Unemployment has surged to its highest level in close to nine years, with young people bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Today’s Ministry of Social Development stats, which show record numbers of New Zealanders relying on benefits, are further proof that the Government for the rich is failing unemployed people and fuelling poverty.

The Green Party says latest figures on people in this country without a visa show the need to provide clear pathways to residency for the many people falling through the cracks.

Latest stats indicating the worst unemployment numbers since the outbreak of the pandemic are further proof that the Government’s policies are forcing people further into hardship and poverty. 

The Green Party is calling on the Government to intervene following a new report on rising household debt from FinCap. 

The Green Party is calling on the Government to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to helping people into jobs following a new report, ‘The Pipeline of Potential,’ that highlights how people out of work need opportunities, not punishment, to find employment. 

Latest figures from the Ministry of Social Development show the Government is pushing more and more people into unemployment, while punishing them with sanctions for being out of work. 

The Green Party is calling out the Government’s parent boost changes that benefit a wealthier minority while doing nothing to help reunite thousands of migrant families. 

The Government is quietly leaving some of our poorest families hundreds of dollars worse off, ignoring warnings that changes to the accommodation supplement and public housing subsidies will disproportionately target disabled, older, Māori, Pasifika, and young people.

The Government’s Budget is failing families in poverty by pulling the rug on young people receiving income support and allowing more children to go without enough food on the table.