The Maori Party wants a $500 tax-free payment to pensioners
and poverty-stricken families with children to help them get
through the Christmas period, but says there should be
checks, otherwise there is the potential for abuse.
Hauraki-Waikato candidate Angeline Greensill announced the
policy in Hamilton at the Enderley Community Centre.
While parts of the suburb are known as Poets' Corner for
street names such as Shakespeare Ave and Tennyson Rd, it is
one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the country.
At the 2006 census, it had a decile 10 ranking, the worst on
the scale of socio-economic deprivation.
The package would be paid in a lump sum to families of
230,000 children living in poverty in the first week of
December tax free.
Mother of three Adelaide Wharakura (25), who works part-time
at the community centre and takes home $197.45 a week, backed
the scheme.
"That would definitely make a big difference to my family and
there's a lot of people who struggle around here."
But the after-school programme supervisor, whose centre makes
sure 30-40 children get three square meals a day, said she
also had reservations.
"Who it makes a difference to depends on which families you
give it to. There are a lot of drugs and alcohol, if I'm
being honest [there are some who would] rather spend money on
things like that.
"This money shouldn't be spent like that - there should be
some checks or rules."
Ms Greensill said it was likely that for some of those
children the money wouldn't trickle down but that the greater
majority should not miss out.
And if Labour could institute a bank retail deposit guarantee
scheme worth multimillions and potentially billions to tide
them over the bad times, then those most vulnerable in
society should also get some relief.
"They're talking about propping up the banks, why not invest
in our people in poverty? They [the Government] should spend
money on real people and address an issue which has been on
their books for so long."
While the specifics hadn't been worked out, as a starting
point, New Zealanders on incomes of less than $25,000 might
qualify, she said.
The party also wanted to see superannuitants eligible for the
$500, making the policy worth about $136 million.
There would be flow-on effects to the retail sector as
families would be spending, but more importantly children who
had never experienced a decent Christmas might get one, Mrs
Greensill said.
