21 May 2021

Welfare advocates disappointed by budget announcements

From Pacific Waves

A community organisation working in the social welfare space in Auckland says increase to benefits announced in the New Zealand government's 2021/2022 Budget are weak and disappointing.

The government says benefits will be boosted by up to 55 dollars a week, potentially lifting tens of thousands more children out of poverty.

The two-stage increase will cost 3-point-four billion dollars over four years with beneficiaries to get the first 20 dollars a week increase from July.

A second increase will occur in April next year, bringing benefits up to the levels recommended two years ago by the Welfare Expert Advisory Group.

Whanau with children will be topped up with an extra 15 dollars per adult, per week.

The government says families with children will be better off, on average, by 40 dollars a week.

It's projected the changes will lift between 19-thousand and 33-thousand children out of poverty on the after housing costs measure by 2023.

Brooke Pao Stanley of Auckland Action Against Poverty was in the Budget Lockup leading up to its release and she joins me now Tālofa Brooke, what are your thoughts on the welfare announcements.

No caption

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Get the RNZ app

for easy access to all your favourite programmes