Presbyterian Support (Otago) has released a report and accompanying website, titled 'How Much Is Enough?', that shows how an NZ family of five on a benefit with three children under 16 can have a weekly shortfall of NZ$75 after paying basic levels of food, rent, electricity and telephone.

Borrowings to offset that shortfall can amount to over NZ$20,000 over a five-year period, compounding the family's problems.

"The families we have spoken with in this project touched briefly on other issues we have not addressed; amongst them family violence, racism, abuse, youth offending and crime.

Income adequacy has been our focus. Many of the single clients we assist have mental health problems, which have to be managed in the community. Some of these issues we will be exploring further in our commitment to research and advocacy. Our overwhelming impression is not of a class of people determined to rip off the system, but of people struggling to make the best of some very bad circumstances and inadequate income.

Other research indicates that matters are very much worse elsewhere in Aotearoa New Zealand. If that is the case, and we have no reason to doubt it, the failure of governments to address the consequences as well as the causes of poverty in our midst must be considered culpable. Governments all promise much more. Poverty is a political issue, that's why we elect governments. Enough is enough! However the last word is not with us. It is with you, the reader."

Click here to view the full website document.

Click here to read Presbyterian Support (Otago)'s endorsement of GlobalBridge's support role for the publication of their report.