Luxon and Upston apologise after beneficiaries’ payments wrongly suspended
The Prime Minister and Social Development Minister apologised after benefit payments were suspended despite their earlier denials that cuts had occurred.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Social Development Minister Louise Upston initially said no benefits were cut following a law change, but benefit payments were wrongly suspended for some people. Processing delays caused by high volumes of people acting on the rule changes led to the payment issues. Luxon has since apologised, though he maintains his original Parliamentary statement was correct at the time.
Covered byRNZNZ Herald1NewsNewstalk ZBOtago Daily TimesNot covered byStuffNewsroomThe SpinoffBusinessDeskinterest.co.nz
Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.
What outlets are saying
RNZ
Christopher Luxon, Louise Upston said no benefits were cut after law change – they were wrong
Processing delays caused by a high volume of people acting in line with the rule changes meant some of them had their benefit payments wrongly suspended.
1News
PM and Upston said no benefits were cut after law change – they were wrong
Both said no one's benefit was cut following a law change that swamped ministry officials with paperwork – but that is exactly what happened.
Otago Daily Times
Another sorry from Christopher Luxon after beneficiaries miss out
1News
Another apology from Luxon after beneficiaries miss out
Prime Minister stands by his statement to Parliament that it had not happened, saying it was correct at the time.
NZ Herald
Another sorry from Christopher Luxon after beneficiaries miss out
The Prime Minister stands by Parliament statement despite apologising for payment errors.
Newstalk ZB
Another sorry from Christopher Luxon after beneficiaries miss out
By Lauren Crimp of RNZ