National is making life harder at the supermarket checkout and harder still for Kiwis who turn to the Government for help.

“With tens of thousands more hungry Kiwis being denied emergency food grants, New Zealanders cannot afford another three years of National,” Labour social development and employment spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.

“At a time when one in three households are struggling to access enough food and food banks are under great pressure, National is missing in action. 

“This is not an accident. It is the consequence of National making life more expensive and now turning their backs on those feeling the pain.

“National bungled the Winter Energy Payment for 15,000 pensioners and veterans, botched benefit payments without telling us how many were affected, and now tens of thousands more hungry Kiwis are being denied emergency support.

“No one chooses to go hungry. Food is a basic necessity, and it is shameful that so many Kiwis are being left without enough of it.

“Louise Upston needs to front up, take responsibility and explain why her Government is making it harder for hungry Kiwis to get the help they need,” Willow-Jean Prime said.