Media & Submissions
Why the Proposed Regulatory Standards Bill is not fit for purpose
Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective (Kore Hiakai) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. We strongly challenge the underlying principle of this proposed bill to utilise and champion neo-liberal ideology to promote individual property rights over the rights of communities, hapū & iwi.
This proposed legislation has its origins in legislation previously presented, which each time failed scrutiny. It is ideology that has been rejected repeatedly by democratically elected governments, including being rejected by the Legislation Advisory Committee in 2010 and a lack of support in Treasury’s Regulatory Impact Statement in 2011. There is nothing substantially new in this iteration that merits different consideration.
We strongly challenge this proposed legislation, oppose the continuation of its progress, and urge the government to abandon the Regulatory Standards Bill 2021.
Submission on the Social Security Amendment Bill
Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective (Kore Hiakai) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Social Security Amendment Bill. Kore Hiakai support the objective of helping people into meaningful, adequately paid, employment that will lift their economic well-being. However, we take issue with the means by which this bill proposes to achieve that objective, particularly the introduction of non-financial sanctions.
Kore Hiakai oppose the introduction of non-financial sanctions as outlined in this bill, particularly the introduction of money management and community work as a penalty for failing to meet obligations. We continue to encourage government to progress the implementation of changes recommended by the Debt to Government Framework and ask for all historic ‘no fault’ overpayment debt to MSD be wiped. We affirm Fincap’s call for a direct phone line for financial mentors to the Ministry of Social Development.
We urge the government to centre the mana of individuals in the provision of social security services, and to ensure that their actions throughout the Social Security system uphold their responsibilities as a partner to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Why we oppose the Treaty Principles Bill
Kore Hiakai oppose the proposed Treaty Principles Bill and urge the select committee to halt its progress immediately. To allow any further progression is to continue to waste government resources, creating further social division, perpetuating harm to all New Zealanders, and particularly to Māori.
We urge the Government to act honourably as a Te Tiriti partner by:
• Upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in all legislative spaces of New Zealand
• Recognising the right of Tangata Whenua as Te Tiriti partners to be engaged at all levels of dialogue in interpretation and implementation of Te Tiriti principles
• Recognising their responsibility to educate all citizens on the past, present and future relevance and importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to all who call Aotearoa New Zealand home.
The Spinoff: Who are the New Zealanders who can’t afford nourishing food?
By calculating the weekly deficit in people’s budgets, a new report shows how those receiving benefits or working for minimum wage often can’t pay for food after the cost of fixed expenses.
The Good IDEAs Substack: Food poverty in a food-producing nation - how is it possible? (paywalled)
A recent report from Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective exposes the fact that, despite New Zealand’s being a major food-producing nation, around 15-20% of the population are unable to afford healthy food. This is technically known as being in moderate or severe ‘food insecurity’ or ‘food poverty’.
RNZ: Beneficiaries not getting by as rental costs grow
As benefit recipient numbers hit new records, there is a warning that many households relying on JobSeeker are not able to cover their basic needs.
Ka Mākona, a new report from the Zero Hunger Collective, identifies how much of a budget surplus households have left after paying for housing, transport, food and utilities.
It shows that, in every part of the country and with every type of household modelled, someone on JobSeeker would have a budget deficit.
Press release: Ka Mākona: Income Adequacy in Aotearoa New Zealand 2024
Ka Mākona provides a snapshot of the income and expenses of low-income households in urban and regional centres across Aotearoa. This snapshot helps to create an understanding of the root causes of food-related poverty for whānau and encourages us all into conversation and action for change.
Consumer NZ: Are social supermarkets a PR exercise for Foodstuffs North Island?
Poverty is the cause of food insecurity.
RNZ The Detail podcast: The benefit system that holds the poor in poverty
Some of the financial help being handed out to struggling Kiwis is actually keeping them poor.