An increase in the number of people needing food donations is placing pressure on Palmerston North food banks and support staff in the build up to the busy Christmas season.
Methodist Social Services experienced a spike of new people in August, with 34 needing food donations - the highest monthly amount for the past three years.
A total of 106 new people required assistance in the past four months, more than half of the total amount for the 2014/15 financial year.
In the past four months the charitable organisation has already seen 1147 people, including a number of children.
And the reason for this is obvious: low wages, persistent high unemployment, sub-starvation benefit levels and a WINZ culture of denying people support. But hey, rich Auckland property speculating MPs are making out like bandits, so everything must be good, right?