Big local family has Budget blues

Rachel O'Keefe-Brown, pictured with four of her five children, is still not impressed with the latest Budget announcement by the Government yesterday. Photo / Duncan Brown

Rachel O'Keefe-Brown was left unimpressed with the Government's announcement of a $2 billion Family Incomes Package yesterday.

Mrs O'Keefe-Brown, who has a big family, said the package sounded like a large amount of money when announced as a lump sum but when broken down turned into nothing.

The family income package has been introduced to assist low and middle income earners with young families and higher housing costs. The package is expected to benefit about 1.3 million families in New Zealand by, on average, $26 per week.

"I would like to see them feed five children with an extra $26 a week. It sounds great when it's announced as a $2 billion per year package and looks impressive but for me it won't do a great deal."

Before the Budget Mrs O'Keefe-Brown was hoping there would be more of a focus on helping larger families get their children through secondary and then tertiary education.

"The extra money announced on Thursday won't enable us to do this. We might be able to buy another loaf of bread but that's about it.

"I just think they need to actually get down on to the street and see what we need, and see how we live each day.

"People like us have a budget and by the time you break down all of the costs we end up with nothing and I think this package just defeats the purpose of making a difference."

The family are renting a four-bedroom home in Hastings and both Mrs O'Keefe-Brown and her husband Paku Brown get $19 towards this.

The Budget yesterday announced increases to Accommodation Supplement maximum amounts, and updated Accommodation Supplement areas to reflect 2016 rents.

Mrs O'Keefe-Brown said housing was a huge issue for their family, because it wasn't possible for them to buy their own home.

"I just wish they would look more closely at this housing problem and I hope that we will reap the benefits of this rise, but the amount they announce when shared out is not too much when put into perspective."

However, Mrs O'Keefe-Brown was interested to see how the package unfolded during the next year.

"At the moment to me I don't think they're getting down to those core issues but I am intrigued to see where it all goes and who ends up actually benefiting.

"I just hope it's not the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer."