A/HRC/41/4 reducing child poverty and improving child well-being. Successive governments would be required to set child poverty reduction targets on a number of measures. 18. New Zealand was developing its first child and youth well-being strategy, which would bring a focus on children and their families across government. The strategy would have a particular focus on improving the lives of children in poverty, and those facing additional challenges and disadvantages, and would be published later in 2019. 19. Homeownership rates were falling. Housing demand and needs in New Zealand were outstripping supply and housing costs were rising. The Government was determined to help New Zealanders realize their dream of homeownership through initiatives such as Kiwi Build, a work programme that would deliver affordable, good-quality homes for firsthome buyers. It was also increasing public housing significantly over the next four years. 20. Regarding the environment, New Zealand was known as clean and green, and the Government wanted to maintain that reputation. Although New Zealanders enjoyed a highquality environment, that environment and the country’s natural resources were under increasing pressure. Climate change also had significant impacts on the cultural, economic and social rights of New Zealanders. The Government was committed to high environmental standards, domestic and international action on climate change, and the transition towards a low-emissions, climate-resilient economy. 21. The Government was working to ensure healthier communities by investing in critical public health services – rebuilding hospitals, expanding the nursing workforce and investing in mental health services. The delegation noted that mental health was an issue in New Zealand and that the national suicide rate was unacceptable. Given the need to improve the lives of the thousands of New Zealanders with mental health issues, the Government had conducted a ministerial inquiry into mental health and addiction, focusing on equity of access to services, better outcomes and suicide prevention. The inquiry had found inequalities within the system and with mental health outcomes, especially for Māori. The Government was reviewing the inquiry’s recommendations, which would be used to drive the change needed to address the country’s mental health issues. 22. Efforts to make communities safer were focused on reducing crime through early intervention and positive engagement with those most at risk of harm from addiction, offending and victimization. People at risk were often families and young persons who suffered deprivation or were on the periphery of gangs involved in criminal offending. Early engagement was the best way to stop intergenerational cycles of trauma, offending and imprisonment. 23. The delegation noted the need to address head-on the challenges presented by the justice system. The country had one of the highest incarceration rates per capita in the world, which had risen in recent years. Māori were disproportionately represented at every stage of the criminal justice system, both as offenders and as victims. 24. New Zealand was struggling with prison capacity and prisoner violence. In order to effect transformational change of the justice system, the Government had initiated a programme called Hāpaitia te Oranga Tangata (safe and effective justice). Its goals included reducing offending and thereby the prison population by 30 per cent within the next 15 years. Because the Government wanted any programme of change to be sustainable and inclusive, it was working together with Māori and communities on criminal justice reform. In 2018, the Government had held a Criminal Justice Summit, at which it had heard from Māori, victims, practitioners, and former criminals. The key message was the importance of partnering with Māori to ensure that solutions work for Māori. 25. New Zealand had unacceptably high levels of family violence. One in three women in New Zealand experienced physical, emotional or sexual violence from a partner in their lifetime. Māori women, queer women, trans women, women with disabilities and young women experienced more violence, and were more likely to be revictimized. 26. In 2018, New Zealand had passed legislation allowing victims of family violence to take a new type of leave from their employment, separate from sick leave or annual leave, to help support them out of violent situations. This was the first such legislation in the world. New family violence legislation scheduled to come into force in 2019 was aimed at 4