Child Poverty Action Group (Aotearoa New Zealand)

Child Poverty Action Group (Aotearoa New Zealand) (CPAG) is a New Zealand political advocacy group for the abolition of poverty and social exclusion.

Led by senior University of Auckland economist Susan St John CPAG describes itself as "an independent charity working to eliminate child poverty in New Zealand through research, advocacy and education. CPAG speaks out on behalf of tens of thousands of New Zealand's poorest children whose health, education and well-being are compromised by their meagre standard of living."[1] On Thursday 18 May 2006 CPAG defeated a New Zealand Government appeal in the High Court that would have prevented it from taking "legal action against the Government's Working for Families package." CPAG decided to take legal action because it felt that the Working for Families package discriminated against the children of parents on benefits.[2]

The main aims of the CPAG in New Zealand are:

• To promote better policies for children and young people.
• To promote awareness of the causes and consequences of child poverty.
• To ensure all activities and decisions of the group honour Te Tiriti O Waitangi.
• To ensure all activities and decisions respect other cultural perspectives.[3]

In order to realise these aims:

• CPAG undertakes independent, up-to-date research on the underlying causes of poverty and its effects.
• CPAG advocates for more informed social policy to support the children of Aotearoa New Zealand.
• CPAG supports other organisations working to improve the situation of children and young people in Aotearoa New Zealand by providing clear, independent, reliable information.[1]