The Government’s newly announced fuel alert system provides no relief for whānau living with the real-world impacts of rising fuel costs and looming restrictions.

Today’s announcement outlined a four-phase fuel response plan, including prioritising fuel for essential services and restricting fuel use for everyone else if the supply crisis worsens.

What is completely missing is how people living under these restrictions will be supported.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says it is a plan designed by oil companies, for oil companies, that leaves communities to fend for themselves.

“We are being told to trust Shane ‘Drill Baby Drill’ Jones and his oil executive donors in the middle of a fuel supply crisis”.

“Phases 3 and 4 are still being designed behind closed doors by fuel industry executives, without any iwi, hapū, or community input. The Government is leaving it up to the oil industry to determine who is essential and who deserves support”.

“The Phase 2 response to struggling communities is to ask people to voluntarily use less fuel and consider alternative transport. In Te Tai Hauāuru, Waiariki and Hauraki-Waikato, there is no alternative transport. Our people drive because they have no choice.”

Te Pāti Māori is calling on the government to:

• Partner with iwi, hapū and community organisations in the design of alert levels 3 & 4
• Formally recognise and resource marae as essential community service hubs
• Make public transport free to conserve fuel stock for people without access
• Provide direct financial support for all low-income and rural households
• Direct the public sector to work from home where possible
• Increase mileage rates for care and support workers
• Boost funding for foodbanks and Pātaka Kai
• Suspend benefit sanctions

“When people do not have the luxury of choice in a crisis, we need to give it to them”.

“That means supporting people to be able to work from home, and protecting the livelihoods of those who can’t”.

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