Zealand Herald September 30. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-child-poverty-at-issue-as-national-labour-vie-over-fiscal-holes-welfare-changes/2T6Q2AMNJ5AWHJFSVUVUL34ZQI
Gibson, G. 2023. “New Zealand moves up global child poverty rankings, UNICEF says new government must prioritise children ahead of tax cuts.” Newshub, December 6. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/12/new-zealand-moves-up-global-child-poverty-rankings-unicef-says-new-government-must-prioritise-children-ahead-of-tax-cuts.html
Hu, J. 2023. “Public Housing Waitlist Spikes, Over 25,000 Households Waiting.” 1News, December 2. https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/02/public-housing-waitlist-spikes-over-25000-households-waiting/
Neilson, M. 2023. “Cost of living: Number of households spending over two years in emergency housing doubles in past year.” New Zealand Herald, April 16. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/cost-of-living-number-of-households-spending-over-two-years-in-emergency-housing-doubles-in-past-year/ZT67M7EZ6NDGPD3RRHIDR24QEA/
OECD. 2022. “OECD Data: Social Spending.” https://data.oecd.org/socialexp/social-spending.htm#indicator-chart
Prickett, K. C. 2023. “NZ is finally making progress on child poverty – but a ‘no frills’ budget puts that at risk.” The Conversation, May 17. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/490105/nz-is-finally-making-progress-on-child-poverty-but-a-no-frills-budget-puts-that-at-risk
RNZ. 2023. “Election 2023: National Party Fiscal Plan Promises Lower Taxes, Disciplined Government Spending.” September 29. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/499024/election-2023-national-party-fiscal-plan-promises-lower-taxes-disciplined-government-spending
Stats NZ. 2023. “Housing affordability more challenging for renters than homeowners.” https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/housing-affordability-more-challenging-for-renters-than-homeowners/
Generally, social spending in New Zealand – defined as comprising cash benefits, direct in-kind provision of goods and services, and tax breaks with social purposes – is slightly lower than the OECD average (20.8% of GDP compared to 21.1%) (OECD 2022). The new National-led coalition has announced that it will reduce social spending, though it is not yet clear by how much (RNZ 2023).
Evidence suggests that social policies and services are particularly ineffective in the area of housing. New Zealand has been grappling with a long-running housing crisis, and housing affordability is a significant concern, especially for renters. In 2022, one in four rental households spent more than 40% of their disposable income on housing costs (Stats NZ 2023). Upward pressure on house prices and rents has caused the public housing waitlist to balloon in recent years, with the recorded median time needed to find housing rising to nearly 300 days (Hu 2023). Meanwhile, the number of households living in emergency housing for more than two years doubled between 2022 and 2023 (Neilson 2023).
New Zealand continues to face a child poverty crisis. Though the situation has improved somewhat due to a combination of factors – including high employment and expansions to the social safety net under the Ardern government (Prickett 2023) – UNICEF’s 2023 “Child Poverty in the Midst of Wealth” report, which compares child poverty rates in high-income and upper-middle-income societies, still ranks New Zealand only 19th out of 39 countries. Moreover, the report notes that poverty rates are much higher among Māori and Pasifika children (20% and 24%, respectively) than among children of European descent (around 8%) (Gibson 2023). Newly elected Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has promised to lift a further 78,000 children out of poverty by 2028, but this has been criticized as unrealistic given National’s plans to cut social spending (Cheng 2023).
Citations:
Cheng, D. 2023. “Election 2023: Child poverty at issue as National, Labour vie over fiscal holes, welfare changes.” New Zealand Herald September 30. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-child-poverty-at-issue-as-national-labour-vie-over-fiscal-holes-welfare-changes/2T6Q2AMNJ5AWHJFSVUVUL34ZQI
Gibson, G. 2023. “New Zealand moves up global child poverty rankings, UNICEF says new government must prioritise children ahead of tax cuts.” Newshub, December 6. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/12/new-zealand-moves-up-global-child-poverty-rankings-unicef-says-new-government-must-prioritise-children-ahead-of-tax-cuts.html
Hu, J. 2023. “Public Housing Waitlist Spikes, Over 25,000 Households Waiting.” 1News, December 2. https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/02/public-housing-waitlist-spikes-over-25000-households-waiting/
Neilson, M. 2023. “Cost of living: Number of households spending over two years in emergency housing doubles in past year.” New Zealand Herald, April 16. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/cost-of-living-number-of-households-spending-over-two-years-in-emergency-housing-doubles-in-past-year/ZT67M7EZ6NDGPD3RRHIDR24QEA/
OECD. 2022. “OECD Data: Social Spending.” https://data.oecd.org/socialexp/social-spending.htm#indicator-chart
Prickett, K. C. 2023. “NZ is finally making progress on child poverty – but a ‘no frills’ budget puts that at risk.” The Conversation, May 17. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/490105/nz-is-finally-making-progress-on-child-poverty-but-a-no-frills-budget-puts-that-at-risk
RNZ. 2023. “Election 2023: National Party Fiscal Plan Promises Lower Taxes, Disciplined Government Spending.” September 29. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/499024/election-2023-national-party-fiscal-plan-promises-lower-taxes-disciplined-government-spending
Stats NZ. 2023. “Housing affordability more challenging for renters than homeowners.” https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/housing-affordability-more-challenging-for-renters-than-homeowners/
Graph View
To what extent does current health policy hinder or facilitate health system resilience?
10
9
9
Health policies are fully aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
8
7
6
7
6
Health policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
5
4
3
4
3
Health policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
2
1
1
Health policies are not at all aligned with the goal of achieving a resilient health system.
New Zealand’s health policies have aimed to facilitate resilience in the health system.
First, the country has invested in digital infrastructure and the collection of health data to monitor emerging threats and assess public health matters. In 2023, Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand commissioned the development of the National Data Platform (NDP), a single centralized platform for accessing health data that will unify information held by more than 28 health system entities (Ang 2023). New Zealand already operates HealthOne, a shared electronic database that allows general practitioners and other healthcare providers to access patient information. Regulations and frameworks are in place to govern health data privacy, security and consent, including the Health Information Privacy Code and the Health Act.
Second, policies and regulations aim to ensure the availability of health products and services, particularly during times of crisis or emergencies – most importantly, the National Health Emergency Plan and a centrally managed national reserve of critical supplies. Additionally, Health New Zealand may release more short-term plans to reduce pressure on the health system – for example, in the run-up to winter (Palmer 2023). Government agencies are also working to improve New Zealand’s preparedness for pandemics (Crimp 2023). While the country did have a pandemic plan before COVID-19, this plan was geared only toward influenza.
The government seeks to balance rising healthcare costs with quality care provision. Healthcare reforms, such as merging the 20 district health boards into Health New Zealand in July 2022, aim to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the healthcare system. Additionally, the government has employed health technology assessments to evaluate the value and cost-effectiveness of new medical technologies and treatments (Pharmac 2023). However, like other countries, New Zealand faces challenges related to rising healthcare costs due to an aging population and advancements in medical technology.
Furthermore, the new system established by the Labour government to support better Māori Health services and outcomes may be dismantled before it is fully implemented, due to the new government’s commitment to returning to a single health system (Reti 2023).
Citations:
Ang, A. 2023. “Accenture Delivering New Zealand’s National Health Data Platform.” Healthcare IT News, July 27. https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/anz/accenture-delivering-new-zealands-national-health-data-platform
Crimp, L. 2023. “Comprehensive pandemic framework created.” RNZ, November 22. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/502996/comprehensive-pandemic-framework-created
Palmer, R. 2023. “Health NZ Te Whatu Ora Unveils Winter Preparedness Plan.” RNZ, May 4. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/489245/health-nz-te-whatu-ora-unveils-winter-preparedness-plan
Pharmac. 2023. “Pharmac Joins International Collaboration to Advance Use of Health Technology Assessments.” https://pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/news/2023-07-20-media-release-pharmac-joins-international-collaboration-to-advance-use-of-health-technology-assessments
Reti, S. 2023. “Damning Māori Health Authority report released.” National Party Press Release, August 4. https://www.national.org.nz/damning_maori_health_authority_report_released#:~:text=%E2%80%9CNational%20will%20deliver%20health%20based,New%20Zealanders%20falling%20health%20outcomes
First, the country has invested in digital infrastructure and the collection of health data to monitor emerging threats and assess public health matters. In 2023, Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand commissioned the development of the National Data Platform (NDP), a single centralized platform for accessing health data that will unify information held by more than 28 health system entities (Ang 2023). New Zealand already operates HealthOne, a shared electronic database that allows general practitioners and other healthcare providers to access patient information. Regulations and frameworks are in place to govern health data privacy, security and consent, including the Health Information Privacy Code and the Health Act.
Second, policies and regulations aim to ensure the availability of health products and services, particularly during times of crisis or emergencies – most importantly, the National Health Emergency Plan and a centrally managed national reserve of critical supplies. Additionally, Health New Zealand may release more short-term plans to reduce pressure on the health system – for example, in the run-up to winter (Palmer 2023). Government agencies are also working to improve New Zealand’s preparedness for pandemics (Crimp 2023). While the country did have a pandemic plan before COVID-19, this plan was geared only toward influenza.
The government seeks to balance rising healthcare costs with quality care provision. Healthcare reforms, such as merging the 20 district health boards into Health New Zealand in July 2022, aim to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the healthcare system. Additionally, the government has employed health technology assessments to evaluate the value and cost-effectiveness of new medical technologies and treatments (Pharmac 2023). However, like other countries, New Zealand faces challenges related to rising healthcare costs due to an aging population and advancements in medical technology.
Furthermore, the new system established by the Labour government to support better Māori Health services and outcomes may be dismantled before it is fully implemented, due to the new government’s commitment to returning to a single health system (Reti 2023).
Citations:
Ang, A. 2023. “Accenture Delivering New Zealand’s National Health Data Platform.” Healthcare IT News, July 27. https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/anz/accenture-delivering-new-zealands-national-health-data-platform
Crimp, L. 2023. “Comprehensive pandemic framework created.” RNZ, November 22. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/502996/comprehensive-pandemic-framework-created
Palmer, R. 2023. “Health NZ Te Whatu Ora Unveils Winter Preparedness Plan.” RNZ, May 4. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/489245/health-nz-te-whatu-ora-unveils-winter-preparedness-plan
Pharmac. 2023. “Pharmac Joins International Collaboration to Advance Use of Health Technology Assessments.” https://pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/news/2023-07-20-media-release-pharmac-joins-international-collaboration-to-advance-use-of-health-technology-assessments
Reti, S. 2023. “Damning Māori Health Authority report released.” National Party Press Release, August 4. https://www.national.org.nz/damning_maori_health_authority_report_released#:~:text=%E2%80%9CNational%20will%20deliver%20health%20based,New%20Zealanders%20falling%20health%20outcomes
To what extent does current health policy hinder or facilitate achieving high-quality healthcare?
10
9
9
Health policies are fully aligned with the goal of achieving high-quality healthcare.
8
7
6
7
6
Health policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving high-quality healthcare.
5
4
3
4
3
Health policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of achieving high-quality healthcare.
2
1
1
Health policies are not at all aligned with the goal of achieving high-quality healthcare.
Health policy aims to facilitate the delivery of high-quality healthcare.
Policies are designed to foster preventive healthcare, encourage healthy lifestyles, and facilitate the early detection and treatment of health conditions. The government has invested in health promotion initiatives and screening programs, and access to primary healthcare providers allows for regular check-ups and preventive care. However, despite these initiatives, New Zealand performs worse than the OECD average on many risk factor indicators, such as alcohol consumption and obesity (OECD 2023). New Zealand had a world-leading law to ban smoking for future generations, but this has been scrapped by the new National government to help pay for tax cuts (Corlett 2023).
New Zealand’s commitment to universal healthcare ensures that all residents have access to essential healthcare services regardless of their ability to pay. Policies and regulations establish standards and guidelines for healthcare delivery, ensuring quality in treatment and care. In fact, New Zealand performs better than the OECD average on 71% of the OECD’s “quality of care” indicators (OECD 2023). However, areas for improvement remain; for example, wait times for certain procedures or specialist consultations can be very long (RNZ 2023), and workforce shortages put a strain on the healthcare system (Hewett 2023).
Efforts are underway to enhance integration and coordination between different levels of care. Coordinated care pathways aim to ensure individuals receive appropriate care and are referred to specialized services when needed. Policies support the integration of telehealth and technology to improve access to care (Palmer 2023).
Citations:
Corlett, E. 2023. “New Zealand scraps world-first smoking ‘generation ban’ to fund tax cuts.” The Guardian, 27 November. https://theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/27/new-zealand-scraps-world-first-smoking-generation-ban-to-fund-tax-cuts#:~:text=The%20laws%20were%20due%20to,outlets%20and%20the%20generation%20ban%E2%80%9D
Hewett, W. 2023. “Govt Unveils New Sustained Improvement Plan to Tackle Issues Within NZ’s Health Workforce.” Newshub, July 4. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/07/govt-unveils-new-sustained-improvement-plan-to-tackle-issues-within-nz-s-health-workforce.html
OECD. 2023. Health at a Glance 2023: New Zealand. https://www.oecd.org/newzealand/health-at-a-glance-New-Zealand-EN.pdf
Palmer, R. 2023. “Health NZ Te Whatu Ora Unveils Winter Preparedness Plan.” RNZ, May 4. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/489245/health-nz-te-whatu-ora-unveils-winter-preparedness-plan
RNZ. 2023. “Moves to Cut Surgery Waiting Times: Three Down, 98 Recommendations to Go.” 18 November. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/502738/moves-to-cut-surgery-waiting-times-three-down-98-recommendations-to-go
Policies are designed to foster preventive healthcare, encourage healthy lifestyles, and facilitate the early detection and treatment of health conditions. The government has invested in health promotion initiatives and screening programs, and access to primary healthcare providers allows for regular check-ups and preventive care. However, despite these initiatives, New Zealand performs worse than the OECD average on many risk factor indicators, such as alcohol consumption and obesity (OECD 2023). New Zealand had a world-leading law to ban smoking for future generations, but this has been scrapped by the new National government to help pay for tax cuts (Corlett 2023).
New Zealand’s commitment to universal healthcare ensures that all residents have access to essential healthcare services regardless of their ability to pay. Policies and regulations establish standards and guidelines for healthcare delivery, ensuring quality in treatment and care. In fact, New Zealand performs better than the OECD average on 71% of the OECD’s “quality of care” indicators (OECD 2023). However, areas for improvement remain; for example, wait times for certain procedures or specialist consultations can be very long (RNZ 2023), and workforce shortages put a strain on the healthcare system (Hewett 2023).
Efforts are underway to enhance integration and coordination between different levels of care. Coordinated care pathways aim to ensure individuals receive appropriate care and are referred to specialized services when needed. Policies support the integration of telehealth and technology to improve access to care (Palmer 2023).
Citations:
Corlett, E. 2023. “New Zealand scraps world-first smoking ‘generation ban’ to fund tax cuts.” The Guardian, 27 November. https://theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/27/new-zealand-scraps-world-first-smoking-generation-ban-to-fund-tax-cuts#:~:text=The%20laws%20were%20due%20to,outlets%20and%20the%20generation%20ban%E2%80%9D
Hewett, W. 2023. “Govt Unveils New Sustained Improvement Plan to Tackle Issues Within NZ’s Health Workforce.” Newshub, July 4. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/07/govt-unveils-new-sustained-improvement-plan-to-tackle-issues-within-nz-s-health-workforce.html
OECD. 2023. Health at a Glance 2023: New Zealand. https://www.oecd.org/newzealand/health-at-a-glance-New-Zealand-EN.pdf
Palmer, R. 2023. “Health NZ Te Whatu Ora Unveils Winter Preparedness Plan.” RNZ, May 4. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/489245/health-nz-te-whatu-ora-unveils-winter-preparedness-plan
RNZ. 2023. “Moves to Cut Surgery Waiting Times: Three Down, 98 Recommendations to Go.” 18 November. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/502738/moves-to-cut-surgery-waiting-times-three-down-98-recommendations-to-go
To what extent does current health policy hinder or facilitate equitable access to high-quality healthcare?
10
9
9
Health policies are fully aligned with the goal of achieving equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
8
7
6
7
6
Health policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
5
4
3
4
3
Health policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of achieving equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
2
1
1
Health policies are not at all aligned with the goal of achieving equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
Despite New Zealand’s commitment to universal healthcare and policies emphasizing the importance of primary healthcare services, disparities in access to healthcare among different population groups persist.
Māori and Pasifika populations continue to face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services, resulting in poorer health outcomes than among other segments of society. Life expectancy at birth is 73.0 years for Māori males, 77.1 years for Māori females, 74.5 years for Pasifika males and 78.7 years for Pasifika females – far below the national average of 79.5 years for males and 83.2 years for females (Walters 2018). Other indicators tell the same story. For example, Pasifika and Māori children have the highest hospitalization rates for some of the most preventable diseases and infections, including respiratory and rheumatic fever (Tokalau 2023). Additionally, Māori and Pasifika women are more likely to die of breast cancer than European New Zealanders (Kowhai 2022). Furthermore, 19.9% of Māori smoke cigarettes daily, compared to a smoking rate of 7.2% for non-Māori (RNZ 2022a).
The government has implemented several policies and initiatives to address these health inequities – for example, a new algorithm used in New Zealand hospitals that will push Māori and Pasifika patients higher on waiting lists for elective surgery (Lardies 2023), the Rheumatic Fever Roadmap 2023 – 2028 (Rovoi 2023), and programs to boost the number of Māori and Pasifika doctors (RNZ 2022b). The Labour-led government (2017 – 2023) also established the Māori Health Authority (Te Aka Whai Ora), intended to address disparities in health outcomes for the Māori population. However, the new coalition government led by National has signaled that it will abolish the authority (Hill 2023).
Citations:
Hill, R. 2023. “Election Could Bring Massive Change for Māori Health Services.” RNZ, October 12. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/499995/election-could-bring-massive-change-for-maori-health-services
Kowhai, T. 2022. “Report finds Māori and Pasifika women more likely to die of breast cancer.” Newshub, February 4. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/02/report-finds-m-ori-and-pasifika-women-more-likely-to-die-of-breast-cancer.html
Lardies, G. 2023. “New Zealand starts giving priority to Māori and Pacific elective surgery patients.” The Guardian, June 20. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/20/new-zealand-starts-giving-priority-to-maori-and-pacific-elective-surgery-patients
RNZ. 2022. “Daily Smoking Rates at All-Time Low but Remain High for Māori, Figures Show.” 17 November. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/478958/daily-smoking-rates-at-all-time-low-but-remain-high-for-maori-figures-show
RNZ. 2022. “Medical School Data Shows Māori and Pasifika Doctors Likely in Coming Years.” 31 May. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/468233/medical-school-data-shows-maori-and-pasifika-doctors-likely-in-coming-years
Rovoi, C. 2023. “Pasifika, Māori Prioritised as Govt Launches Roadmap to Tackle Rheumatic Fever.” Stuff, June 13. https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/132309132/pasifika-mori-prioritised-as-govt-launches-roadmap-to-tackle-rheumatic-fever
Tokalau, T. 2023. “Pasifika, Māori children hospitalised more often with preventable diseases, report finds.” Stuff, May 16. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/132044728/pasifika-mori-children-hospitalised-more-often-with-preventable-diseases-report-finds
Walters, L. 2018. “Fact Check: Disparities Between Māori and Pākehā.” Stuff, February 9. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101231280/fact-check-disparities-between-mori-and-pkeh
Māori and Pasifika populations continue to face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services, resulting in poorer health outcomes than among other segments of society. Life expectancy at birth is 73.0 years for Māori males, 77.1 years for Māori females, 74.5 years for Pasifika males and 78.7 years for Pasifika females – far below the national average of 79.5 years for males and 83.2 years for females (Walters 2018). Other indicators tell the same story. For example, Pasifika and Māori children have the highest hospitalization rates for some of the most preventable diseases and infections, including respiratory and rheumatic fever (Tokalau 2023). Additionally, Māori and Pasifika women are more likely to die of breast cancer than European New Zealanders (Kowhai 2022). Furthermore, 19.9% of Māori smoke cigarettes daily, compared to a smoking rate of 7.2% for non-Māori (RNZ 2022a).
The government has implemented several policies and initiatives to address these health inequities – for example, a new algorithm used in New Zealand hospitals that will push Māori and Pasifika patients higher on waiting lists for elective surgery (Lardies 2023), the Rheumatic Fever Roadmap 2023 – 2028 (Rovoi 2023), and programs to boost the number of Māori and Pasifika doctors (RNZ 2022b). The Labour-led government (2017 – 2023) also established the Māori Health Authority (Te Aka Whai Ora), intended to address disparities in health outcomes for the Māori population. However, the new coalition government led by National has signaled that it will abolish the authority (Hill 2023).
Citations:
Hill, R. 2023. “Election Could Bring Massive Change for Māori Health Services.” RNZ, October 12. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/499995/election-could-bring-massive-change-for-maori-health-services
Kowhai, T. 2022. “Report finds Māori and Pasifika women more likely to die of breast cancer.” Newshub, February 4. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/02/report-finds-m-ori-and-pasifika-women-more-likely-to-die-of-breast-cancer.html
Lardies, G. 2023. “New Zealand starts giving priority to Māori and Pacific elective surgery patients.” The Guardian, June 20. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/20/new-zealand-starts-giving-priority-to-maori-and-pacific-elective-surgery-patients
RNZ. 2022. “Daily Smoking Rates at All-Time Low but Remain High for Māori, Figures Show.” 17 November. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/478958/daily-smoking-rates-at-all-time-low-but-remain-high-for-maori-figures-show
RNZ. 2022. “Medical School Data Shows Māori and Pasifika Doctors Likely in Coming Years.” 31 May. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/468233/medical-school-data-shows-maori-and-pasifika-doctors-likely-in-coming-years
Rovoi, C. 2023. “Pasifika, Māori Prioritised as Govt Launches Roadmap to Tackle Rheumatic Fever.” Stuff, June 13. https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/132309132/pasifika-mori-prioritised-as-govt-launches-roadmap-to-tackle-rheumatic-fever
Tokalau, T. 2023. “Pasifika, Māori children hospitalised more often with preventable diseases, report finds.” Stuff, May 16. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/132044728/pasifika-mori-children-hospitalised-more-often-with-preventable-diseases-report-finds
Walters, L. 2018. “Fact Check: Disparities Between Māori and Pākehā.” Stuff, February 9. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101231280/fact-check-disparities-between-mori-and-pkeh
Graph View
How committed is the government to ensuring gender equality in all respects?
10
9
9
The government is clearly committed to the goal of ensuring gender equality.
8
7
6
7
6
The government is largely committed to the goal of ensuring gender equality.
5
4
3
4
3
The government is only somewhat committed to the goal of ensuring gender equality.
2
1
1
The government is not at all committed to the goal of ensuring gender equality.
New Zealand has demonstrated a commitment to gender equality across various domains. Although there is no standalone strategy document specifically labeled as a “gender equality strategy,” the New Zealand government has implemented policies and initiatives across different sectors to promote gender equality and address gender disparities. These initiatives cover areas such as employment, education, health and violence prevention.
The Ministry for Women is the lead government agency responsible for implementing gender equality strategies and initiatives. Its functions include coordinating gender equality efforts across government agencies and working collaboratively with stakeholders to implement initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality.
First, New Zealand has laws and regulations aimed at preventing and addressing various forms of violence against women and girls, the most important being the Domestic Violence Act. The government also supports a network of services, including shelters, helplines, counseling and advocacy services, to assist victims of violence. Nevertheless, domestic violence remains a serious issue, with police attending a family harm episode every three minutes. Māori women are more likely to be affected by family and sexual violence than any other ethnicity; nearly 50% experience partner abuse in their lifetime (Rankin 2023).
Second, the government has demonstrated a commitment to promoting equal opportunities in the labor market and education. For instance, efforts focus on addressing gender disparities in STEM fields, gender pay gaps and the unequal sharing of caregiving responsibilities. Challenges persist, however. The gender pay gap continues to sit at 8.6% (Gabel 2023), and women remain underrepresented in certain sectors of the labor market (Armah 2022) – to name just two examples.
New Zealand has made strides in promoting women’s participation and equal opportunities at various levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. In 2022, female lawmakers became the majority in Parliament for the first time. In April 2023, the government cabinet reached gender equity for the first time in its history (McClure 2023). Additionally, more than half of senior leadership positions within the public service are held by women (Deguara 2020). At the same time, however, female leaders make up only 36.5% of directors across NZX-listed companies (NZX 2020).
Citations:
Armah, M. 2022. “Māori, Pasifika and women under-represented in Auckland’s tech industry.” Stuff, June 20. https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/129000126/mori-pasifika-and-women-underrepresented-in-aucklands-tech-industry
Deguara, B. 2020. “More female leaders as strides made to close gender pay gap in public sector.” Stuff, 17 September. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/transforming-business/122784044/more-female-leaders-as-strides-made-to-close-gender-pay-gap-in-public-sector
Gabel, J. 2023. “Gender Pay Gap Explained: What Is It and Why Does It Still Exist?” New Zealand Herald, November 27. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/gender-pay-gap-explained-what-is-it-and-why-does-it-still-exist/GJP4JEHGCNCAZEHUK3FP5Q6YQ4/
McClure, T. 2023. “‘A Very Welcome Thing’: New Zealand Cabinet Reaches Gender Parity for First Time.” The Guardian, April 11. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/11/a-very-welcome-thing-new-zealand-cabinet-reaches-gender-parity-for-first-time
NZX. 2022. “Gender diversity statistics.” https://www.nzx.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaTBYIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19–d43f12ed46ad4def5af48e8c38cc295165bf352d/Gender%20Diversity%20Statistics%20-%20year%20ended%2031%20July.pdf
Rankin, A. 2023. “‘There’s a huge problem’: New Zealand searches for new ways to tackle family violence.” The Guardian, August 25. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/26/theres-a-huge-problem-new-zealand-searches-for-new-ways-to-tackle-family-violence
The Ministry for Women is the lead government agency responsible for implementing gender equality strategies and initiatives. Its functions include coordinating gender equality efforts across government agencies and working collaboratively with stakeholders to implement initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality.
First, New Zealand has laws and regulations aimed at preventing and addressing various forms of violence against women and girls, the most important being the Domestic Violence Act. The government also supports a network of services, including shelters, helplines, counseling and advocacy services, to assist victims of violence. Nevertheless, domestic violence remains a serious issue, with police attending a family harm episode every three minutes. Māori women are more likely to be affected by family and sexual violence than any other ethnicity; nearly 50% experience partner abuse in their lifetime (Rankin 2023).
Second, the government has demonstrated a commitment to promoting equal opportunities in the labor market and education. For instance, efforts focus on addressing gender disparities in STEM fields, gender pay gaps and the unequal sharing of caregiving responsibilities. Challenges persist, however. The gender pay gap continues to sit at 8.6% (Gabel 2023), and women remain underrepresented in certain sectors of the labor market (Armah 2022) – to name just two examples.
New Zealand has made strides in promoting women’s participation and equal opportunities at various levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. In 2022, female lawmakers became the majority in Parliament for the first time. In April 2023, the government cabinet reached gender equity for the first time in its history (McClure 2023). Additionally, more than half of senior leadership positions within the public service are held by women (Deguara 2020). At the same time, however, female leaders make up only 36.5% of directors across NZX-listed companies (NZX 2020).
Citations:
Armah, M. 2022. “Māori, Pasifika and women under-represented in Auckland’s tech industry.” Stuff, June 20. https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/129000126/mori-pasifika-and-women-underrepresented-in-aucklands-tech-industry
Deguara, B. 2020. “More female leaders as strides made to close gender pay gap in public sector.” Stuff, 17 September. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/transforming-business/122784044/more-female-leaders-as-strides-made-to-close-gender-pay-gap-in-public-sector
Gabel, J. 2023. “Gender Pay Gap Explained: What Is It and Why Does It Still Exist?” New Zealand Herald, November 27. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/gender-pay-gap-explained-what-is-it-and-why-does-it-still-exist/GJP4JEHGCNCAZEHUK3FP5Q6YQ4/
McClure, T. 2023. “‘A Very Welcome Thing’: New Zealand Cabinet Reaches Gender Parity for First Time.” The Guardian, April 11. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/11/a-very-welcome-thing-new-zealand-cabinet-reaches-gender-parity-for-first-time
NZX. 2022. “Gender diversity statistics.” https://www.nzx.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaTBYIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19–d43f12ed46ad4def5af48e8c38cc295165bf352d/Gender%20Diversity%20Statistics%20-%20year%20ended%2031%20July.pdf
Rankin, A. 2023. “‘There’s a huge problem’: New Zealand searches for new ways to tackle family violence.” The Guardian, August 25. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/26/theres-a-huge-problem-new-zealand-searches-for-new-ways-to-tackle-family-violence
Graph View
To what extent does the current family policy approach support or hinder unpaid family care work?
10
9
9
Family policies are fully aligned with the goal of creating the conditions for strong families.
8
7
6
7
6
Family policies are largely aligned with the goal of creating the conditions for strong families.
5
4
3
4
3
Family policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of creating the conditions for strong families.
2
1
1
Family policies are not at all aligned with the goal of creating family-friendly conditions.
New Zealand’s family policy approach aims to support unpaid family care work. Several measures are in place to provide support, most importantly the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act, legal entitlement to sick leave days (which can be used to care for sick children or other family members), government funding for early childhood education programs (children aged two to five years old are entitled to 20 hours of ECE per week), Working for Families tax credits, and family support payments such as Best Start.
New Zealand’s family policy aims to support unpaid family care work, but ongoing efforts are needed to address gaps and expand support services. New Zealand lags behind other developed countries in terms of paid parental leave and is among the few OECD countries that do not legislate for paid partner’s leave (Tilo 2023). Additionally, dedicated paid leave for caregiving responsibilities could better support parents caring for sick children. Although the government subsidizes early childhood education (ECE), childcare costs can still be a significant expense for some families. New Zealand has some of the highest childcare costs in the Western world. A typical couple – both earning the average wage and with two children – spends around 23% of their income on childcare (Taunton 2022).
Citations:
Taunton, E. 2022. “By the numbers: The true cost of childcare.” Stuff, November 8. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/130397657/by-the-numbers-the-true-cost-of-childcare
Tilo, D. 2023. “New Zealand Trails Other Developed Nations on Paid Parental Leave – Report.” Human Resources Director, August 29. https://www.hcamag.com/nz/specialisation/benefits/new-zealand-trails-other-developed-nations-on-paid-parental-leave-report/457742
New Zealand’s family policy aims to support unpaid family care work, but ongoing efforts are needed to address gaps and expand support services. New Zealand lags behind other developed countries in terms of paid parental leave and is among the few OECD countries that do not legislate for paid partner’s leave (Tilo 2023). Additionally, dedicated paid leave for caregiving responsibilities could better support parents caring for sick children. Although the government subsidizes early childhood education (ECE), childcare costs can still be a significant expense for some families. New Zealand has some of the highest childcare costs in the Western world. A typical couple – both earning the average wage and with two children – spends around 23% of their income on childcare (Taunton 2022).
Citations:
Taunton, E. 2022. “By the numbers: The true cost of childcare.” Stuff, November 8. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/130397657/by-the-numbers-the-true-cost-of-childcare
Tilo, D. 2023. “New Zealand Trails Other Developed Nations on Paid Parental Leave – Report.” Human Resources Director, August 29. https://www.hcamag.com/nz/specialisation/benefits/new-zealand-trails-other-developed-nations-on-paid-parental-leave-report/457742
Graph View
To what extent does the current pension policy approach prevent poverty among senior citizens?
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9
9
Pension policies are fully aligned with the goal of preventing old-age poverty.
8
7
6
7
6
Pension policies are largely aligned with the goal of preventing old-age poverty.
5
4
3
4
3
Pension policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of preventing old-age poverty.
2
1
1
Pension policies are not at all aligned with the goal of preventing old-age poverty.
The state pension system, New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super), plays a significant role in preventing poverty among senior citizens. Unlike some contribution-based pension systems, NZ Super is universal, providing the same pension amount regardless of an individual’s employment history. This benefits those with interrupted employment or nonstandard work, as they can still receive the pension without meeting specific contribution criteria. NZ Super is linked to the average wage, ensuring that it keeps pace with changes in the cost of living.
The government also provides tax credits to incentivize individuals to contribute portions of their salary or wages to KiwiSaver – a voluntary scheme designed to build long-term savings. KiwiSaver funds are invested in various types of assets, depending on the member’s chosen fund or scheme, and can generally be accessed upon retirement, purchasing a first home, or under certain financial hardship conditions.
For seniors who may require additional financial assistance, supplementary income support programs are available, such as the Accommodation Supplement. Seniors also have access to initiatives like the SuperGold Card, which provides discounts on healthcare services, public transport and other essentials.
New Zealand’s pension regime is relatively efficient: Just 7.7% of those between 65 and 75 are considered to be living in poverty, compared to the OECD average of 11.6% – even though the figure rises to 15.2% for those 76 and older (16.2% across the OECD) (OECD 2021). Nevertheless, potential areas for improvement exist. In particular, the recent cost of living and rent spikes are eating into seniors’ incomes – a situation that is especially difficult for pensioners who have no other incomes besides Super NZ (Hendry-Tennent 2023).
Moreover, evidence suggests that women tend to have lower long-term savings available at retirement due to labor market breaks, unpaid care work and a tendency to be more conservative with investments. This phenomenon has become known as the gender pension gap (RNZ 2023).
Citations:
Hendry-Tennent, I. 2023. “Cost of living: Pensioners living in pain, skipping meals as inflation pushes essentials out of reach.” Newshub, April 8. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2023/04/cost-of-living-pensioners-living-in-pain-skipping-meals-as-inflation-pushes-essentials-out-of-reach.html
OECD. 2021. “Old Age Income Poverty.” https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/d76e4fad-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/d76e4fad-en
RNZ. 2023. “Gender gap for Kiwisaver balances worsens.” Radio New Zealand, July 11. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/493534/gender-gap-for-kiwisaver-balances-worsens-trend-more-apparent-in-younger-age-groups
The government also provides tax credits to incentivize individuals to contribute portions of their salary or wages to KiwiSaver – a voluntary scheme designed to build long-term savings. KiwiSaver funds are invested in various types of assets, depending on the member’s chosen fund or scheme, and can generally be accessed upon retirement, purchasing a first home, or under certain financial hardship conditions.
For seniors who may require additional financial assistance, supplementary income support programs are available, such as the Accommodation Supplement. Seniors also have access to initiatives like the SuperGold Card, which provides discounts on healthcare services, public transport and other essentials.
New Zealand’s pension regime is relatively efficient: Just 7.7% of those between 65 and 75 are considered to be living in poverty, compared to the OECD average of 11.6% – even though the figure rises to 15.2% for those 76 and older (16.2% across the OECD) (OECD 2021). Nevertheless, potential areas for improvement exist. In particular, the recent cost of living and rent spikes are eating into seniors’ incomes – a situation that is especially difficult for pensioners who have no other incomes besides Super NZ (Hendry-Tennent 2023).
Moreover, evidence suggests that women tend to have lower long-term savings available at retirement due to labor market breaks, unpaid care work and a tendency to be more conservative with investments. This phenomenon has become known as the gender pension gap (RNZ 2023).
Citations:
Hendry-Tennent, I. 2023. “Cost of living: Pensioners living in pain, skipping meals as inflation pushes essentials out of reach.” Newshub, April 8. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2023/04/cost-of-living-pensioners-living-in-pain-skipping-meals-as-inflation-pushes-essentials-out-of-reach.html
OECD. 2021. “Old Age Income Poverty.” https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/d76e4fad-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/d76e4fad-en
RNZ. 2023. “Gender gap for Kiwisaver balances worsens.” Radio New Zealand, July 11. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/493534/gender-gap-for-kiwisaver-balances-worsens-trend-more-apparent-in-younger-age-groups
To what extent does the current pension policy approach hinder or promote intergenerational equity?
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9
9
Pension policies are fully aligned with the goal of achieving intergenerational equity.
8
7
6
7
6
Pension policies are largely aligned with the goal of achieving intergenerational equity.
5
4
3
4
3
Pension policies are only somewhat aligned with the goal of achieving intergenerational equity.
2
1
1
Pension policies are not at all aligned with the goal of achieving intergenerational equity.
The New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) has features that may influence individuals’ decisions about retirement and continued work. NZ Super is typically available from age 65, encouraging people to consider retirement around that age. However, there is no official requirement to retire upon reaching this age, providing flexibility for those who wish to continue working. NZ Super also allows individuals to receive a partial pension while continuing to work. This option encourages phased retirement, enabling individuals to gradually reduce their work hours while supplementing their income with pension benefits.
The NZ Super operates on a “pay-as-you-go” model – that is, current contributions from working individuals fund the pensions for current retirees. This means an aging population with a decreasing ratio of working-age individuals to retirees poses challenges. With fewer workers contributing to the NZ Super for each retiree, sustainability might become a concern in the long term.
To address this concern, the OECD has recommended that New Zealand raise its superannuation age. The newly elected National government agrees with the OECD’s recommendation and plans to increase the age of eligibility to 67 (Shepherd and Ensor 2023). However, a report by the Retirement Commission concludes that raising the age will likely disadvantage manual workers and groups with lower life expectancies – including Māori and Pasifika – and further entrench social inequality (Walton 2022).
Citations:
Shepherd, S., and Ensor, J. 2023. “Superannuation age: Debate flares over future of pension, call for it to be raised to 70, not given to rich.” Newshub, April 1. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/04/superannuation-age-debate-flares-over-future-of-pension-call-for-it-to-be-raised-to-70-not-given-to-rich.html
Walton, F. 2022. “Retirement Commission review suggests more people set to retire without a nest egg.” RNZ, November 29. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/479687/retirement-commission-review-suggests-more-people-set-to-retire-without-a-nest-egg
The NZ Super operates on a “pay-as-you-go” model – that is, current contributions from working individuals fund the pensions for current retirees. This means an aging population with a decreasing ratio of working-age individuals to retirees poses challenges. With fewer workers contributing to the NZ Super for each retiree, sustainability might become a concern in the long term.
To address this concern, the OECD has recommended that New Zealand raise its superannuation age. The newly elected National government agrees with the OECD’s recommendation and plans to increase the age of eligibility to 67 (Shepherd and Ensor 2023). However, a report by the Retirement Commission concludes that raising the age will likely disadvantage manual workers and groups with lower life expectancies – including Māori and Pasifika – and further entrench social inequality (Walton 2022).
Citations:
Shepherd, S., and Ensor, J. 2023. “Superannuation age: Debate flares over future of pension, call for it to be raised to 70, not given to rich.” Newshub, April 1. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/04/superannuation-age-debate-flares-over-future-of-pension-call-for-it-to-be-raised-to-70-not-given-to-rich.html
Walton, F. 2022. “Retirement Commission review suggests more people set to retire without a nest egg.” RNZ, November 29. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/479687/retirement-commission-review-suggests-more-people-set-to-retire-without-a-nest-egg
Graph View
To what extent does the current policy approach hinder or facilitate the inclusion of migrants into society and the labor market?
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9
9
Integration policies are fully aligned with achieving the sustainable inclusion of migrants in society.
8
7
6
7
6
Integration policies are largely aligned with achieving the sustainable inclusion of migrants in society.
5
4
3
4
3
Integration policies are only somewhat aligned with achieving the sustainable inclusion of migrants in society.
2
1
1
Integration policies are not at all aligned with achieving the sustainable inclusion of migrants in society.
New Zealand has long been a prime destination for immigrants. The latest census (2018) shows that 27.4% of people counted were not born in New Zealand, up from 25.2% in 2013 (Stats NZ 2019).
New Zealand has implemented initiatives to facilitate the inclusion of migrants into society and the labor market. Immigration policies prioritize skilled migrants, offering pathways for those with skills needed in the labor market. Additionally, there are programs and services to assist migrants with settlement, language training and cultural integration. Policies that allow for family reunification further support migrants in establishing stable lives in New Zealand.
Empirical data suggest that these initiatives are effective: Immigrants are less likely to claim benefits, more likely to be employed, and their children have better educational outcomes than native-born New Zealanders. Moreover, there is relatively little ethnic or migrant clustering, and where concentrations do occur there is no indication of high rates of unemployment (Krupp and Hodder 2017). Surveys show that New Zealanders generally have a positive view of migrants and value the contribution they make to the economy and the cultural diversity they bring. For example, research commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in 2021 showed that 64% of New Zealanders felt positively toward migrants, the highest point measured since the first survey was conducted in 2011 (Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment 2021).
However, certain hindrances to inclusion remain. For example, challenges exist with regard to the recognition and validation of foreign qualifications and work experience – though some qualification requirements have been lifted recently, such as in the hospitality industry (Sadler and Ewing 2022). Moreover, despite the generally welcoming attitude toward immigration, racism and discrimination against migrants can still be found in New Zealand – including in the areas of health, housing and employment (RNZ 2021).
Citations:
Krupp, Jason and Rachel Hodder. 2017. “The New New Zealanders: Why Migrants Make Good Kiwis.” The New Zealand Initiative. https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/the-new-new-zealanders/
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. 2021. “Community perceptions of migrants and immigration 2021.” https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/18768-community-perceptions-of-migrants-and-immigration-2021
RNZ. 2021. “Racism against Migrants Prevalent in New Zealand, Report Finds.” 25 March. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/439123/racism-against-migrants-prevalent-in-new-zealand-report-finds
Sadler, R. and Ewing, I. 2022. “Government Removes Qualification Requirement for Migrant Chefs as Part of New Immigration Support for Hospitality, Tourism Sectors.” Newshub, October 9. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/10/government-removes-qualification-requirement-for-migrant-chefs-as-part-of-new-immigration-support-for-hospitality-tourism-sectors.html
Stats NZ. 2019. “New Zealand’s Population Reflects Growing Diversity.” https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/newzealands-population-reflects-growing-diversity
New Zealand has implemented initiatives to facilitate the inclusion of migrants into society and the labor market. Immigration policies prioritize skilled migrants, offering pathways for those with skills needed in the labor market. Additionally, there are programs and services to assist migrants with settlement, language training and cultural integration. Policies that allow for family reunification further support migrants in establishing stable lives in New Zealand.
Empirical data suggest that these initiatives are effective: Immigrants are less likely to claim benefits, more likely to be employed, and their children have better educational outcomes than native-born New Zealanders. Moreover, there is relatively little ethnic or migrant clustering, and where concentrations do occur there is no indication of high rates of unemployment (Krupp and Hodder 2017). Surveys show that New Zealanders generally have a positive view of migrants and value the contribution they make to the economy and the cultural diversity they bring. For example, research commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in 2021 showed that 64% of New Zealanders felt positively toward migrants, the highest point measured since the first survey was conducted in 2011 (Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment 2021).
However, certain hindrances to inclusion remain. For example, challenges exist with regard to the recognition and validation of foreign qualifications and work experience – though some qualification requirements have been lifted recently, such as in the hospitality industry (Sadler and Ewing 2022). Moreover, despite the generally welcoming attitude toward immigration, racism and discrimination against migrants can still be found in New Zealand – including in the areas of health, housing and employment (RNZ 2021).
Citations:
Krupp, Jason and Rachel Hodder. 2017. “The New New Zealanders: Why Migrants Make Good Kiwis.” The New Zealand Initiative. https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/the-new-new-zealanders/
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. 2021. “Community perceptions of migrants and immigration 2021.” https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/18768-community-perceptions-of-migrants-and-immigration-2021
RNZ. 2021. “Racism against Migrants Prevalent in New Zealand, Report Finds.” 25 March. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/439123/racism-against-migrants-prevalent-in-new-zealand-report-finds
Sadler, R. and Ewing, I. 2022. “Government Removes Qualification Requirement for Migrant Chefs as Part of New Immigration Support for Hospitality, Tourism Sectors.” Newshub, October 9. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/10/government-removes-qualification-requirement-for-migrant-chefs-as-part-of-new-immigration-support-for-hospitality-tourism-sectors.html
Stats NZ. 2019. “New Zealand’s Population Reflects Growing Diversity.” https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/newzealands-population-reflects-growing-diversity
Graph View
How committed is the government to helping build the capacity to reduce poverty and provide social protection in low- and middle-income countries?
10
9
9
The government’s development cooperation strategy is fully aligned with the goal of improving capacity-building for poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries.
8
7
6
7
6
The government’s development cooperation strategy is largely aligned with the goal of improving capacity-building for poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries.
5
4
3
4
3
The government’s development cooperation strategy is only somewhat aligned with the goal of improving capacity-building in poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries.
2
1
1
The government’s development cooperation strategy is not all aligned with the goal of improving capacity-building for poverty reduction in low- and middle-income countries.
New Zealand’s commitment to reducing poverty and supporting social protection in low- and middle-income countries has been lagging. While New Zealand allocates a portion of its budget to official development assistance (ODA), it does not spend anywhere near the 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) recommended by the United Nations. In fact, ODA has declined in recent years, from 0.29% of GNI in 2018 to 0.23% in 2022 (OECD 2022).
Given its geographical proximity and historical ties, New Zealand places significant emphasis on providing aid and development assistance to Pacific island countries. About 60% of New Zealand’s foreign aid goes to the Pacific region (Neas 2022). It is important to highlight that ODA is driven, at least to some extent, by the political goal of countering China’s growing influence in the Pacific (Steff 2018).
In addition to budgeted ODA, New Zealand has also delivered immediate humanitarian aid to its Pacific neighbors – for example, after the Tonga volcano eruption in January 2022 (Livingstone 2022) and in the wake of Cyclone Lola in Vanuatu in October 2023 (RNZ 2023).
Citations:
Livingstone, H. 2022. “New photos show Tonga tsunami devastation as first aid plane arrives from New Zealand.” The Guardian, January 20. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/20/new-photos-show-tonga-tsunami-devastation-as-some-phone-lines-restored
Neas, O. 2022. “Power Shifts: New Zealand Reconsiders Pacific Role as China’s Influence Grows.” The Guardian, April 1. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/01/power-shifts-new-zealand-reconsiders-pacific-role-as-chinas-influence-grows
OECD. 2022. “OECD Data: Net ODA.” https://data.oecd.org/oda/net-oda.htm
RNZ. 2023. “NZ Government Announces $450,000 Aid for Vanuatu after ex-Tropical Cyclone Lola.” 30 October. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/501327/nz-government-announces-450-000-aid-for-vanuatu-after-ex-tropical-cyclone-lola
Steff, R. 2018. “New Zealand’s Pacific Reset: Strategic Anxieties about Rising China.” The Conversation, June 1. https://theconversation.com/new-zealands-pacific-reset-strategic-anxieties-about-rising-china-97174
Given its geographical proximity and historical ties, New Zealand places significant emphasis on providing aid and development assistance to Pacific island countries. About 60% of New Zealand’s foreign aid goes to the Pacific region (Neas 2022). It is important to highlight that ODA is driven, at least to some extent, by the political goal of countering China’s growing influence in the Pacific (Steff 2018).
In addition to budgeted ODA, New Zealand has also delivered immediate humanitarian aid to its Pacific neighbors – for example, after the Tonga volcano eruption in January 2022 (Livingstone 2022) and in the wake of Cyclone Lola in Vanuatu in October 2023 (RNZ 2023).
Citations:
Livingstone, H. 2022. “New photos show Tonga tsunami devastation as first aid plane arrives from New Zealand.” The Guardian, January 20. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/20/new-photos-show-tonga-tsunami-devastation-as-some-phone-lines-restored
Neas, O. 2022. “Power Shifts: New Zealand Reconsiders Pacific Role as China’s Influence Grows.” The Guardian, April 1. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/01/power-shifts-new-zealand-reconsiders-pacific-role-as-chinas-influence-grows
OECD. 2022. “OECD Data: Net ODA.” https://data.oecd.org/oda/net-oda.htm
RNZ. 2023. “NZ Government Announces $450,000 Aid for Vanuatu after ex-Tropical Cyclone Lola.” 30 October. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/501327/nz-government-announces-450-000-aid-for-vanuatu-after-ex-tropical-cyclone-lola
Steff, R. 2018. “New Zealand’s Pacific Reset: Strategic Anxieties about Rising China.” The Conversation, June 1. https://theconversation.com/new-zealands-pacific-reset-strategic-anxieties-about-rising-china-97174