Government Funding Cuts Threaten Food Security and Essential ServicesGovernment Funding Cuts Threaten Food Security and Essential Services Recent reports indicate a significant reduction in government funding for food banks and budgeting services across New Zealand. This has raised concerns about the well-being of vulnerable communities and the ability of these organizations to meet the needs of those in crisis. Auckland City Mission Sounds Alarm The Auckland City Mission has stated that it will have to turn away families in need of food if funding is not allocated in the upcoming budget. The mission currently provides 50,000 food parcels annually, which could be reduced by over 50% to just 20,000. This would leave thousands of families without access to essential nutrition. Budgeting Services Also Impacted The Wellington Budget Service, which provides assistance with financial management, has also been affected by funding cuts. The service supports individuals struggling with high interest rates and living costs. The government initially attributed the cuts to the end of COVID-19 funding, but has since blamed “tendering processes.” Government Prioritizes Tax Cuts over Social Needs Critics have accused the government of prioritizing tax cuts for landlords over providing support to the poor. Auckland City Missionary Helen Robinson has bluntly stated that budget cuts have forced the City Mission to turn away hungry people. Shame on Government and National Party The author condemns the government’s decision to cut funding, stating that it is shameful and that the National Party should be held accountable. They emphasize the need to address the needs of the poor and criticize the government’s choice to support landowners instead.
Are things back in order?
What about those who can least afford to feed themselves?
It doesn’t appear that the reports indicate that funding for food banks is being cut, and the consequences could be dire.
From a press release from the Auckland City Mission:
If the government does not budget for food security, Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai will have to turn away families most in need of food.
The Government has indicated that there will be very little funding for food provision in the 2024/25 budget, even after a direct request from Auckland City Missioner – Manutaki, Helen Robinson. The only funding that has been confirmed is 3.5% of the mission’s total expenditure for food parcels.
Since the start of COVID, the mission and other organizations have received food support, although this has decreased since 2020.
Now the Mission and other social agencies are facing the prospect of significantly reduced food services, leaving many individuals and families without the nutrition they need or deserve. “Without government support, we at the Mission will have to drastically reduce the amount of food we can provide to families in need from 50,000 food parcels to 20,000 food parcels per year. That’s a reduction of over 50 percent since July 1 of this year,” Robinson said.
“This lack of appropriate public investment will result in immediate hardship for families who are already struggling during difficult times. We are faced with the terrible reality of having to provide 27,000 fewer meals per week to parents and children who do not have enough to eat to stay physically and mentally healthy, not enough to go to school or work, not enough to have a to make a good contribution to society. It is a deeply disturbing and worrying prospect.”
And it’s not just the Auckland City Mission that’s being hit. The effect is being felt across the country. From Ethan Griffiths at the Herald:
Government funding for a budget office in Wellington has been cut despite its manager saying they are “busier than ever” as people struggle with high interest rates and the cost of living.
It comes as the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) reviews its contracts with budgeting services.
It is understood other providers across the country have had their funding cut.
The Wellington Budget Service, which works in partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureau, is mainly staffed by volunteers but needs financial support to pay for a part-time manager and office and IT equipment.
It has been funded by MSD since 2017. Last year it received $77,000.
The MSD initially tried to blame the end of Covid funding, but when pointed out that the Wellington Budget Service was already funded before Covid, the MSD blamed the “tendering processes”.
Auckland City Missionary Helen Robinson has bluntly said that budget cuts have forced the City Mission to turn away hungry people.
No doubt the government will blame the fiscal cliffs, but that’s just the thing of government. You have to deal with these kinds of problems every day. And you can decide to give tax cuts to landlords or to feed the poor, but that’s your decision and you have to take the credit or the blame.
Christopher Luxon clearly thinks that helping the poor is bottom feeding. And that landowners, not the poor, deserve his support.
He should be ashamed. And shame on National.
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