Child poverty continues to increase, coming as no surprise to frontline organisations  

The latest Stats NZ figures show a two percent rise to 12.5% of all children are living in households that can't afford the basics.  

Child Matters chief executive Jane Searle says the numbers of two-income families needing the help of community initiatives has risen substantially. 

She told Mike Hosking that the "working poor" is now something they're seeing all the time.  

Searle says families, previously not in this situation, are now accessing food banks because one big bill has tipped the budget over.  

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