Welfare
PM overstates govt's increase in case managers
The Prime Minister has made another flub when promoting his beneficiary crackdown, massively overstating his government's increase in case managers. It marks the second misstep this week after… Audio
Welfare and immigration set for a 'reset'
The PM’s State of the Nation speech got the media’s attention when he said welfare needs reform. He didn't mention record-level immigration but that’s also been deemed unsustainable and set for a… Video, Audio
Mediawatch for 25 February 2024
Government 'resets' immigration and welfare; another way to make Google and Facebook to pay for journalism; media milk Kiwi Swifties' stadium FOMO. Audio
Govt is out of touch and has no understanding - beneficiary
Welfare advocates are pleading for the government to back down from its crack down on beneficiaries. Social Development Minister, Louise Upston has ordered MSD to use the full force of sanctions, to… Audio
Women refunded by MSD now hit with unjust taxes - advocates
Women who have been refunded by the Ministry of Social Development after being wrongly sanctioned are now being punished again by being double-taxed, beneficiary advocates say.
Under section 70A of… Video, Audio
The Detail: Rite of passage or abject poverty?
Two-thirds of students struggle to afford the very basics. Why aren't we doing anything about it? Audio
The week in Detail: Infrastructure, sanctions and Trevor Mallard
The Detail brings you the issues that matter every weekday. Here's what we covered this week. Audio
Coming up
Law students join fight for MSD to refund mothers docked benefits for not naming fathers
Auckland University law students have joined the fight to get MSD to refund women who've had their benefits docked for not naming a child's father. Video, Audio
Kiwi households struggle to pay power bills amid price hikes
Rising power prices have are placing Kiwi households under pressure, with 18 per cent reporting a struggle to pay bills over the past year. Consumer NZ's most recent survey found 16 per cent of people… Audio
Calling Home: Sene Naoupu in Dublin
Wellington-born, Oamaru-raised Ireland rugby international Sene Naoupu is one of the most prolific and remarkable figures in the oval ball world. She's Calling Home from Dublin this morning. Audio
Gulliver's Election... and is Labour angling to govern alone?
Welcome to the recession, with giant debt, spending and unemployment that make previous campaigns look like Lilliput. How are New Zealand First are trying to recover & does Labour really want to… Video, Audio
Child welfare must be central this election, advocates say
Children's advocates want to see more action to improve the lives of young people from political parties.
Queenstown welfare hub's first sessions booked out in hours
The first information sessions at Queenstown's new welfare hub were fully booked within hours as migrant workers and residents try to figure out their futures.
Local agencies have been grappling with… Audio
What is a Universal Basic Income, and would it work?
Pope Francis, Mark Zuckerberg, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Gareth Morgan all want it - a Universal Basic Income. What is it, and how would it work? Audio
An optimistic partner is good for your health - new study
If you're in a long-term relationship, your partner's outlook can have a big impact on how long and how well you live, according to a new study by researchers at Michigan State University. It turns… Audio
Has the government walked the walk on welfare
According to its own welfare advisory group, the government isn't doing enough to help lift people out of poverty - despite the claims of social development minister Carmel Sepuloni. Audio
Advocates says benefits need to increase to stop the debt cycle
Lifewise CEO says beneficiaries need more money help get them out of their cycle of debt. Audio
Benefit levels need to rise to relieve cycle of debt - advocates
The government is being told it should be more willing to write off debts run up by beneficiaries to pay for basic living costs such as school uniforms, power bills and car repairs.
Orphan stuck in Syrian refugee camp could be a New Zealander
It's claimed a three-and-a-half-year-old orphan stuck in a Syrian refugee camp is the child of a deceased New Zealand citizen. Nine to Noon has been told the toddler, who's parents had been living in… Audio
Australian government plans to drug test beneficiaries
Australia correspondent Annika Smethurst looks at plans to trial the drug testing of welfare recipients, starting with those on the Newstart and Youth Allowance. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says… Audio
