Every Child Counts

In 2004 Every Child Counts was established as a joint 2005 general election project (The Project), promoting the central concept that children need to be at the centre of government policy and planning if New Zealand is to have an economically and socially sustainable future.

The lead organisations of the coalition at that time were Barnardos NZ, Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, Save the Children NZ, UNICEF NZ and the Institute of Public Policy at AUT University. The Project was reviewed post-election in 2005, and it was decided to maintain the coalition through to the 2008 general election.

Following a similar review after the 2008 election, it was determined to continue until after the 2011 general election.  At that time the Institute of Public Policy withdrew from the Steering Committee while still supporting the organisation, and Te Kahui Mana Ririki, a strong advocacy organisation for Māori children and families, joined the lead organisations at that time.

The purpose of Every Child Counts is:

To contribute to the welfare of the children and young people of Aotearoa New Zealand by raising public awareness and promoting public policies that:

1. Place children at the centre of policy and planning;
2. Ensure every child gets a good start in life;
3. End child poverty;
4. Reduce maltreatment, child abuse and neglect
5. Increase the status of children and the child rearing role of families, whānau, hapū and iwi.

The Steering Group

Governance of the organisation is provided by the Steering Group. The current chair of the Steering Group is Liz Gibbs (Executive Director, Save the Children NZ). 

Other Steering Group members are Jenny Prince (Chief Executive, Royal Plunket Society of NZ), Murray Edridge (Chief Executive, Barnardos), Dennis McKinley (Executive Director, Unicef), Rev. Dr. Hone Kaa (Chair, Te Kahui Mana Ririki Trust).

Manager:

Deborah Morris-Travers.