Turei fronts up to benefit investigators
Investigators looking into Green co-leader Metiria Turei’s admission of benefit fraud have asked her for the full details of her living situation, as they try to decide whether she should face charges.
Turei had her first meeting with the Ministry of Social Development yesterday, and afterwards said it was a good meeting, and she would cooperate fully.
‘‘I’m very clear that I will certainly be repaying any overpayment.
‘‘It was a good meeting, but I can certainly see how people who don’t have the resources that I do would find that quite traumatic,’’ she said. Turei walked into the meeting, ‘‘nervous’’ but said MSD ‘‘had a job to do’’ and she respected that.
‘‘They have set out clearly the information they need from me and the process that they’re going to undertake, so I’ll provide that information and the process will roll out.
‘‘They need the details about where I was living and what I was paying. They’re going to be sending me that information - the list of the questions that they have. And then I can give them very accurate information in response.’’
But she would not be publicly releasing details.
Turei revealed she was living with undeclared flatmates, while collecting the Domestic Purposes Benefit as a solo mother, and studying for a law degree in the 90s.
The admission came at the Green Party’s annual conference, where she also unveiled a major new policy to overhaul the welfare system, and strip all sanctions to beneficiaries if they don’t meet their obligations in receiving a benefit.
It has sparked a divisive public row, which has solidified Green support on the far left but has angered many voters in middle New Zealand.
Following an hour-long meeting at the Ministry of Social Development’s Wellington headquarters, Turei said it was mostly to lay out the investigation process that would follow.
She was given no indication of the likelihood of charges, and no timeframe was set.
‘‘They said that they will be assessing my entitlements over the period and using the information I provide to make that clear.’’
There was a danger Turei had opened herself up to prosecution.
‘‘That is a potential consequence - I knew that when I first talked about my case in attempting to open up the discussion about what welfare is really like.
‘‘But I said I will work with them on their investigation of the overpayment, and they will send me the questions that they have and I’ll answer them as best that I can.’’
MSD investigators were ‘‘good’’ to Turei, but it was daunting process that would be ‘‘traumatic’’ for many, she said.