Real progress for tamariki requires collective action
Te Whare CEO responds to Foundations of Wellbeing – Poipoia te Kākano State of the Nations 2026 report.
Download the report here
I’m sure by now you’ll have heard commentary on the recently released report, Foundations of Wellbeing – Poipoia te Kākano.
Tamariki poverty remains one of the most urgent challenges facing Aotearoa, with the latest data showing rising child hardship, increased violence against children, and more tamariki living in households dependent on welfare support.
These pressures erode the foundations of whānau wellbeing and directly contradict our vision for tamariki harikoa—children who are safe, joyful and thriving.
Child poverty rates have worsened, with more tamariki experiencing material deprivation.
Many families are struggling with inadequate incomes, unemployment and high living costs, leaving tamariki without the essentials for health, stability and learning.
Housing insecurity—through overcrowding, unaffordable rents and rising homelessness—further destabilises children’s lives, limiting their ability to maintain cultural connections, succeed at school and feel secure in their communities.
Using Te Ora o Te Whānau as a lens, the report shows how systemic barriers compound these harms, particularly for Tamariki Māori, whose rates of deprivation remain disproportionately high.
Yet despite these challenges, the report highlights resilience within whānau and the proven strength of kaupapa Māori approaches that uphold identity, dignity and belonging.
At Te Whare, while we see the effects poverty has on our whānau, we also see the mana and the strength they hold to move forward and make change. Our commitment is to continue walking alongside whānau, helping them heal and restore oranga – but we shouldn’t do that alone.
Real progress for tamariki requires collective action, values‑led service, and partnerships to design systems that empower whānau to flourish.
If that’s your kaupapa, let’s connect and lead the restoration of whānau together.
Elizabeth Walker
Tāhuhu | CEO, Te Whare