Kelly Eckhold

And for ministers, it's quite a significant amount of money, $1,000 a week.

I think most New Zealanders would agree $1,000 a week is a lot for accommodation.

I think we're up for a discussion on how that system works in a cost-of-living crisis when people are struggling to pay for rent.

So is it only in a cost-of-living crisis?

I just think it's difficult to justify why you take $1,000 a week when you're not spending that much.

Well, he's not getting $1,000 a week.

Well, my view is that at a time when most New Zealanders who are paying our wages and putting us in there to do the job, when people see and people I talk to know that someone's taking $1,000 a week for accommodation, when other people have just had $30 a week taken off them, that's difficult to stomach.

That's all I'm saying.

Quick question.

I've talked just to respond quickly to that.

The $30 a week that is being removed, there are many people I meet who come to my office who I know and speak with them.

That will mean less food for them each week.

So if you think that that's a clever move,

or that's helping New Zealand.

It just means that there are families with children who will be sending their kids to school without breakfast or lunch because you've taken that money off them.

Quick question, Mark.

I think it's difficult for you as a government.

Let me respond.

You've asked me a question.

I think it's difficult for you as a government to justify taking $30 a week off people who already don't have enough money for food.