Are things back on track?
How about for those who can least afford to feed themselves?
It appears not with reports that funding for food banks is being slashed. And the consequence could be dire.
From an Auckland City Mission press release:
Unless the Government funds food security in the budget, Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai will have to turn families in greatest need of food away.
The government has indicated that in the 2024/25 budget there will be very little funding for provision for food, even after a direct appeal from Auckland City Missioner – Manutaki, Helen Robinson. The only funding that has been confirmed is 3.5% of the Mission’s total spend towards food parcel provision.
Since the onset of COVID, the Mission and other agencies had received support for food, although at a declining rate since 2020.
Now the Mission, and other social agencies, face the prospect of significantly reduced food services resulting in many individuals and families not getting the nourishment they need or deserve. “Without the support of government, at the Mission we will have to drastically reduce the amount of food we can give families in need from 50,000 food parcels to 20,000 food parcels annually. That is a reduction of over 50% from 1 July of this year,” says Robinson.
“This lack of appropriate Government investment will result in immediate hardship for families already struggling in tough times. We are facing the dire reality of providing 27,000 fewer meals every week for parents and children who will not have enough food to stay physically and mentally well, not enough to go to school or to work, not enough to contribute well to society. It’s a deeply upsetting and concerning prospect.”
And it is not only Auckland City Mission that is being affected. The effect is being felt throughout the country. From Ethan Griffiths at the Herald:
A Wellington budgeting service has had its government funding pulled, despite its manager saying they are “busier than ever” as people struggle with high interest rates and the cost of living.
It comes as the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) reviews its contracts with budgeting services.
It’s understood other providers across the country have had their funding cut.
The Wellington Budget Service, run in conjunction with the Citizens Advice Bureau, is staffed predominantly by volunteers but requires funding to pay for a part-time manager and office and IT equipment.
It has been funded by MSD since 2017. Last year it received $77,000.
The MSD firstly tried to blame Covid funding ending and then when it was pointed out to them that the Wellington Budget Service had been funded before Covid it then swivelled to blame “procurement processes”.
Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson has said bluntly that budget cuts have forced the City Mission to turn hungry people away.
The Government will no doubt blame fiscal cliffs but this is the thing about being in Government. You get to deal with these issues every day. And you can decide to give tax cuts to landlords or to feed the poor but this is your decision and you should take the credit for it or the blame for it.
Christopher Luxon clearly thinks helping the poor is bottom feeding. And that landlords and not the poor deserve his support.
Shame on him. And shame on National.
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