Turei says she will repay Winz, regardless

AUCKLAND: Green Party coleader Metiria Turei says she has decided to pay back any money owed to Work and Income but is waiting to hear from the government agency to find out how much she needs to pay.

Mrs Turei said there was ‘‘no doubt’’ the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) would investigate her case and she expected a call any day now.

‘‘I’ve left them no option,’’ she said. ‘‘Of course they need to have a look.’’ Announcing her party’s welfare policy at the party’s annual meeting on Sunday, Mrs Turei revealed she lied to Winz about her living situation while on the domestic purposes benefit in the 1990s.

She admitted she had extra flatmates living with her to help pay the rent, but did not tell the authorities because her benefit would be cut. A solo mother at the time, she feared she would not be able to care for daughter Piu if she lost her welfare payments.

Mrs Turei initially said she would pay it back if the MSD got in touch, but later said she planned to refund Winz, regardless.

‘‘It was always the decision to pay it back. I just wasn’t clear enough in the speech on Sunday.

‘‘But I need to wait for Winz to do the calculation and the investigation, because I can’t do that myself.’’

It was difficult to know how much she owed, she said. She had extra flatmates in three of the five flats she lived in, over three years.

Mrs Turei was applauded by some for her confession, but also faced a back lash from some members of the public who were angry she used fraud to make a political point.

She admitted a few members of her party were upset with her admission, and that some of the details of her party’s welfare policy had been pushed into the background.

But overall, she said it had been a positive move because it had started a conversation about the flaws in the welfare system and the mistreatment of beneficiaries.

‘‘I expected all of the criticism,’’ she said.

‘‘But I didn’t expect anything like the support I’ve got.’’

Other current or former beneficiaries have shared similar stories of their experience of the welfare system. Some of them have posted them on social media under the hashtag #IAmMetiria.

‘‘This is the conversation we need to be having.’’ Mrs Turei said.

‘‘What people are talking about is how bad it is to be on a benefit, how financially insecure, how despairing.’’

While she welcomed the show of support, she was also worried people who were still on welfare had exposed themselves to sanctions from the MSD.

‘‘That’s my big concern now. There’s been suggestions before that MSD follows social media accounts.

‘‘And this is what was at the heart of my speech — that people are so ground down because of that threat of poverty that’s used against them.’’

The MSD indicated earlier this week it was likely to look into Mrs Turei’s case. — NZME