PRESS RELEASE 04/08/2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

People Before Profit are an independent, not for profit group representing people who are disillusioned with mainstream politics. We are explicitly clear that we are a movement of the people, and of workers in the workplaces that will change things.

It has become clear that we need to stand beside those who seek to protect the poor, house the homeless and feed the hungry. We stand beside Metiria.

We are all aware of the levels of homelessness, poverty and mental health issues. And we are aware of the punitive approach and the grinding systemic conditions which hold many people, including the working poor, in appalling and depressing conditions. We stand beside Metiria.

Joe Carolan, spokesperson for People Before Profit, reminds us “In an election year, the real news story is the mistreatment of the poor, appalling levels of homelessness and record high levels of youth suicide”.

“We do not accept the vilification of a woman for proposing to end poverty. Consecutive governments have chosen to create homelessness and hunger. Metiria has proposed to end this. The relentless personal attacks against her suggest that this important policy has hit a nerve”.

People Before Profit assert New Zealand can afford to end poverty. “There is enough money to do this within a five years” says Joe. “While some individuals and large companies profiteer – making excessive profits are the expense of people and our planet – many others are suffering. A fairer distribution of wealth means no-one has to live in poverty, and would serve to stimulate the economy and increase productivity”.

“Metiria’s actions in her early 20’s is old news, now regurgitated for the entertainment of a few and as a distraction from the real and pressing issues facing us this election”. “For those people living in cars, who’ve lived in garages, who’ve been homeless and hungry this winter – it is an arrogant slap in the face that we can so easily forget them”.

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