Signs of economic and social collapse in New Zealand reflected in the Press

People queue from 2am outside Work and Income for help

Families are being forced to endure inhumane conditions while queuing for emergency grants to feed and clothe their families, beneficiary advocates say.

RadioNZ,

4 July, 2019

Parents lined up in the torrential rain for hours this morning outside Manurewa's Work and Income office to meet with advocates who help them with their claims.

Without them, they say their desperate pleas for cash are almost always denied.

The first person was outside the Manurewa office just after 2am today - he said he was there to get a grant to pay for warm clothes for his three children.

"I need to buy long pants, jumpers, jerseys and that, and then I need to get food, because I stay in a three bedroom house - I pay $610 a week."

Toni had travelled from Pukekohe and arrived about 4.30am - she was there to get food and winter essentials for her whānau.

"I'm working about 20 hours a week on top of the benefit and it's just not enough.

"That comes a lot down to the rent market, I'm paying $500 a week for a three-bedroom, which is just one unit with three tiny bedrooms that come off that," she said.

"It's ridiculous - the price for rent out here."

Randeep arrived with his son at 6am - he was desperate for money to cover their food and power bills.

"Because we are on the couple's benefit we don't really get much, sometimes we get $280 maybe $300 and my babies they both drink formula ... we need money for medical appointments and that as well."

Everyone in the line spoke of the difference it made having advocates from Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP) with them when they met with Work and Income staff.

The advocates are at the Manurewa office every Thursday, and are allocated 65 appointments. They are typically handed out to those first in line.

AAAP spokeswoman Kathleen Paraha said it was the only chance some beneficiaries had to access emergency funds to cover shortfalls or any unexpected costs.

"When AAAP aren't here they don't get anything, they get turned away all the time."

She said families were struggling - with rent being the main problem.

"They're not neglecting their children they just can't afford it, but WINZ seems to think if you can't afford your food you're neglecting your children," Ms Paraha said.

"That's rubbish. They just can't afford it - the rent is too high."

Only a few Work and Income clients are only allowed into the building at a time - with no shelter from the rain for those waiting.

"They've been here since 2 o'clock this morning, it's not humane to leave them out in the rain like this, especially kids," Ms Paraha said.

"We only get this many people because they get turned away so often and they can't do that when AAAP is here."

Ms Paraha challenged Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to come and see the situation herself to get an idea of what they were up against.

"The government needs to get off their bums and come down and have a look for themselves.

"Come see the reality for yourself because it is really, really bad."

Work and Income regional commissioner Mark Goldsmith said in a statement he was concerned about the situation at the Manurewa office.

"Impact days organised by Auckland Action Against Poverty create an on-the-day, high level of demand not experienced by any of our other offices."

He said the number of people allowed in the office was restricted to protect clients and staff.

"We have made numerous attempts to work more closely with AAAP so people do not have to wait to so long, but they have refused."

Comment: Our beautiful country New Zealand is caving in and breaking down

NZ Herald,

3 July, 2019

COMMENT:

We should all agree, New Zealand has seen better days.

The past month, our beautiful country has suffered, by either our failing public transport systems, waterways or weather.

Today, thousands of Wellington commuters have been warned not to travel as no trains would be running because of a derailment.

Oh, and also there's not enough replacement buses.

But that didn't stop Wellingtonians making their way into work, because not everyone can afford a day off. So, commuter chaos has ensued with an added 20,000 workers possibly driving to work, causing major delays on the motorway.

Of course, Auckland has suffered from many train cancellations and delays in the past month as well, adding traffic to our outdated motorway layouts.

But don't worry, a light rail to Auckland Airport should help ease traffic...

Public transport is not the only way New Zealand is breaking down, as the current weather has affected our country in many ways.

Even though the lack of rain has been nice, the downside is that Aucklanders are being warned of a looming water shortage.

Watercare is urging residents to use water wisely, the city's total water storage is 59.2 per cent, which is 25 per cent less than normal for this time of year.

However, in Napier they have plenty of water to go around, but it is brown.

In the past year, photos of baths, sinks and buckets filled with the dirty water have been shared on local social media groups.

The substance that turns Napier's water brown is biofilm, which is organic and inorganic, living and dead material which builds up in pipes.

But don't worry, a Napier City Council spokesperson said it's safe to drink ... other experts disagreed.

Taupō residents are also having a crappy time after a huge discharge of raw sewage poured into Lake Taupō from a burst wastewater pipe.

Residents have been told not to flush their toilets, take showers, and any other unnecessary water use.

 Taupo residents are being urged not to flush their toilets or use any unnecessary water following a water main and wastewater pipe break on Lake Terrace. Photo / Supplied

Looks like Aucklanders and Taupōers are in the same boat.

The lack of rain hasn't only just affect Auckland's waterways as because of the great weather, our country has a major rat problem.

Huge "cat-sized" rats have been spotted across the country, with an explosion in rat numbers in both forests and urban areas.

A mega mast means our native trees are fruiting really heavily, therefore rats are getting a mean feed.

A rat caught in a trap in Aro Valley, Wellington, about the size of a "small possum". Photo / Forest & Bird

This is not only bad for Kiwis who are trying to keep the massive rodents away, but our native animals who might face local extinctions in forests as they are being attacked by rats.

If you think the act of God hasn't broken our country enough, spare of thought for the Rotorua residents whose property is collapsing after a mud pool opened up last week.The shed next to the mud pool has been taken down. Photo / Stephen Parker

The shed next to the mud pool has been taken down. Photo / Stephen Parker

Roads closed, homes 

evacuated after large cracks 

discovered in two Taupō 

roads.