Measures in the Budget aimed at tackling child poverty have had a mixed reception from local leaders.
Finance Minister Bill English announced a $790 million child hardship package yesterday, intended to give a boost to lower-income families.
It includes a $25 increase in core benefits for beneficiaries with children, and minor adjustments up and down in Working for Families payments depending on income.
Napier Mayor Bill Dalton welcomed the focus on child hardship.
"That's an area where everybody knows there are real issues in New Zealand society. I welcome that they've put some dough into that area," he said.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule also said he believed the budget's focus on supporting families and tackling poverty was a "good move".
But Hastings district councillor Henare O'Keefe was less enthused, saying of families who were still dependent on the benefit, "as long as we're attached to the umbilical chord of the government, as a community we'll never grow".
"That just gives us more reason to run around with our hand out rather than our hand up. In some instances we're intoxicated by and addicted to welfare. It scares me. I'm all for communities in some way, shape or form taking ownership and responsibility and standing on their own two feet.
"That's always been my aim, to get the Flaxmeres of this world to get out of grievance mode - and permanent jobs above the minimum wage would certainly go a long way to achieving that."
Ana Apatu, chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae, said she was unsure about a tightening of work tests for solo parents, who will now be expected to be work-ready when their youngest child turns 3, instead of the present 5.
"It's all very well encouraging mums back into work but it has to be meaningful employment, with a decent hourly rate, and we're not just pushing people away from their children. We shouldn't underestimate the power of parenting."