Kids at the mercy of mice

Poverty for some Far North families means not being able to provide their children with beds, Lieutenant Nikki Mellsop, of the Salvation Army in Kaitaia, said earlier this week. And that was leaving some children at the mercy of rodents as they slept.

Kaitaia's rodent population had boomed over the long dry summer, she said, and that had caused more problems for some poorer families now that temperatures had fallen.

Many children were sleeping on flimsy mattresses on the floor, which they could be sharing with mice driven indoors by the cold.

Demand for assistance from the Salvation Army, including bedding for children, had been "incredibly high" so far this winter, Lt Mellsop added.

"There is a desperate cry for mattresses and bedding," she said.

There had also been significantly increased need for food parcels as power bills began to rise.

The same concerns were raised in Whangarei, where 90 of the 160 people who went to the Sallies last week were in need of food, Major Kathy Elkington saying each of those food parcels might have been needed by up to eight people. At least half of those she saw last week had been in bare feet, while problems would only compound when the school holidays began.

"They [children] have power going and eat (their parents) out of house and home," Major Elkington said.

More fortunate Northlanders were key to helping out those in need, and were encouraged to make donations to the Salvation Army this winter.

"If it's cold there's more of a need," she added.

"We would happily accept food, blankets and warm clothing.

"I am incredibly grateful for the generosity of the community. If not [for that] we would have a lot more people in dire need."

Any donations of food, clothing, blankets or bedding would also be very gratefully received by the Salvation Army in Kaitaia and Kaikohe.