“Yesterday, Key suggested that protesters outside his post-Budget speech at SkyCity were unlikely to have even read the Budget. However while Key and his mates live in a world of growth forecasts and financial daydreams, others of us of experience firsthand the realities of policies which have brutalised our poorest communities, “ says Ms. Abu-Shanab.

“In spite of a few band aids for families hurting after 6 years of National, the Budget contains no job creation. It also contains no Living Wage, and there is no way the unemployed share in this illusory strong economy.

 “Since this acknowledgment by the Finance Minister that his government has no intention of addressing poverty, we have seen the actions of Maurice Williamson and Judith Collins protecting their rich mates. We now know that if you have money, you can buy time with Cabinet ministers through the Cabinet Club.

Living arrangements are complicated, as is the test to see if a relationship is legally in the nature of marriage. Often beneficiaries are not in a marriage-like relationship as recognised by MSD, even when they think they might be.

Through our advocacy work we find that people are often so distressed by their experiences with Work and Income that they will do anything to avoid registering for a benefit; won’t ask for what they desperately need in supplementary assistance; or are simply denied support altogether.

If our experience in New Lynn this week is anything to go by, thousands of New Zealanders of all ages have had an already marginal existence made even tougher because of Paula Bennett’s welfare policies and departmental inadequacies.

Anyone who seeks our support with Work and Income is welcome at next week’s ‘Impact,’ without an appointment. Advocates on duty will do our best to help everyone who turns up, with the assistance of a number of extra staff whom MSD has put on especially for the occasion.

I sometimes think that John Key, Paula Bennett and all their crew will only be happy when they’ve returned Aotearoa to some Dickensian landscape with beggars on every pavement, abandoned children at employers’ doors and thievery an everyday mode of existence for the poor. There are moments when I suspect we’re just about there already.