Benefit cuts and higher housing rents set to hit Pacific families hardest in NZ

Ahead of the 2026 Budget, government officials presented modelling that predicts the scheduled reduction in the Temporary Additional Support (TAS) maximum rate—from 30% to 25% of income—will cut weekly earnings for roughly 26,000 Pacific families by an average of $30.75 starting in April. The modelling also incorporates a rise in social, transitional and emergency housing rents, requiring tenants to pay 30% of their income instead of 25%.

Although revenue saved from TAS cuts is slated for higher accommodation supplement payments, the increase (between $20-$30 per one outlet for larger households) is offset by a corresponding reduction in TAS entitlements, leaving those at the maximum receiving less overall. Combined, the three measures mean more beneficiary families lose than gain, with an estimated 2,200 families across New Zealand losing $51-$52 each week. By contrast, about 61,000 European families would gain nearly $15 weekly, while Māori and Auckland households face losses of $24-$26 per one outlet. Over 113,000 families currently receive TAS and nearly 382,000 receive the accommodation supplement, with just under 85,000 living in social housing.