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A parenting expert says Māori are showing greater resilience than other New Zealanders in dealing with tough times.
The fifth annual parenting survey by health insurer nib found 93 percent of households were under financial stress – with almost half saying it is the number one cause of stress.
Its resident parenting expert, Nathan Wallis says Maori whanau were twice as likely as pakeha parents to see the positives of how to cope with having less money in the household budget.
“It may be hard to be broke, we all know that, but being forced to go out and take the kids into the bush, and take the kids to the beach – because you don’t have the finances to go to the movies – actually creates a higher quality relationship, than just going and sitting beside them in the movies and paying the money,” he says.
Mr Wallis says 64 percent of Maori reported their whanau were eating less or differently, and 26 percent said they had to make hard choices – such as skipping meals or going without essentials like petrol or heating.
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