These cuts will hit hardest for:
- people struggling with the rising cost of living;
- workers facing redundancy or employment issues;
- tenants dealing with housing insecurity;
- migrants and former refugees;
- disabled people, older people, and students;
- whānau experiencing hardship or isolation.
Citizens Advice Bureau Wellington provides vital free information, advice, and support including budgeting advice to more than 11,000 people every year. With the impacts of the high cost of living, continuing public service cuts, and growing job losses in Wellington, the support CAB provides is more critical than ever.
Wellington CABs are powered by over 125 dedicated volunteers, but volunteers alone cannot sustain the service. Continued funding is essential to maintain physical spaces where people can access in-person support, and to retain the small team of staff who coordinate services, train volunteers, and ensure the CAB service remains accessible and effective.
Wellington CABs need every cent of the approximately $240,000 per annum they have been receiving from Council to support Wellingtonians. Yet Council has slashed that funding to just $100,000. This puts at risk the survival of the CAB service in Wellington.
For decades, CABs have helped people navigate tenancy issues, employment disputes, immigration processes, financial hardship, family challenges, and access to government, council and community services. CAB services are free, confidential, independent, and available to everyone.
At a time when community need is increasing, Wellington City Council should be strengthening this essential service – not undermining it. This includes other community groups that we work alongside.
We ask Wellington City Council to:
- Reverse the funding cuts to Wellington CABs
- Commit to a sustainable long-term funding partnership for CAB services in Wellington.
Removing this funding will not remove the need. It will simply remove one of Wellington’s most trusted and accessible sources of support.
Sign the petition and call on Wellington City Council to restore full funding for Wellington Citizens Advice Bureau.
Please share widely.
References
Other ways you can help
- Contact the Mayor and your local Councillors to tell them you oppose the cut to Wellington CAB funding and ask them to fully reinstate the funding and provide long term funding for the CAB. Find details about your local councillor here https://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/about-the-council/mayor-and-councillors/councillors
- Spread the word to friends, whānau, and your community.
- Help people who are digitally excluded to sign the petition here or in person at their local CAB.
