Poorest New Zealanders lose out to ‘squeezed middle’ in budget, inequality experts say

Jacinda Ardern campaigned on the promise to combat child poverty in New Zealand, and made herself the first minister for child poverty reduction in 2017. Photograph: Jon Challicom/Alamy

The budget neglects poor New Zealanders in favour of the “squeezed middle”, inequality experts have said, despite promises by Jacinda Ardern’s government to combat child poverty.

Budget 2022 offered up a swathe of short-term sweeteners to soften the rising costs of living, including a $350 payment for people earning less than $70,000 but not on other benefits.