Key findings

The Growing Up in New Zealand study has given us a vast array of insights into what it means to be a child growing up in 21st Century New Zealand. Below we’ve summarised some of the key findings from the reports we release every two or three years. You can take a look at our reports page to read these in more detail and get more context about these findings. We’re looking forward to learning even more about our Growing Up children over the next decade when we will really get the opportunity to hear the children’s voices, thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Key findings from Before We Are Born

Our families are increasingly diverse. They are very different from those of previous generations.

We visit the children and their parents around every three years to gather vital information to build a picture of what it's like to be a child growing up in the complex world of 21st Century New Zealand.

Parental relationships and home environments

Household

During pregnancy

Key findings from Now We Are Born

This report introduced the children in the Growing Up in New Zealand cohort for the first time.

The babies were born between 3 March 2009 and 14 May 2010. More than three-quarters were born in Auckland, Middlemore, or Waikato hospitals.

The cohort was made up of 6662 singletons, 89 pairs of twins and two sets of triplets. The sex ratio was 52% male and 48% female.

Nearly one in four (25%) babies were delivered by caesarean section.

Early infant feeding

Household

Immunisation and health status

Parental health status and health-related behaviour

Family stability and family environments

Parental work and leave

Childcare

Key findings from Now We Are Two

The personalities and skills of New Zealand two-year-olds

Health and safety

Households

Employment and childcare

Key findings from Residential Mobility Report 1:
Moving house in the first 1000 days

This report highlights the diverse and complex nature of residential mobility in New Zealand.

This report shows that residential mobility is an important feature of life for pre-school New Zealanders and as such it will continue to play an important part in future analyses.

Key findings from the 'Vulnerability and Resilience' series

These two reports explored aspects of vulnerability and resilience within the context of our unique population and the New Zealand environment.

Now We are Four: Describing the Pre-School Years

This report provides an overview of more than 4,000 fathers, stepfathers, adoptive and foster parents, co-mums, grandparents and other family members who are “dads” to Growing Up in New Zealand children.

Who Are Today's Dads?

This report provided insight into the health, wellbeing, social and emotional status of New Zealand four-year-olds.  It also looked at changes in the children’s home environment, participation in early childhood education, household mobility, socio-economic situation.

Transition to School

This report focuses on children’s experience of embarking on formal schooling.