‘There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.’ -Nelson Mandela.
The focus of this policy project is the Working for Families (WFF) package, introduced in 
New Zealand in 2005. WFF is aimed at reducing the rate of child poverty. Since 2005 there has been no marked reduction in child poverty with the rate remaining at 22 percent from 2007-2011. This indicates that WFF is not achieving its objective and as such is in need of review.
The need for review is especially pronounced in this instance as the well-being of children is being compromised by its ineffectiveness, which matters in the present and in the future socially as well as economically, with adults who grew up in poverty more likely to be out of work or in low paid jobs.
This project employs comparative analysis in order to determine why WFF is ineffective in reducing child poverty. The focus on providing tax credits to those in work was found to be central to the ineffectiveness of WFF, as this focus fails to address child poverty in the section of the population who are dependent on government assistance.
Please feel free to leave comments on this project or email Annelise Bunce at abun020@aucklanduni.ac.nz.