Hamilton Labour MP Sue Moroney took the issue of child poverty to the world stage in Geneva last week.
She told a 700-strong assembly of parliamentarians that New Zealand's child poverty statistics are proof that the problem is distribution of resources - not lack of resources.
Sue Moroney was one of three MPs representing New Zealand at the IPU assembly and is Labour's Spokesperson for Social Development.
"Even in our land of plenty, 27 per cent of our children live in poverty," she told parliamentarians from around the world.
"Child poverty is a human construct and it will take a human response in our parliaments to bring an end to this heartbreaking waste of human potential."