The government has announced a $272 million increase in tax credits for New Zealand families.
The government says the tax credits will see around 6000 children moved out of poverty and help ensure families aren’t left behind by New Zealand’s Covid-19 response.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the boost at Labour’s annual conference over the weekend. This will mean that around 346,000 families are better off by an average of $20 by next April.
Added to these the government announced that the Orphans Benefit, Unsupported Child’s Benefit and Foster Care Allowance would also increase by $5 a week to support caregivers. Furthermore, the Best Start payment for families with a newborn would increase with inflation from $60 to $65 a week.
In her conference speech, Ardern also thanked Aucklanders who will soon mark three months in lockdown, saying: “For what will feel like endless weeks now, you have carried a burden on behalf of the rest of the country.”
“I know at times that will have been an extraordinarily lonely place to be. But please never doubt that what you have done has had a profound impact on New Zealand.”
