How harder is life in a benefit?

Most New Zealandes are not aware of the limited quantities that people in a benefit receive, and this is increasing an increase in the fracture of our society, says one researcher.

Helen Clark Foundation has released a new report on social cohesion in New Zealand compared to Australia.

Financial inequality was a significant driver of the problems identified in this country, said the author of the Shamubeel EAGB report.

The New Zealanders had half the likelihood of saying they are satisfied with their financial situation as Australians.

“Inequality – that is divided between people who are comfortably strange and people who are not, people who starve to those who do not do so, there is great disagreement,” said Eagb.

“There is very significant variation in almost every dimensions. Everything, from feeling safe to a sense of participation, financial comfort, sense of value … Everything is related. It’s quite scary.

“We know that poverty erodes the dignity and connection of people with the community.”

He said other data showed that inequality in New Zealand worsened, especially after the 80’s economic reforms.

“There has not been much progress since then. It is probably more of this rooted poverty. What we are seeing particularly between the people of Māori and Pacific Island, who are more likely to be poor, they feel that hard work is not enough.

“Opportunities are not available to everyone equally. They are also more likely to say that they face discrimination. What really shocked me was a quarter of the New Zealanders, sometimes without meals or often – this should not happen in a country like New Zealand.”

The research showed that younger people and Pasifika communities had the highest levels of financial dissatisfaction.

New Zealandes identified cost of living and inflation as their most pressing concerns. In total, 32 % of New Zealanders were satisfied with their financial situation compared to 60 % in Australia.

The EAQB said this could partially be a function of the point of the economic cycle in which each country was, but there were also structural issues.

“Their standard of living is higher, they save more, the income level is higher. Regarding income, their cost of living is slightly lower. There are a lot of different reasons.”

Eagb said the New Zealand real estate market dysfunction and the relative inaccessibility of the houses had contributed to the problem.

“If you look at the work we did, even with the cost of being single, the biggest variation was housed, that’s what is consuming people’s income.

“It’s not the only thing, but in New Zealand everything is relatively expensive and housing and these needs have become quite expensive, so discretionary income is squeezed, especially for the lowest income.”

He said the research showed that rich people thought benefit levels were enough, but the poorest people thought they weren’t.

“What this says there is a perception that we are doing enough. But those who live under these conditions are telling us that it is very difficult to escape the poverty trap … We have our good security network -right? We have the ability to get out of poverty, right?

He said the fact that the basic benefit of a job candidate is $ 361 a week for single people with over 25 years without children, compared to $ 538 a week for NZ Super people can surprise some people.

“If you are old, you deserve more money than if you are young and poor? We have a good system -very uneven … I don’t think people realize how little money is given. This is the stereotype thing.

“Are there ways to connect and have conversations in various groups of people?

“Social cohesion can be better understood as the glue that maintains our communities and society in general,” he said.

“The opposite of social cohesion is polarization. Without social cohesion, societies become increasingly unstable-political to business, civil society, everyday life in our communities. This is an increasingly seen pattern around the world, and New Zealand is not immune.”

The EAQB said that, as in many of the world’s democratic societies, confidence in New Zealand’s leaders and institutions was increasingly fragile.

“We know of research that societies with higher levels of social cohesion are typically healthier, more resistant to shocks and external crises and experience higher levels of economic welfare.

“Now that we have a reference with our research, we have something to measure and improve – and this change begins at the individual level and the community.”

Murray Bruges, executive director of Helen Clark Foundation, said the report has established actions and strategies to improve social inclusion, including awareness, combating stereotypes and opportunities for positive interactions.

“We need to be wondering what actions we can take to be more engaged, more conscious and combat negative stereotypes – from the head over the fence to talk to neighbors, to get more involved with our community organizations, to keep us updated with the news and involve democratic processes at local and central levels.”