There has been an increasing number of dogs being surrendered to rescues - which are already at capacity - as owners find they can not afford food of vet bills.

Tyra Basilicata opened the Wellington Dog Food Bank just before Christmas and the demand has been overwhelming. She has given more than 700kgs of food to more than 200 dogs since 1 January. Read more

Fairer Future Collaboration spokesperson Brooke Pao Stanley, of Auckland Action Against Poverty, says it's time for the Government to "level up" income support so everyone can live with dignity. Poverty was forcing people into impossible situations. There are long queues at foodbanks (pictured),

Those working in the field, like Liz Davies, agree. Davies is the general manager of SociaLink, the umbrella organisation for the Western Bay of Plenty's social agencies and charities.

"As we are seeing more working people accessing local services such as Foodbank for the first time, you can only imagine how much people relying on benefits are struggling.

"Without sufficient income to cover the basic costs of life, many people inevitably end up in debt which makes it harder to climb out of poverty," she says.

Davies says local social service providers are working "very hard" to support and empower people on low incomes and benefits.

Ensuring people have a liveable income would make a huge difference to whanau who then wouldn't require food parcels and would be more likely to access health services, she says.

The shortfall

An update of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group's (WEAG) modelling on what income is needed to meet basic costs shows the difference between what people get and need.

It found the majority of people receiving income support still won't have nearly enough to live on, even after the April 2022 income support increases.

The update compared WEAG family cost estimates, inflation-adjusted for 2022, to Government estimates of April 2022 benefit entitlements.

The result? Some of the country's worst-off families face shortfalls of up to $300 a week.

Twelve out of 13 families won't be able to meet their costs. Nine won't be able to meet core essential costs like rent, food and transport.

Here's an example. A couple with three children receiving the Jobseeker allowance need around $300 extra a week to meet their total costs.

These costs include children's sport and a contingency fund for unexpected bills.

Even if you pared everything back to their core costs, they couple still need an additional $165 a week.

Here's another example. A sole parent with three children will require around $240 more a week to meet total costs. Take away everything except the core items and there's still a $111 shortfall each week.

A single person receiving the Jobseeker allowance and sharing a house will need about $90 more every week to cover all costs.

"We urge the Government to do the right thing and ensure liveable support for all," Stanley says.

Key changes needed

The Fairer Future Collaboration is calling for seven key changes to income support. These include:

• increasing core benefit levels to the standard of liveable incomes
• raising the minimum wage to the living wage
• increasing the Disability Allowance
• overhauling relationship rules
• removing sanctions
• wiping debt owed to the Ministry of Social Development
• improving access and supplementary supports to meet basic needs.

Source

• SunLive
• Image: Stuff

According to Statistics New Zealand, food prices in New Zealand have increased 4.5 per cent in the year ending December 2021, pushed by an increase of 2.6 per cent in fruit and vegetables.

It is the highest inflation rate for foods since September 2011.

Just Zilch founder Rebecca Culver said the high cost of living was being felt across New Zealand. Read more

Centre and pastoral co-ordinator Sarah Strang said the Dunedin City Council had done a collection around all its staff and brought in "the most extraordinary amount of food'', just when the foodbank needed it most.

"I actually can't believe it."Read more

"Their generosity has been outstanding, and it restores my faith in human nature", he says.

"They will literally help make Christmas for many who were likely to miss out".

His comments come after burglars broke into the Cathedral Saturday night stealing thousands of dollars of donated food and gifts collected by its local St Vincent De Paul (Vinnies) conference.

Grayland told CathNews that the Police are hoping to find the thief as they have timed security camera footage of the burglar entering and of his vehicle.

"I'm sure Vinnies would have tried to help him had he asked", Grayland said.

The stolen goods had been earmarked by Vinnies for families in need over the Christmas season.

Vinnies Palmerston North president Mike Keenan (pictured), discovered the burglary on Sunday.

He says thieves got away with 10 Christmas-wrapped and decorated parcels donated from a food drive at St James' Catholic School, plus cans, jam, coffee sachets, biscuits, chocolate bars, 500g packets of sugar, bread and 20 kilograms of meat.

He says the food would have been given to around 20 families in time for Christmas.

The church usually delivers 800 parcels a year, helping 3000 people.

"I was pretty upset all day yesterday. I can't understand why people would do that sort of thing," he says.

The burglars trashed the room as well as stealing the donated food and gifts.

"It was a huge mess," he says.

"Food had been tipped out everywhere and dropped as the burglars took what they wanted.

"There were two panels removed from one of the windows, which must have been how they got in."

Exactly how much food was taken is difficult to estimate, because the food bank doesn't keep detailed ledgers.

"We're grateful for the donations from the Manawatu area and wish everyone a great Christmas," Keenan said.

People wanting to help replace the Christmas gifts and hampers are welcome to donate food to Vinnies Shop on Rangitikei Street.

Police area prevention manager Senior Sergeant Darren Paki says police are asking for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning to come forward.

Anyone with information should get in touch by phoning 105 and quoting file number 201129/3944.

Sources

• Supplied
• TVNZ
• Stuff
• Image: Stuff

"It's especially disappointing when we're in the process of helping people at this difficult time. The food that was taken would have helped quite a number of Napier families and individuals," he said. Read more

The Wellington Foodbank Service - not associated with the one run by the Wellington City Mission - has also now been stripped of its charitable status, with the Department of Internal Affairs advising major donors not to hand over more money.

The bulk of existing donations appear to be have disappeared, as liquidators find the charity's bank accounts emptied and almost nothing of value in its Wellington CBD offices. Continue reading