The level of pressure families are under is crushing

Sheree Hollis, Dean at Buller High School, says while the Buller community is strong and resilient, recent local job losses and rising living costs are creating added pressure for some families already facing financial strain. 

Major employers have cut jobs or ceased operations, stripping a number of families of stable incomes in an area where employment opportunities are already scarce. 

Combined with rising fuel prices, high living costs, and limited community resources, these economic pressures are rapidly intensifying hardship. 

Without KidsCan, Sheree says some students simply would not have reliable access to food. 

The school’s breakfast club and lunch programme are now operating at full capacity every day, with no food left over. Staff are seeing increasing numbers of students arriving hungry, and demand has risen significantly in 2026 compared to previous years. 

“There is absolutely nothing left afterwards,” she says. “We are busy every single day of the week. You can see the difference before payday and after payday.” 

For many whānau, food insecurity is only one part of a much larger struggle. 

Buller High is also seeing growing need for warm clothing, jackets, shoes and hygiene items. As winter approaches, Buller High fears conditions will worsen further. 

With electricity costs rising and the possibility of more local redundancies, Sheree believes many families are living week to week, with little resilience left for additional shocks. 

“The only word I have to describe the pressure some families are under is crushing.”