Larry Williams Drive

New Zealand pre-schoolers experience worse health and welfare outcomes than older kids do, according to a report released Monday. The report, published by Save the Children, Whānau Āwhina Plunket, the Child Poverty Action Group and the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, also highlighted the direct connection between Aotearoa's poverty and preventable childhood illnesses. "Sadly, the report reveals a bleak picture of upholding children's rights in Aotearoa, with poverty directly affecting the health outcomes of our youngest citizens, who are often forgotten about in terms of rights," Save the Children's Advocacy and Research director Jacqui Southey said. "The report finds that the leading causes of ill health and mortality of New Zealand's under-5s are largely preventable and are attributable to poverty." Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Sudi), oral health, skin infections, and respiratory infections made up the four key areas that significantly impact kids under 5. Poor health outcomes are caused