A solo mum on a benefit says grocery shopping has become the most stressful time in her week because she has to choose which basics to leave out.
By Amy Williams of RNZ
Fuimaono Peterson lives in Auckland on the North Shore and has five children under her wings, aged nine to 20.
Her weekly grocery budget is $300, with no wriggle room: "That's seven meals to feed six people every week and it's a struggle."
Peterson walks to the nearest supermarket because she does not have a car.
Her household costs have all gone up noticably in recent months.
"The power's just ridiculous, I got the power bill yesterday and I had to put extra on it this week so it made our budget shorter. It's a struggle," she said.
"I get worried every week, I dread shopping actually but you've got to do it."
New Zealand's economy is stalling as the war in Iran pushes up fuel costs, resulting in higher costs that are putting pressure on household budgets – meaning many people are spending less.
Risk of a recession is once again a topic among economists but for now it is expected there will be pause in the recovery rather than a full-blown downwards spiral.
There is added pressure on food prices as businesses pass on rising fuel costs - the latest official figures show diesel surged 91% in the year to April, while petrol rose 30%.
Annual food inflation reached 2.6% on the back of higher dairy, meat and fresh produce.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will deliver her third Budget on May 28 in what are constrained fiscal times.
Peterson is aware of these pressures and with such a tight budget all she can do in response is arm herself with a calculator and well-honed list when she does her weekly grocery shop.
"We have a budget so I try and stick to it and have change in case we need a top up during the weekend."
This week, one bunch of bananas and six apples on special is all she can afford of fresh fruit – two packets of frozen veggies are on the list.
At $30 a kilogram, mince is off the menu – even padded out with lentils or beans, it is too expensive for her.
"The meat is just so pricey I wait till I come in and check the prices and go from there."
Fali buys long life milk, eggs and butter for baking.
These are the aisles she walks right past: "The chocolate aisle, the expensive snacks but I have really just learned how to shop on a budget."
Foodbanks have helped her make ends meet and she also receives food grants from Work and Income (WINZ) when the food runs out – not surprising with such a limited budget and many mouths to feed.
"Most times we're running out of kai by Friday so it is a struggle, very much," Peterson said.
"I plan to have bread and milk money, if not I'll lean on family [or] try and get a small food grant from WINZ."
Fali's school-aged children are sponsored by Variety – they each get vouchers to spend that help towards clothing and other costs.
Variety interim chief executive Wayne Howett said for those already on the breadline, rising living costs means they have to decide what other basics to go without.
"All it does is ratchet up the whole constant rationing choice on ordinary life, in other words the disposable income gets reduced [to] even less for things like food, warmth, transport, school costs, healthcare."
Of the families Variety supports, 85% live on less than $50,000 a year, while more than half live on less than $30,000 a year.
"Some of the social issues that we see in this country, they're not a single solve piece. It's a how do we collaborate, how do we bring people around the table and get the voices there that are seeing the sort of stuff that we are seeing on the frontline and go okay what's the best way for us to make a material social impact for those children and families."
At the supermarket checkout, there is a price shock for Peterson.
"Just over $300, I was in shock because I still haven't got a few things. It was a shock but I did have a voucher of $15 so that took it down."
Seeing the price add up at the checkout is the most stressful part – even after using a calculator throughout the shop.
"I do my best and it is draining but once I'm home and it's all packed away I feel a bit better."
It worked out for her budget but only just – she is already worried about not having enough food for school lunches.
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