Winter's Hidden Cost on Families

Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 26, 2026 · 1m

Winter’s biting cold is hitting wallets harder than ever, forcing families in Whanganui to choose between heat and hunger. With power bills soaring, some parents skip bathing kids to save on hot water, while seniors on fixed incomes face impossible choices between heating their homes and buying food. Food banks overflow as daily visitors replace occasional ones, and support centers burn the midnight oil trying to keep up. Government aid, like the Winter Energy Payment, hasn’t kept pace with skyrocketing costs, leaving vulnerable communities trapped in a cycle of poverty, depression, and…