A clearer definition of poverty is being seen as the first step in the battle to tackle the problem.
Maxim Institute, a conservative think tank, has released a paper about poverty.
It calls for New Zealanders to come up with a "basket of goods" - bare necessities a person needs to live a healthy life.
The paper's author, Kieran Madden, says a person without access to those necessities could then be defined as living in poverty.
"We think a clearer definition will lead to clearer measures which will lead to better outcomes for New Zealanders who are struggling."
Kieran Madden says poverty is different for different people, so a one-size-fits all approach doesn't work.
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