How much beneficiaries are left with after paying the rent
A government report reveals that New Zealand beneficiaries are struggling to cover basic living costs, with rent and mortgage payments consuming nearly half of their income. Budgeting advisors report that clients are increasingly relying on KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals and buy-now-pay-later schemes just to survive.
Why it matters
It highlights a growing cost-of-living crisis and the inadequacy of current social support systems to meet basic human needs.
Beneficiaries are living on an average of $251 a week once they've covered their housing costs, a government report shows.
A budgeting advisor says her clients are not getting by, and every day someone seeks help with KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals to cover the basics.
The Ministry of Social Development's total incomes report showed inflation-adjusted average incomes to April last year continued to drop, from $262 in 2024 and $263 in 2023.
The average spanned from $216 for single people, to $824 for bigger families.
Overall, incomes after housing costs were higher in 2025 in real terms than they were at the end of 2019, however they have remained "relatively flat" since 2022, the report said.
Rent or mortgage payments chewed up an average of 48 percent of beneficiaries' incomes, it showed.
Before housing costs, beneficiaries' average income was $486 a week - down from $492 the year prior.
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