This thematic report, prepared for the Committee on the Rights of the Child, focuses on the health and wellbeing of children under five years old in New Zealand. Despite living in a well-resourced country, many children in Aotearoa do not equally enjoy their rights to health, development, and a decent standard of living. The report highlights the importance of providing opportunities during early childhood to ensure better health and wellbeing later in life. It also emphasizes the unique rights of Māori children under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The report, a collaboration between Save the Children New Zealand, Whānau Āwhina Plunket, Child Poverty Action Group, and the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, focuses on four key health issues affecting young children: Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy (SUDI), tooth decay, skin infections, and respiratory infections. It also addresses how poverty and inequality disproportionately affect some children, leading to worse health outcomes. The report calls for timely, high-quality healthcare to prevent illnesses from worsening and to ensure better health outcomes for all children in Aotearoa.
