Number of child deaths from assault has stayed same for over a decade


Tue 11 Dec 2012

The 2012 Children's Social Monitor Update reports that the number of child deaths from assault in New Zealand each year has stayed the same for ...

The 2012 Children's Social Monitor Update reports that the number of child deaths from assault in New Zealand each year has stayed the same for more than a decade. Launched yesterday, the report found that an average of eight children have died from assault each year since 2000. Dr Nikki Turner said it was "disturbing" that this number hasn't dropped. 

Speaking about the report, Dr Turner said, "This is not just about the individual parent – a lot of this is about the parent and a lot of it’s about the community we all live in. There are a lot of different angles on this that are all important. There’s not one single solution here but there are a lot of solutions that could be more effective for New Zealand."

The Monitor was launched in 2009 to monitor the impact of the economic downturn on children's health and wellbeing. It says about 4000 more children were hospitalised for conditions linked to poverty last year compared to five years ago.

Read the 2012 update

Visit the Children’s Social Health Monitor Report webpage

Media:

'Government urged to tackle causes of child poverty', Radio NZ, 10/12/12

'The 2012 Children’s Social Health Monitor paints a mixed picture for child health in New Zealand', Press release: New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service, 10/12/12