Help for struggling whānau

• Author: Stuart Whitaker
• Published date: 26 January 2023
• Publication title: Te Puke Times

The rise was the biggest annual food price increase in 32 years, according to Stats NZ. Fruit and vegetable prices were up 23 per cent year on year

It is just one of many factors making life difficult for a lot of families at the start of 2023.

Bay Financial Mentors offers budget advice at The Hub Te Puke.

Manager Shirley McCombe says January is a tough time of year because families have the cost of returning to school and they are still feeling the impacts of Christmas.

“This year, with the rising costs of living, we are expecting this to be even tougher for many,” says Shirley.

The flip side, she says, is that Te Puke is an incredibly generous community and has a wonderful resource in The Hub.

“Our organisation is at The Hub three days per week and will soon be moving to four.”

Many clients are referred by Poutiri Trust, Ngā Kākano Foundation and other organisations in the area.

“We are all committed to working together to get the best outcome for the community.

“We encourage everyone to come and see us as there are many, many ways to reduce costs, get assistance and manage money more efficiently. We run education programmes and everything is free.”

The Hub Te Puke operates the local foodbank and offers other services including advice and advocacy.

General manager Scott Nicholson says the organisation has “hit the ground running” in 2023.

“Unsurprisingly, demand is up and it is also up in terms of parts of the community we haven’t seen before,” he says. “It’s driven by two things — the cost of living, specifically food, and also housing costs.”

Scott says The Hub has a range of options when it comes to food support that are available by referral from its partners.

He says so far this year, the expected impact of back-to-school costs on families’ finances has not become evident.

Poutiri Wellness Centre CEO Kirsty Maxwell-Crawford says COVID is still having an impact in the community, with Poutiri providing support for those affected. “We are nowhere near as busy as when COVID first hit...