OPINION
Wealth doesn’t trickle down ... but prosperity and decency do bubble up.
The point of who we are as a government is our conviction that the best way to get this country ahead is to ensure the bread-and-butter support for the little guy.
With the high cost of living driven by factors like the war in Ukraine and the recent extreme weather, it’s tough for many Whangārei families. There’s no easy fix, but we’re delivering a range of measures to help ease the pressure. The April 1 changes are part of this work, giving families, caregivers, seniors, and students – among others – an income boost.
We’re increasing Working for Families and the Best Start payment to better support whānau. We know childcare is a major expense so we’re expanding childcare assistance income thresholds to make it more affordable for middle and low-income families. On top of that, main benefits will increase by the rate of inflation, meaning a family on a benefit with children will receive an extra $40.86 a week and a sole parent will receive an extra $31.83 a week.