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Benefit fraudster: Turei's confession gives voice to similar people

Author
Daniel Walker,
Publish Date
Tue, 18 Jul 2017, 12:39PM
(Felix Marwick).
(Felix Marwick).

Benefit fraudster: Turei's confession gives voice to similar people

Author
Daniel Walker,
Publish Date
Tue, 18 Jul 2017, 12:39PM

A woman convicted of benefit fraud says Metiria Turei is giving a voice to people like her.

The Green Party co-leader has admitted to lying to Work and Income to get more benefit money to support her child.

Invercargill woman Roselyn Tupou is serving 10-months home detention for spending two years working while on the benefit.

She still feels like what she did was a necessity to help feed her four children through tough times.

"I said this to my lawyer, who I was working with at the time, hopefully one day someone in Parliament can bring this up and to see that come out it was like, yes, it's finally out there."

She said Ms Turei's confession is very similar to their own story.

"She has said these things because she was in struggle at the time, exactly what we were going through, and that's how we felt."

Ms Tupou said Ms Turei's admission speaks for many other unheard people in the same situation.

"What we said to our lawyers and to our probation officers doesn't really get out there but she has a voice and she's declaring it to the media. This is what she's done, she's owning up to it."

Ms Turei doesn't need to be investigated, Ms Tupou said. 

"I'm currently serving at the moment but no, I don't feel that she needs to be in the position that I'm in."

 

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