Attack and now a hunger strike

A Kaikohe man who smashed windows at his local Work and Income office last week after being refused a food grant is now on hunger strike, in protest at the ministry's policy.

Sam Kuha said he had not eaten since Tuesday, when he made the four-kilometre trek into Kaikohe by motorised wheelchair and shattered two of the building's windows with a hammer. He said he would have smashed more but his hammer broke.

After a discussion with police Mr Kuha returned home, again braving the open road in his wheelchair, and had not eaten since. The invalid beneficiary, who lost a leg and use of one arm when he was run over 20 years ago, said he was drinking water with salt and sugar to avoid dehydration.

He had not smashed the windows in a blind rage but after thinking about how to draw attention to what he said was a nonsensical policy around food grants.

The previous day he had "thrown a wobbly" when staff wouldn't look at his bank statements and refused to give him a $40 food voucher and $20 for petrol.

"I got a bit hot and bothered because they wouldn't look at my figures," he said.

Under WINZ rules, anyone who has received three special needs grants must see a budgeter before getting another. Managers can use their discretion to override that policy but chose not to, Mr Kuha said.

The 59-year-old said he had been to a budgeter last time he reached the limit, and neither his income nor expenses had changed since then. That time the budgeter could not make his $244 a week benefit stretch to meet his bills, and his situation was no different now.

Making him repeat the exercise was "senseless," and in any case he said there was a two-week wait to see a budgeter, too long for someone who was hungry.

Last week he had only $18 left to buy food after meeting regular expenses such as his mortgage, insurance, power and rates, all paid by weekly instalment. Mr Kuha said he did not drink, smoke or use drugs.

He had no petrol, warrant or registration for his car - hence the trip into town by wheelchair - and his fridge was empty.

When he smashed the windows he wanted to "make a noise" and draw attention to the food grant policy. He went early in the morning when no clients were inside and made sure no staff were near the windows.

"I didn't go there with the intention of hurting anyone," he said.

"I'm not against budgeting; it's necessary. It's just going back and back again ... I'm against the process."

The only government official who had contacted him since then was the police officer, who had called him later that day to make sure he was okay.

While WINZ would not give him a $40 voucher it did have enough money to hire a second security guard for the Kaikohe office, he added.

Mr Kuha said he had worked all his life prior to the accident, as a bushman, earth mover and café operator.

"So nobody can call me a bludger ... I hate going to that place (WINZ). It takes my wairua away," he said.

WINZ - He'll get what he needs

Work and Income will continue to provide a hunger-striking Kaikohe man with services and support, Northland commissioner for social development Ski Wisnesky said last week.

``His overall welfare is a concern, and we have been working with his agent and other agencies to ensure he gets the services he needs. Nevertheless, his actions on Tuesday cannot be condoned,'' Mr Wisnesky said.

Sam Kuha smashed two windows at Kaikohe's Community Link office and is now on hunger strike in protest at Work and Income's policy on issuing food vouchers.

Mr Wisnesky said special needs grants, which included help with buying food, brought certain obligations. A client who had received three grants in 12 months had to complete a budgeting activity such as completing a budgeting worksheet, attending a budgeting course, or visiting a budgeting advice service.

Clients also had to take responsibility for managing their money by reducing costs, increasing income or improving financial management.

Since Tuesday's incident all necessary steps had been taken to ensure the safety of the public and staff at Kaikohe Community Link.

``We take such incidents very seriously, as no matter what a client's issue is with Work and Income policy, violence and threats are not acceptable and won't be tolerated,'' he added.