when they needed it than non-Māori children.50 Māori children are also more likely to be exposed to the risk factors linked to poor health, social, educational and developmental outcomes.51 50. In addition, the 2016 Family and Whānau Status Report produced by the Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (SUPERU) indicates that Pacific families with children experience similarly disproportionate negative health outcomes.52 For example, Pacific children are much more likely to be obese and more likely to face an unmet primary healthcare need than other children.53 51. Key issues affecting the health of Māori children and young people, include poverty, material deprivation and poor-quality housing. Poverty rates for Māori and Pacific children are consistently higher than for European children. 52. 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 201154 Immunisation rates have also increased significantly during that period, and are currently at just under 94%, just below the BPS target rate of 95%.55 53. 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 Pacific children. In addition, single parent families (70% of whom are women) with younger children across the ethnic spectrum experience unacceptably low mental health outcomes.56 ABORTION 54. Abortion is legal in New Zealand up to 20 weeks with the agreement of two certifying doctors. The reasons for the abortion must be that the continuation of the pregnancy would result in serious danger to the physical mental health of the pregnant person, there is a risk the child would be born seriously handicapped, the pregnancy is a result of incest, or the women or girl is “severely subnormal”. Sexual assault is not a ground. 55. Someone who intends to procure an unlawful abortion is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years. Someone who supplies a drug or instrument for the purposes of an unlawful abortion is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years. 50 Ibid at viii. Ministry of Health, (2015), Health and Independence Report 2015, at pp 32-33. Accessible at: http://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/health-and-independence-report-2015oct15.pdf 52 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 53 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 54 http://www.ssc.govt.nz/bps-supporting-vulnerable-children#result4 55 Ibid. 56 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 51 11