Watch: 'Incredibly proud' – Jacinda Ardern lays out details of Families Package, goal to halve child poverty

December 14, 2017

The PM says around 380,000 families will receive over $70 a week more to help raise their kids.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has laid out the details of the Government's new Families Package, saying she is "incredibly proud" of what they have achieved.

She said the new package will help cut child poverty in New Zealand by nearly half.

Speaking at the Manukau Salvation Army in Auckland this afternoon, Ms Ardern was upbeat while introducing the details of the Families Package .

"We will fulfill our promise to be a coalition Government focused on the well-being of New Zealanders," she said. 

"This is a budget that will mean over 380,000 families will on average get over $70 a week more to support them as they raise their kids."

The Prime Minister also laid out ambitious targets when it comes to tackling child poverty, saying the package will reduce it by 48 per cent, raising an estimated 88,000 children out of poverty.

When asked by media about the cost of the Families Package Ms Ardern claimed it would cost less than the tax cuts which were to be put in place by the previous National Government.

"This will be achieved by not giving top tax earners like myself a cut," she said.

Ms Ardern says the new package hopes to address inequality in New Zealand and make it a great place to raise a family.

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