25 Nov 2019
Calls to change relationship definitions in welfare system
The Child Poverty Action Group is joining with Auckland Action Against Poverty and Action Station to call for urgent changes to the way relationships are defined in the welfare system. They've written an open letter to the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, saying the rules are unclear and harmful. At the moment, someone can have their financial support reduced or cut entirely if they're deemed to be in a relationship in the nature of marriage. Our social issues reporter Sarah Robson asked Susan St John from the Child Poverty Action Group about how it works.