Latest / Early Edition with Ryan Bridge
Weston Kirton: Ruapehu District Mayor talks benefit numbers increasing, impact on the regions
More targeted support is on the way for beneficiaries on the jobseeker benefit, but questions have been raised about punishing people who don't move for jobs.
Job losses have been a big problem in regional New Zealand this year, with two big mills closing in the Ruapehu District costing over 200 people their jobs.
Mayor Weston Kirton told Ryan Bridge there simply aren't any regional jobs around.
"We've got only a limited number of opportunities in our district. We do have one or two businesses that, on a seasonal basis, take people and we traditionally have a high unemployment rate in our…
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