73. In addition, the 2016 Family and Whānau Status Report produced by the Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (SUPERU) indicates that Pasifika families with children experience similarly disproportionate negative health outcomes.57 For example, Pasifika children are much more likely to be obese and more likely to face an unmet primary healthcare need than other non-Pasifika children.58 74. Key issues affecting the health of Māori children and young people, include poverty, material deprivation and poor-quality housing. Poverty rates for Māori and Pasifika children are consistently higher than for European children. 75. The Government’s Better Public Services (“BPS”) targets have led to a significant reduction in hospitalisation rates for children with first episode rheumatic fever, since the policy’s inception in 2011.59 Immunisation rates have also increased significantly during that period, and are currently at just under 94%, just below the BPS target rate of 95%.60 76. There is, however, a stark disparity between the success of the BPS targets, which have led to an improvement in the targeted child health outcomes, and the overall decline in health outcomes for children living in disadvantageous social conditions, particularly Māori and Pasifika children. In addition, single parent families with younger children across the ethnic spectrum experience low mental health outcomes.61 77. Recommendation 8: That the Committee recommends that the New Zealand Government works in partnership with Māori and other affected communities to: (a) Expand the current set of child health targets to include targets aimed at: (i) Reducing overall hospitalisations for medical conditions with a social gradient; and (ii) Reducing ethnic disparities in both hospitalisation and Mortality rates, particularly amongst Māori and Pasifika children. (b) Increase the provision and accessibility of primary health care services to 57 Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, 2016 Family and Whānau Status Report, p39, 41, 46, http://www.superu.govt.nz/sites/default/files/F%26W%20Status%20Report%202016_0.pdf 58 Sorensen, Jensen et al, Pasifika in New Zealand: How are we doing?, Pacific Futures Ltd, 2015, accessed http://pasifikafutures.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/PAF0018-Pasifika-People-in-NZ.pdf 59 http://www.ssc.govt.nz/bps-supporting-vulnerable-children#result4 60 Ibid. 61 Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, 2016 Family and Whānau Status Report, p 41, http://www.superu.govt.nz/sites/default/files/F%26W%20Status%20Report%202016_0.pdf 19