title: Every child to thrive, belong and achieve? Time to reflect and act in New Zealand.
abstract: New Zealand continues to grapple with poor and inequitable child health and wellbeing outcomes. The associated high economic costs, the long-term impact on adult health and New Zealand's international children's rights obligations provide further grounds for action. Although there have been many different reports offering solutions and some key areas of progress, gains have been limited and there has not been sufficient clarity and agreement on wider actions. The environment is complex and solutions cross agency and disciplinary boundaries. This paper reviews the current situation and proposes a set of actions to improve child health and equity. These include a group of recommendations on high-level leadership and coordination, actions to address social conditions, and a range of specific health and wellbeing actions. Progress will require the will, commitment and courage of many to acknowledge the issues and find a way forward.  Preventing suffering and ensuring the wellbeing of our youngest citizens during their formative years is an ethical issue for our nation, an issue of what we value as a society, and the best investment for a highly productive, innovative and resilient nation for the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, PO Box 7343, Wellington South 6242, New Zealand. amanda.dsouza@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.forename: Nikki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simmers
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dowell
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002668:Child Rearing; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019058:Community Networks; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors