Auckland – the Super City of poverty

By
Martyn Bradbury
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5
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plutocracy1

AUT have released an excellent report on the Super City and some of the facts are startling…

– 18% of Aucklanders claim they don’t have enough money. The national average is 14%.
– For the period 2008-10, Auckland region individual income inequality increased from 100% to 109%
– In the year 2011-12, 20% of Aucklanders didn’t visit the GP when they wanted to.
– In 2010 9% of Aucklanders lived in overcrowded housing
– In 2010 17% of Auckland’s children live in overcrowded housing.
– The unemployment rate for Auckland is 7.3%, double what it was five years ago.
– The unemployment rate for Auckland youth (15-24 year olds) is 19.8%,
– The unemployment rate for Maori youth is 26%
– The unemployment rate for Pacific youth is 31%
– 28,700 Auckland youth are not in employment, education, or training
– Auckland City Council has 1500 employees that are paid less than the living wage, 601 staff paid over $100K, 103 staff paid over $150K and 41 paid over $200K.

The internal inequality of the Super City is only matched by the external inequality of the City it rules.

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5 COMMENTS

  2. As an Aucklander dependent on a welfare benefit, I pay just about 60 per cent of my total available income just on RENT (not including any utility costs like water and such). There will be a fair few in similar situations. Turning on the heater is avoided, due to unaffordable electricity costs. Going out is a rare occurrence, due to transport and other costs.

    Having stood my ground towards WINZ, I know that I am getting what I should be paid (under present welfare laws and regimes), but many are not.

    I understand that from 10 to 12 September Auckland Action Against Poverty are holding an IMPACT activity at New Lynn Work and Income offices, advising and assisting beneficiaries, on their true entitlements and rights.

    I thought, I’d just mention this, as it should interest many in such circumstances, especially those catered by that office.

    So presently I and many others are just surviving more or less hand to mouth. The money is basically spent within hours after being on my account, and that is on ESSENTIALS, none else, to all those who may doubt.

    There is not enough to buy needed new shoes or clothes though.

    We also now have an increasing number of working poor in Auckland, and many hold down 2 or more part time jobs to try and make ends meet.

    Thank you John Key, for your continuous “theatre” performance to the masses, it could be so entertaining and funny, were it not for many down the bottom, who are suffering and have no or little times to smile and walk away as you, sitting on the exclusive balcony, with heated floor, in this grand theatre called Aotearoa New Zealand.

    The storm on the Bastille had its reasons, and one day many in this country will have reasons to stand up and refuse being told to eat cake, when there is no bread.

    Your days are numbered, same as some running the show in Auckland City and the rest of the country.

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