Aucklanders speak out on welfare changes

Community workers, welfare advocates and beneficiaries have spoken out about their experiences and hopes for New Zealand’s welfare system at a community forum in Auckland today.

Organised by Welfare Justice (the Alternative Welfare Working Group), the meeting at Tatai Hono marae was called to enable participation by vulnerable members of the community most likely to be affected by welfare changes, in the national debate about welfare.

Mike O’Brien, Welfare Justice chair, said that the meeting contained strong messages from beneficiaries and from people who work with people on benefits. “They want and need systems that are responsive, flexible and respectful of people, as well as systems that build up people’s capacity and strength.”

He said that it was important that any debate about the future of our social welfare system ensured that New Zealand’s most vulnerable people were heard. “We wanted to give them a voice, and the quality of input and feedback today was detailed, coherent and interesting.”

Welfare Justice (the Alternative Welfare Working Group) is conducting a month-long series of public meetings, asking the community to share experiences and views about welfare. The group is inviting submissions both to itself and to the government appointed Welfare Working Group.

Further meetings are planned over the next month in Whangarei, Manukau, Hamilton, Rotorua, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.

ENDS

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