Press releases by Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett have mentioned only grants of "up to $5000" to cover actual "moving costs, bonds, letting fees and other expenses". Any payments above $5000 in total, including actual moving costs plus the cash grants, "will require sign-off by an MSD general manager". David Zussman of Community Housing Aotearoa said the cash payments seemed to be a direct "incentive for freeing up the house, or your claim to a house, in Auckland". Jan Rutledge of De Paul House said Work and Income offered the grant to one family last week, but they turned it down because their four teens wanted to stay in Auckland. But the family moved to Mangere in March to support relatives after B's cousin drowned at Hunua Falls.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 20, 2016 16:52 UTC