Controlling what beneficiaries can buy

[Lilith7]

Putting 50% of their benefit where it can only be spent on certain things and probably at certain stores sounds like a golden handshake for those retailers who suck up to the government sufficiently to gain that privilege.

What happens to those whose rent exceeds 50% of their benefit, or whose utilities costs fall into that same situation. Why should those that aim to improve their spending power by purchasing secondhand through the likes of Trade Me, FB, Neighbourly, etc be targeted?

And it is so empowering as an adult human being to be told by a checkout operator at your supermarket that an item in your shop is 'not allowed'...

I understand the need to make sure the help is not abused, but this is not the way to do it.

It almost certainly isn't about ensuring no one abuses the system. It is far more likely to be about power,control & encouraging some to ensure that others - those in a particular group - feel inferior, embarrassed & if possible, ashamed & powerless.

They may have forgotten that, eventually there WILL be another election..