Hardship increasing pressure on rural communities

“We’re just seeing struggle. Everyday struggle,” - Deniel Anania, Pakotai School in rural Northland. who describes the cost of basics like petrol and food as becoming increasingly unmanageable for many whānau living long distances from town. 

Because the community is so isolated, some families are travelling up to 60 kilometres for groceries and essential services, forcing many to stretch already limited budgets further than ever before.

“Previously they might have a day where they were short of food, but now some families are short of food for a week,” Deniel says, explaining that some families are now shopping fortnightly instead of weekly simply because they cannot afford the fuel costs involved. 

As pressure grows, the school is seeing more children arrive hungry and needing additional day-to-day support.

Pakotai School provides breakfast, fruit and extra food each day, alongside KidsCan jackets, shoes and snacks to help ensure students can stay warm, fed and ready to learn.

The school is also seeing the wider effects of financial hardship on family living situations, with multiple whānau increasingly sharing homes and properties to help manage costs. 

“A few of our kids are now living communal,” Deniel says. “There are three families living on one property.” 

As winter approaches, many families are also struggling to afford warm, practical clothing for children waiting outdoors each morning for school buses. 

“None of our kids have access to bus stops. They stand out in the rain and wait for the bus,” she says. “Then they get to school and they are cold.” 

Deniel says Support from KidsCan helps relieve some of that pressure by ensuring children have reliable access to food, warm clothing and basic essentials at school each day. 

“School is the biggest support for families out here. We can guarantee them a meal at school every day.”