“It is high time for National – and all political parties – to stop wringing their hands about child poverty and growing inequality and actually do something about the incomes of adults who are left destitute on a daily basis as a result of the desire to make the income gap between paid work and benefits as wide as possible.

This coming Sunday John Key and the National Party are holding a Christmas BBQ at the Auckland Grammar Old Boys Pavilion.

“The nett weekly base rate for a sole parent will go up by a princely $1.53 per week – $79.56 per year.

“John Key will receive an extra $457.69 per week – $23,800 per year

“On Sunday afternoon we’ll be giving him and his mates the message that it’s high time they took serious action to reverse the welfare reforms and start building thousands of state houses rather than focusing their assistance on helping those who already are a lot ‘more wealthier’.

“What’s needed is a wholesale change to welfare policies and practices, starting with an end to the culture of denial which sees thousands of people turned down each day for the support to which they’re entitled.

“This is a chance to hear about UBI from one of the world’s most knowledgeable and respected advocates,” says AAAP spokesperson Sue Bradford.

“It is to New Zealand’s deepest shame that the latest Unicef report on children living in poverty ranks us 16th out of 41 developed countries.

“John Key has clearly been looking to the US for his latest bright idea on dealing with employment issues,” says Auckland Action Against Poverty coordinator Sue Bradford.

“The National Government continues to ignore the social and economic reality of beneficiaries. Their individual needs and circumstances are not addressed by Work and Income.  The government has no focus on job creation, whilst remaining focused on harassing beneficiaries, ” says Auckland Action Against Poverty spokesperson, Alastair Russell.

“We work with people everyday who have been squeezed to the limit by a punitive approach to beneficiaries and the unemployed. We have seen incomes drop significantly in parts of Auckland. This winter, an untold number will face freezing homes and empty stomachs.