Charities Sound Alarm as New Zealand Families Face Deepening Poverty

By Amy Williams

In the Auckland suburb of Mangere, the Latu family of 12 is grappling with a daily battle against poverty. Three of Unaloto Latu's children sleep on couches in the living room, while her husband has been off work for three years due to a knee injury. The family relies on state benefits, but even that is not enough to meet their basic needs.

Living on the Edge
The family is not alone. Charities and social services are reporting alarming levels of poverty across the country, with many families forced to make impossible choices between heating, food, and other essentials.

Charities Step In
Agencies such as the city missions, Variety, Kids Can, and Family Works are stepping up their winter appeals to support families in crisis. Latu, who sells homemade cakes to help buy food, says it's not enough to feed her children regularly. 'Sometimes dinner is just rice,' she says, while her children rely on the government's school lunch programme.

Rising Costs and Energy Hardship
Stats NZ data shows that electricity costs have risen by nearly 9% since June last year, while petrol prices have climbed 15.5%. According to Consumer NZ, 7% of New Zealanders have resorted to taking out loans to pay their power bills, and 11% are now underheating their homes.

Policy Changes Expected
In response to the crisis, the Electricity Authority has announced new rules requiring large electricity retailers to offer cheaper off-peak power prices and fair compensation for people selling surplus solar power. These changes aim to give consumers more control over their energy use and reduce costs.

Struggling Social Services
Organizations like Presbyterian Support Northern are reporting an increase in demand for their services, but government funding cuts have left them unable to support as many families as before. 'Agencies are struggling to keep their services running,' said Grenville Hendricks, general manager of social services. 'With reductions in social housing and benefit payments, the power challenge becomes exacerbated.'

A Call for Urgent Action
Variety's chief executive, Susan Glasgow, warns that if immediate action isn't taken, more children will be plunged into poverty. 'It's not about charity—it's about investment in our future as a country,' Glasgow said.

Hope Amid Hardship
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Unaloto Latu remains focused on her children's future. 'We always teach them to go to school and study hard so you can get a job that will give you what you need,' she says. Her dream is for her children to have a better life and for her to travel the world when they are grown.

As the cost of living continues to rise, the voices of those on the front lines are a stark reminder of the urgent need for change. Charities, social services, and families are all calling for systemic reform to prevent more New Zealanders from being left behind.