Photo: composite of supplied images
Covid-induced hardship in Auckland's Pasifika community is causing children to drop out of school and tertiary education to support their families.
Outreach workers say there's been an alarming growth in poverty following retrenchment through the first and second lockdown.
Tevita Funaki from the Fono, which is the country's largest Pacific health service, says there's an unprecedented demand for services, and Debbie Sorensen, chief executive of Pasifika Futures and Pasifika Medical Association is gravely concerned by the level of need and distress.
