Growing numbers of working New Zealanders are cutting back on food, healthcare and heating as household budgets come under increasing pressure, according to the latest NZCTU Cost of Living Survey.
Sandra Grey from the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions joins Radio Waatea to discuss what the findings mean for workers and, in particular, Māori whānau already facing significant pressure from rising everyday costs.
The survey found 64 percent of respondents were buying cheaper food, while one in four reported skipping meals. More than half had delayed dental treatment, 45 percent had put off seeing a doctor, and 42 percent were dipping into savings simply to make ends meet.
The NZCTU says the findings show employment alone is not protecting some households from financial hardship, with workers reporting sacrifices across food, power, healthcare and family activities.
Grey joins Matthew Tukaki to unpack the numbers, what they tell us about the financial pressure facing Māori whānau, and what needs to change to improve household economic security across Aotearoa.
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