A theme of epidemiologist Dr Liz Craig's recent talk in Dunedin on child poverty, which took a historical view back to the 19th century, was how the plight of the poor could be presented to elicit support.
Dr Craig, who contested the Clutha-Southland electorate for the Labour Party in last month's election, said people tended to either blame the poor for their situation, or blame the system for providing inadequate means to live.
In many years researching the topic, she had tried but failed to find a way to reconcile the conflicting views.
It was important, because it helped determine political policy around issues such as benefit levels and the level of the minimum wage.
When she showed child deprivation data to people, many asked how those in poverty could afford items like flat-screen TVs, when they could not afford basics like children's shoes.
''I still haven't cracked the framing of it. I think for me, after 10 years doing this, what people do understand is sick children,'' Dr Craig said.
Child hospital admissions caused by respiratory disease and skin infections are associated with poverty. Child poverty has nearly doubled since the economic upheaval of the 1980s.
In the 19th century, from which Dr Craig used her Dunedin ancestors' records as a case study, help for the needy was distributed by charities. Benevolent societies distinguished between the ''deserving poor'' and those deemed as lacking in moral character.
When the government started to give formal assistance in the late 1800s, it also favoured those considered to be of good moral character.
In the 1930s, when the welfare state was introduced, it did not discriminate based on moral character.
