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New Zealanders face worsening hardship as strict welfare rules deny emergency housing despite urgent needs.
A Citizens Advice Bureau report based on 10,000 cases reveals worsening welfare challenges in New Zealand, with people across all backgrounds struggling to afford basic needs like housing, food, and heat.
Strict eligibility rules, benefit sanctions, and cuts to community services have led to denials of emergency housing, even for those facing imminent homelessness.
Individuals, including parents and disabled people, were turned away despite urgent needs, such as broken heating systems or unrepairable vehicles.
Work and Income cited policy restrictions in denying support.
The bureau urges reforms to improve access to essentials and reduce penalties.
Social Development Minister Louise Upston acknowledged cost-of-living pressures and noted government efforts to reduce inflation and taxes, with a planned meeting to address the report’s findings.
Los neozelandeses se enfrentan a dificultades cada vez mayores a medida que las estrictas reglas de bienestar les niegan la vivienda de emergencia a pesar de las necesidades urgentes.