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Record numbers being pushed over poverty line

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Thu, 14 Jul 2011 7:12a.m.

Auckland City Mission (NZPA)

Auckland City Mission (NZPA)

Increases in food and petrol prices are pushing record numbers of families over the poverty line.

Auckland City Mission says demands for emergency food parcels have more than doubled in the last three years.

City Missioner Diane Robertson says there has not been such a surge in child poverty since the 1991 welfare cuts.

“The number of children living in poverty at the moment is much, much higher than the numbers that were living in poverty in 1980s New Zealand. The number of people who are seeking the help of our social services is increasing dramatically”.

Diane Robertson says relying on charities to fill the poverty gap is not a long-term solution.

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Comments

14 Jul 2011 10:11a.m.

Dave wrote:

Offer free things and it's no surprise more and more people will grab what they can whether they need it or not. Agencies like the City Mission are sadly having their well meaning generosity taken advantage of by a large number of people like ones I know personally know who join in the 'freebee take'.

14 Jul 2011 09:53a.m.

Monty wrote:

Poverty is begging for food, it is going through rubbish dumps trying to find something to sell, it is sleeping with flies crawling on your face, it is never being able to take a bath. it is not a lift in petrol prices. Having said that congrats to the people who help out like City mission, the Sallies and all the other private people who make a difference.

14 Jul 2011 09:51a.m.

Alien wrote:

watch the flash cars many of these people get into, or read them complaining on the internet with such luxuries as a computer and an internet connection. Always remember going into rental properties with people who were meant to be below the poverty line getting food parcels, large screen tv, brand new furniture. too many people go grab food parcels because they don't want to waste their own smoke, drink and drug money on feeding their unwanted children.

14 Jul 2011 09:12a.m.

Jill wrote:

This is a real concern. As an average family whose partner had faced a redundancy this year, we are struggling along. There is a serious lack of jobs in NZ (especially Northland) there isn't much out there for the youth. I think the reason for this is simply adults are taking on the youth jobs and wages in order to survive. For the first time ever people have been forced into a minimum wage job, this is because they have no choice. I found out this company a friend is working for on minimum wage in Australia pay about $7 an hour more for the same job, that's a disgrace. I certainly hope things start picking up soon. I also like to add: There was an article somewhere that jobs vacancies on the internet have increased this is a fallacy as there are now Australian jobs advertised on NZ jobseeker sites.