Politics

Budget 2018: Poverty trap continues - former homeless

06:10 am on 18 May 2018

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The Finance Minister Grant Robertson has delivered his first Budget calling it a first step in a plan for transformation. He's investing more money in health, education and housing - while also forecasting a more than $3 billion surplus. National's leader Simon Bridges says the government has got its priorities wrong. One of the big ticket items is housing with the government committing to build 1600 state houses a year - up from Labour's original promise of just 1000. But an Aucklander who went from rough sleeping to living in a state house says more should be done to boost incomes. He told RNZ reporter Eva Corlett, the government cannot deliver on its promise to end homelessness unless people have more money.