Low-income New Zealanders experienced hunger and isolation during last year's Covid-19 lockdown, but were resourceful and backed the approach to the pandemic, a study has found.
Food parcels prepared at Ngā Whare Waatea marae during lockdown last year (file photo). The University of Otago study found support from charitable organisations was crucial for low-income New Zealanders in lockdown. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro
The University of Otago study Life During Lockdown explored the experience of low-income New Zealanders and their advice to government about addressing future pandemics.
Interviews with 27 with low-income people were carried out in June and July 2020, immediately after lockdown was lifted, for the study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal
They told researchers they felt scared and felt isolated, but they were also resourceful and on board with the need for lockdown.
They coped with lockdown by using technology, self-help techniques and support from others.
"A lot of people experienced hunger. In fact almost all of these participants were battling just to eat every day," senior author Dr Amanda Kvalsvig of the University of Otago's Department of Public Health said.
Benefits and payments introduced by the government helped, but did not fully meet their needs and support from charitable organisations was critical.
"This particular group of people were experiencing very severe hardship so those benefits and payments weren't quite enough to close the gap and to deliver the essential needs."
"We need to build that protection and weave that social security net into the alert level system at every level, so that whatever the situation people are safe and they're able to do what they're being asked to do."
Lockdown isolated people who even before the pandemic were very disconnected from society.
"For them that was particularly hard. They were separated from all sorts of support that they might normally be able to access.
Despite hardship and isolation, the interviewees were overwhelmingly positive about the government's response and advised the government to take the same approach in the future.
They were strongly supportive of the government and had high praise for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield.
"That's a testament to the really clear communication, really outstanding communication, from the government during that very anxious time.
"They were onboard with lockdown, they knew what they needed to do and they agreed with what they were being asked to do."
The research findings would be given to the government, Kvalsvig said.