Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says hunger striker Sam Kuha has made his point "loud and clear". Now she wants him to start eating so he doesn't become ill. However, she had no plans to change the policy that triggered Mr Kuha's protest, with beneficiaries needing to get budgeting advice after every three hardship grants.
Ms Bennett said 50 per cent of beneficiaries never asked for a hardship grant, and most grants had to be paid back - so people could go into debt unless they had help to manage their finances.
"I respect the right of any New Zealander to protest and I think that Sam Kuha has made his point loud and clear, now I'm more concerned that he eat and not make himself unwell," Ms Bennett said.
Mr Kuha told the Advocate he would lift his hunger strike once the minister recognised his concerns about children going hungry because their parents had been refused food grants. He wanted to meet Ms Bennett in person and had prepared an open letter spelling out his concerns. These include the long-term costs to taxpayers - such as extra medical, court and welfare costs - of children growing up hungry.
Mr Kuha said his weight has dropped from 73kg to his teen weight of less than 60kg. He continued to drink water and was eating honey to keep up his blood sugar.