Beneficiaries in Auckland are now being delivered My Food Bag as part of a new Government trial, but not everyone is a fan.
Hundreds of families have been given My Food Bag boxes, with Ministry of Social Development's Viv Rickard saying they were trying to be creative by looking at different ways to support clients. Up to 1000 emergency food bags will be delivered as part of the trial. It comes as more people are struggling to put food on the table, with almost 100,000 New Zealanders a month having to ask WINZ for more to eat. Costing between $200-$300, the emergency food kit is intended to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner for a family for a week. "I would call it nice, it's nice food but no frills," Mr Rickard said. However, recipient Gail Watkins said there was not enough food for her and her daughter to last a week. She said her daughter was gluten-free, so was unable to eat some of the ingredients. Auckland Action Against Poverty's Ricardo Menéndez March said the Government should focus on lifting benefit levels instead of "experimenting with people on the benefit over what they can or cannot eat". National's Louise Upston said there were families that were doing it tough, the Government needed to focus on the family being able to provide their own income and reducing the cost of living. "If they're serious about helping New Zealanders in need, there's way better things they could do." The Ministry say the feedback has mostly been positive, and it is trying to learn from the trial.
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Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?
We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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91.3% Yes
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8.2% No
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0.4% Other - I'll share below!
Lest we forget...
On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.
Tell us who are you honouring today. Whether it's a story from the battlefield or a memory of a family member who fought in the war, we'd love you to share your stories below.
welcome (& help) new neighbour
kia ora lovely neighbours
as some of you know, I love the marketplace on here - (you know people are LOCAL, easy to collect) - and meet such lovely neighbours in the process.
I did not click on the 'ad' for "free house hold stuff" - as I though were GIVING away stuff - and little I need right now.
oh when I did - a very easy mistake to make - ASKING for - not giving away
Amanda & her 2 sons (12 & 16) have just moved here, out west, from Wellington - and looking for a helping hand
so generous neighbours - is there anything surplus to your requirement that you can help Amanda with?
"Hi me an my two sons have just relocated to Glen Eden from Wellington an are looking for few things for our house kitchen table an chairs pots an pans an draws cabinets etc thank you"
"16 and 12 and we are needing dinning table and chairs vacuum kitchen stuff and draws for boys rooms"
I think I have a spare large frying pan - but can't help with the rest....
if you can't help, all good - just if you don't ask, you don't get - (so see Amanda's ad - in Marketplace - under "free house hold stuff" - for her contact info)
peace & love - arohanui
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