EXCLUSIVE: Metiria’s daughter speaks up for mum
Piupiu Terei speaks up in support after ‘hard to stomach’ reactions to benefit revelations.
Metiria Turei’s only child believes she would have gone hungry had her Green Party coleader mother not misled Winz over her benefit status.
Piupiu Turei, 24, has spoken of her mum’s decision to go public about what she had to do to make ends meet as a solo mother, student and beneficiary.
The MP caused a furore when she admitted she cheated the welfare system by failing to tell WINZ flatmates helped pay the rent when she was on a benefit.
In an exclusive interview, Piupiu Turei said her mother was only doing what she had to — for both of them.
“I think I would’ve been hungry. It definitely would have been much harder for us — more hoops for Mum to jump through and less time for her to focus on study and caring for me.”
The artist, who lives in the Netherlands with her Dutch partner, recalled how happy her mother was to graduate from Auckland University in 1999.
“I didn’t really know what ‘going to law school’ meant, but I knew she had worked so hard and was getting a certificate for all her work.”
She said as she grew up, her mother always seemed so resilient.
“No matter what, she was going to look after us, and if it was hard, it was okay because we would get through it together.
“She taught me how to survive, love and thrive, no matter what situation you’re in.”
Piupiu was warned of a “big announcement” ahead of last Sunday’s confession, which came as the Greens announced a $1.4 billion social policy.
But Piupiu said some of the reactions had been tough to stomach. “It’s hard to read some of the comments, some reference violence and that is understandably upsetting.”
She told those condemning her mother it was okay to disagree — but she urged them to be constructive in their criticism.
Piupiu respected her mum’s bravery. “I’m proud of her for being real with the New Zealand public.”
Piupiu said her mother’s story was “powerful” and helped others speak out. “I feel so much love for people who are sharing their stories. It takes a lot of courage and it’s important we talk about these issues.”
The Green Party MP consulted her two closest political advisers and her family before her confession.
Her advisers backed her completely. Her family was worried but supportive.
All were aware her confession was a risk and that a public backlash and investigation were likely.
She said a story about a woman, falsely accused of fraud who then died of suspected suicide in 2011 motivated her. “What drives a woman to such despair?
“This is not a story that should ever have existed,” Turei said.
“We have never been able to force the country into a serious conversation about how harmful the welfare system can be and I thought, well, maybe I can force that conversation.”
Turei expected an investigation and “rightly so”, but was not sure how much money she was liable for repaying.
She said she was on the benefit between 1993 and 1998 and in three of the five places she had flatmates WINZ was not aware of.
“It would have been between $20-$50 [extra] a week depending on the accommodation support that I was entitled to.”
Whatever the price, she was prepared to pay if it meant exposing the hardship of beneficiaries. She remembered all too well the feeling of shame that came with needing help.
“It was that [feeling] that drove me to law school, to finish as quick as I could and made me not fail a single paper. I wanted off it as fast I could. I hated being so vulnerable and I have never been since.”
Turei said a welfare system that drove people into “constant worry, constant stress” must be overhauled.
“We can fix it, just by making sure people have got an income they can live on. It’s not too much to ask that people can have enough to live on.”
She admitted the negativity in the past week since her confession had been “distressing” at times. “You go from being a person who has a job, to a benefit fraudster, you are defined by the worst story about you and not by the best.”
But she had no regrets, and had also received a lot of support, including from a social media campaign, #IamMetiria. Many people had shared similar stories of struggling to make ends meet. “The attacks that I am getting and that abusive language that often comes with that — beneficiaries get that all the time.”