PHOTO: Finance Minister Grant Robertson
As New Zealand prepares for a four-week lockdown amid the escalating outbreak of COVID-19, serious questions are being raised regarding the financial stability and housing security of tenants and their ability to meet weekly payments.
On Monday, Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced a freeze on rent increases as the country heads into level four of the four-stage COVID-19 alert system, meaning it’s now imperative for New Zealanders to work together to eliminate the spread of the virus.
Stringent measures and protocols will be implemented as of 11:59pm on Wednesday, including the closure of schools and non-essential businesses. Employees, who are able to, are now required to work remotely. New Zealanders are expected to remain at home as much as possible.
Yet some tenants are worried they can no longer afford to keep a roof over their head, the lockdown leaving many New Zealanders without a steady income as businesses shut up shop.
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