![Breaking the cycle](https://cdn.magzter.com/1472106876/1687486590/articles/BwnNPmGpG1687499599478/BREAKING-THE-CYCLE.jpg)
Late last year, one of New Zealand's most powerful public servants made a startling observation: "For the first time in recent history, there is a possibility that the next generation won't be better off," wrote Treasury chief executive Caralee McLiesh.
Her judgment was based partly on the impact of climate change - which will be experienced most severely by the young and those who have not yet been born - and partly on the rise of geopolitical instability.
But it's also because of factors that are right under our noses: "Younger people fare worse than older people in three priority areas: mental health, educational achievement and housing quality and affordability," McLiesh wrote. "The latter is particularly the case for those who do not own their own homes."
Her warning that our kids and grandkids may be worse off than us was contained in Treasury's first-ever wellbeing report, "Te Tai Waiora", a document required under the Public Finance (Wellbeing) Amendment Act. In 114 carefully referenced pages, it reported a swathe of detail on the state of the nation: tenants here pay some of the highest rents in the OECD; the children of rich parents are more likely to be rich when they grow up and the children of poor parents are more likely to be poor; our 15-year-olds are scoring lower in reading, science and maths over time; we have high - although declining - rates of child poverty, the cost of which ranges from a conservative $6.3 billion to $16.3 billion a year, according to Te Tai Waiora.
No one took much notice. In our 15-minute news cycle, Treasury's wellbeing analysis was gone in a flash, joining the mountain of reports and initiatives that have sounded various alarms about hardship, poverty, alienation and inequality written by myriad expert panels and government agencies over the years.
"A FAIR CHANCE"
This story is from the July 1-7 2023 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 1-7 2023 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Spilt milk](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13970/1714759/4ReU38zfL1716983056244/SPILT-MILK.jpg)
Spilt milk
Excess dietary calcium goes into toilets, not bones.
![To the Max](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13970/1714759/oQU8SsWue1716982833911/TO-THE-MAX.jpg)
To the Max
The testosterone and torments of late adolescence are centre stage in this novel about finding your place in life.
![A chemical killer](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13970/1714759/nJhLiCvOD1716981211626/A-CHEMICAL-KILLER.jpg)
A chemical killer
A new book outlines the life of a woman who may well have been New Zealand’s most prolific poisoner. What was it that led police to exhume the body of her husband from its watery grave?
![Creating the WOW factor](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13970/1714759/z5FsDfJ0z1716980507538/CREATING-THE-WOW-FACTOR.jpg)
Creating the WOW factor
Meg Williams, in charge of the biggest festival involving a bunch of people wearing wacky outfits, admits she's not very flamboyant in her own dressing.
![Leaving it all on the park](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13970/1714759/UHsg8L43N1716980165909/LEAVING-IT-ALL-ON-THE-PARK.jpg)
Leaving it all on the park
After cancer treatment, Graeme Downes takes stock of a musical life leading The Verlaines and lecturing future generations of songwriters.
![Wrong message](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13970/1714759/PslS63vR81716979828778/WRONG-MESSAGE.jpg)
Wrong message
A UK journalist who came here to talk about Rwanda’s authoritarian regime found herself the victim of a social media hate campaign.
![Busting a gut](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13970/1714759/0qmHxFduM1716979276816/BUSTING-A-GUT.jpg)
Busting a gut
IBD is escalating, seemingly thanks to the Western lifestyle, and New Zealand has one of the highest rates in the world.
![The point of Peters](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13970/1714759/E506lgYuP1716978771214/THE-POINT-OF-PETERS.jpg)
The point of Peters
There's been much to admire about the NZ First leader's politics over the years, but where has it got him?
![Don't call us ...](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13970/1714759/ZNvDlPvSS1716978651256/DONT-CALL-US-.jpg)
Don't call us ...
Finland's ingenuity galvanised the rapid global uptake of cellphones, so it's paradoxical the country's latest claim to fame should be the elevation of no-speakies to a new commercial opportunity.
![He is here](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13970/1714759/xbsl_P8KF1716978196509/HE-IS-HERE.jpg)
He is here
In the week my brother died, there was a storm in the universe.