Ministry of Social Development: 8% of New Zealanders are in poverty and live in “severe hardship”, and 7% live in “significant hardship”.
Minister of Social Development, Ruth Dyson: There is no hardship in New Zealand, and those who say that are against the workers, and need re-education, because there is no hardship in New Zealand.
A confidential government report shows that some beneficiaries are living in significant hardship, despite the Working For Families programme and other social assistance.
The 2007 Ministry of Social Development report used figures from the 2004 Living Standards survey to analyse the situations of beneficiaries living in poverty.
The report says 8% of New Zealanders experience severe hardship and another 7% experience significant hardship.
Beneficiary families with dependent children had lower living standards in 2004 than they did in 2000.
And it says while Working For Families has helped those with jobs, those relying only on benefits are struggling.
The value of benefits relative to average earnings is lower now than it was in 1991.
The report says there have been significant price shocks for beneficiaries this year, with the cost of housing, power prices, transport and credit services all rising more quickly than the consumer price index.
Minister’s response
The Social Development minister, Ruth Dyson denies the claims.
She says the benefits of the Government’s Working For Families package for low-income families are yet to be fully realised.
