A Southland District Council (SDC) report shows an increase in the number of people on benefits in Southland. 

The report was presented at a Community and Strategy Committee meeting this week (December 9), by SDC Planning and Reporting Analyst Shannon Oliver. 

She said the data was a snapshot of how southern communities were recovering post Covid-19. 

“There is still a high level of uncertainty around the long-term impact of the Covid-19 on Southland communities so up to date data will be required to assist Council in its short and long term decision making,” she said. 

In March this year, 966 people within the Southland district were on a benefit. 

As of September 2020, there were 1257 people on a benefit in the southern district, which is an increase of 291 people. 

The types of benefits that people in Southland are on as September this year include: The Sole Parent Benefit (23 people), Supported Living Payment (313 people), Main benefits (204 people) and the Jobseeker Benefit (717 people).

The number of people on the Job Seeker benefit increased from 359 in October 2019, to 560 in October 2020. 

In October this year, 1706 special needs grants for food were given out in the southern region, an increase from 1313 in September. 

Councillor Karen Owen said the increasing need for food parcels was concerning.  

“The special needs grants for food seemed really high for the Southland region, particularly when you compare it with the population basis compared with somewhere like Auckland,” she said. 

She said the rise in food grant applications could be due to applications for the Covid-19 Income Relief Payment ending on November 14. 

“There might not be more people applying because they’re not eligible [to] they’ve run out and now they’re in trouble times and they’re going for food grants.” 

The Covid-19 Income Relief Payment is a 12-week payment designed for people who lost their jobs as a result of Covid-19. 

Ms Oliver said the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) data shows that number of people claiming this payment within the Southland district peaked in August and has since dropped in October to 37 people. 

The report states that the Southland region is also at a high risk of economic hardship. 

Ms Oliver said the reason for this was the region’s reliance on tourism and hospitality, as well as a high level of self-employed people. 

Fiordland hit hard  

Ms Oliver said that Fiordland had struggled significantly this year from the loss of tourists, as it was only just attempting to recover from the February 2020 flood event when the country went into lockdown in March. 

“The data suggests that Fiordland has been disproportionately impacted by the loss of international tourists due to Covid-19,” she said.  

The occupancy rate across all accommodation types in Southland was at 48%, however Fiordland ranked the lowest in the country, with just a 21% occupancy rate. 

However, things are looking up for Fiordland with the official re-opening of the Milford Track on November 30, where bookings sold out within the first hour it was open, she said. 

The Routeburn Track was also fully opened on December 7. 

The MSD data did not show the ongoing impact on businesses and the upcoming summer season would be critical for business, especially tourism operators, Ms Oliver added. 

The Social Wellbeing Indicator report is intended to be presented to the Community and Strategy Committee every six months. 

Cr Paul Duffy said it was a very good idea, so the committee could stay up to date with the needs of the community.