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June 10, 2015
Turei calls on government to provide more support for families
Waatea Team
Posted On June 10, 2015
Greens co-leader Metiria Turei wants the government to provide more support for people to heat their houses.
She says the death of Otara two-year-old Emma-Lita Bourne, which a coroner says was caused in part by the cold, damp house she lived in, is confirmation that Housing New Zealand is making money off unhealthy homes.
She says a call from a Northland paediatrician for a targeted benefit so poor families can keep their homes heated has merit.
"We’ve said that government should make sure everybody who goes to them for a hardship or special assistance for a power bill should get it as a grant and not as a loan because 9 out of 10 times people go to get help for their power bills have to pay it back. They can't afford to pay it back you dont go to get help which means they don't use their heating properly" says Metiria Turei.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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