STOP BLAMING YOUTH

Since being back in New Zealand I’ve decided it may be a good idea to leave again. According to The Salvation Army there are currently 718,000 people receiving NZ Superannuation. That is almost one quarter of our total population. Over the next 4 years according to the same report, NZ Superannuation is expected to account for almost 25 per cent of new government spending as the number of people reaching retirement age increases. In the meantime funding for childcare has been cut by $250 million, family tax benefit payments have declined and will continue to do so, debt is high, child poverty is a ‘social norm’ and rental prices and deposits for home loans are the highest they have ever been. But don’t worry 30 and 40 somethings you’re not terrible with money, a recent study shows in actual fact you have better saving habits then previous generations and you work longer hours. Stop blaming migrants, sole parents, and the young - a terrible lack of population planning is the culprit here, and we are suffering for it.

S West Takanini