Quote:
Originally Posted by MotherBear
Kiwis wealthier as incomes soar
By COLIN ESPINER - The Press | Wednesday, 20 June 2007
Men continued to earn more than women, with the median male wage at $31,000 compared to $19,000 for women.
From here .
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The median wage is $19,000 for women? Wow! While I am not moving to NZ to become rich, I certainly hope I find a job with a better salary! I know that the salary for my job category is higher but how do single mothers earning this type of income manage to survive? Does the Government offer tax breaks for the lower income families? At this salary they shouldn't be taxed at all!
I am a single mother but I have done well for myself both professionally and financially but I also had the education and resources to better myself. I helped a woman here in Bermuda who was about to be evicted from Government housing, believe it or not. She had 3 children and worked 2 jobs and still could not cover all of her bills. She wanted to better herself by taking courses to become a nurses aide. I really felt for her and managed to help stop the eviction by making a payment to the Government. Yet, after getting herself into such a big hole I wondered how she would ever get out of it. As soon as she finishes her courses and starts to earn more money, she will lose her eligibity for social assistance but still won't be at a level to help herself and will never get herself out of the hole.
How does NZ handle situations like this? While it is not my intention to become one of the impoverished (although it could happen), I would like to know about the social issues of NZ and whether the Government recognizes and has social programmes in place. It goes a long way in showing what type of value a country puts on its people.
I know I sound like a do-gooder (that is my mood tonight) but if I could do more for people less fortunate than me, I would.
Shell