25 Nov 2019

50,000 NZ working households live in poverty

From Nine To Noon, 9:05 am on 25 November 2019
Poverty - working poor

Photo: 123RF pics composite

Research released this morning has crunched the numbers on just how many working poor there are in New Zealand - 50,000 working households living in poverty across Aotearoa. The research commissioned by the Human Rights Commission, using 2013 census data found the overall in-work poverty rate is running at 7 per cent of the whole population, before housing costs.  The Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Dr Karanina Sumeo says poverty is a human rights and dignity issue, with a whānau's wellbeing at stake. AUT Professor of Economics, Gail Pacheco hopes the research will help public policymakers.