[3] The study also seeks to represent the diversity of modern-day New Zealand families,[1][4] filling in current knowledge gaps on the health and wellbeing of Māori, Pasifika, and other communities.
[5] The study was specifically designed to provide population-relevant and modern data on New Zealand's children in the nation, which ranked 29th out of 30 OECD countries for child health as of 2009.
[8] In April 2024, RNZ reported that the Ministry of Social Development had not renewed the contract for Growing Up in New Zealand in February 2024 despite the Sixth Labour Government's 2023 budget including NZ$30 million over the next four years to fund the study.
In response to media attention, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston and the University of Auckland said they were exploring functions to continue funding the Growing Up in NZ Study.
[15] GUiNZ has led to key policy changes in areas such as immunisation,[16] the Māori language,[17] parental leave,[17] nutrition,[18] and household safety,[19] improving the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.