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Salvation Army unimpressed by government's 'year of delivery'

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 12 Feb 2020, 2:49PM
(Photo / Getty)

Salvation Army unimpressed by government's 'year of delivery'

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 12 Feb 2020, 2:49PM

A lukewarm reaction from those helping our most vulnerable, towards Jacinda Ardern's so-called 'year of delivery'.

The Salvation Army's released its State of the Nation report this morning, focusing on areas like poverty and housing.

One of the report's authors, Ronji Tanielu, says for the army. investing in people is just as important as investing in infrastructure.

"In terms of some of the challenges around our incomes and unemployment, there has been some great change, but we're uncertain whether that is truly as transformational as promised."

The report reveals a housing surplus in Auckland. Tanielu says consents for new dwellings are at the highest levels in 20 years.

"In the last five years we've reported a deficit of about 18,000 houses in Auckland. With the new figures that have come out from Statistics New Zealand, statistically, there is a 7,000 surplus."

But, Tanielu says having a surplus doesn't remove homelessness - and more questions need to be asked around affordability.

The report also found a spike in teen suicide from 2017. Tanielu says there's a near-record number of 15 to 19 year-olds taking their own lives.

"We know the government is talking about a lot of mental health work, but maybe there needs to be some targeted work on the young people, the young males, and the issues they're facing."

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