Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
The Salvation Army has thrown down a challenge to political parties contesting this year’s election: New Zealand’s biggest social problems are well known, but where will the money come from to fix them?
The call comes on the same day Treasury’s Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU) delivered better-than-expected news on the Government’s finances, forecasting an earlier return to surplus and lower debt levels than previously anticipated. While the improved outlook may provide some additional breathing room for future governments, Treasury also warned that long-term pressures from an ageing population, rising healthcare costs and growing superannuation commitments remain a significant threat to the country’s finances.
Against that backdrop, The Salvation Army is urging parties not only to promise solutions but to explain how they will fund them.
The charity has identified seven pressing issues facing communities across New Zealand: food security, housing, the cost of living, poverty, welfare and taxation, justice reintegration, and addiction.
Drawing on the Māori wellbeing framework poipoia te kākano (nurture the seed), The Salvation Army says public policy should focus on providing the foundations people need to thrive, including dignity, opportunity, prevention and support.
Director of The Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit, Dr Bonnie Robinson, says the election campaign presents an important opportunity for parties to demonstrate how their policies will improve the lives of struggling New Zealanders.
“Food insecurity and the cost of living continue to place significant pressure on individuals and families across New Zealand,” Robinson said.
“Our country has plenty of food and food insecurity is a completely solvable problem. We are calling for politicians to work together with communities to end food insecurity.”
She said many households continue to face severe pressure because incomes are not keeping pace with living costs.
“For many people, incomes remain too low to meet daily living costs. Even modest increases in essential expenses can create significant hardship for households already struggling to make ends meet.”
Robinson believes New Zealand needs a welfare and taxation system that better supports lower-income families while still generating the revenue required to invest in housing, healthcare, education, infrastructure and climate resilience.
That challenge may become one of the defining issues of the election campaign.
Treasury’s PREFU shows the Government’s books are improving, but it also makes clear there is no large pile of spare cash sitting in reserve. Any party promising major new spending initiatives will increasingly face scrutiny over how those commitments will be funded and whether taxpayers are willing to shoulder the cost.
Housing remains another major concern for The Salvation Army.
“Homelessness has been steadily rising, and we are asking political parties to explain how they will end homelessness, provide immediate access to housing for people with inadequate shelter availability in many towns, and support people into stable, longer-term housing,” Robinson said.
She also highlighted the need for better support for those leaving prison and stronger responses to rising levels of addiction within communities.
As election promises begin to multiply, The Salvation Army’s message is simple: New Zealanders already know what the problems are. The real question voters should be asking is whether political parties can realistically deliver solutions and explain where the money will come from to pay for them.
Robinson encouraged all eligible New Zealanders to ensure they are enrolled and participate in the election.
“Our system of government may not be perfect, but we are privileged to have an open democracy where every person gets to vote freely for a candidate and party of their choice,” she said.
