Government waits until hunger strike action is taken before helping

In question time today Hone Harawira, leader of MANA and MP for Te Tai Tokerau, asked Social Development Minister, Hon Paula Bennett, questions on behalf of his Kaikohe constituent, Sam Kuha, who has undertaken a hunger strike to change the long-winded policy on getting food grants from WINZ.

“While Paula was very quick to say she doesn’t think it’s acceptable for the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who rely on government benefits to live on $18 a week for food, she was also very quick to dodge and deny the point that many are being forced to live on unacceptably small sums.”

“But the question I was left with was, why does it take a nationally publicised hunger strike to get people access to the support they’re actually entitled to?” said Mr Harawira.

“While I know that some WINZ workers do the best they can within ever-tightening rules, the fact remains that a constant departmental push for cost-cutting means that beneficiaries get their entitlements cut, and cut, and cut.”

“Do all beneficiaries who don’t have more than $18 a week for food also have to hunger strike to get to know about and receive their actual entitlements?”

“And in true Māori style, Sam tells me he’s more worried about the quarter of a million kids who go hungry every day than about himself.”

Last month Mr Harawira introduced his Feed the Kids Bill to the Member’s ballot to establish breakfast and lunch programmes in all decile 1-2 schools throughout the country.

ENDS

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