Funding for more police officers was welcomed at a South Dunedin pub. The Otago Daily Times sat down with patrons at Heffs Hotel to get their take on Budget 2024.
Stacey Warrington would love to see her 11-year-old son become a police officer and reckons yesterday’s Budget means it is more likely to happen.
She and other patrons at Heffs welcomed the extra $226million to deliver 500 more police officers by the end of 2025.
They said the fatal stabbing of Enere McLaren-Taana at Dunedin’s bus hub last week highlighted the need for more police.
"A few years ago we used to see community police on their rounds and talking to the public.
"A bit more money going in might help to see a bit more happening."
The additional funding would encourage people to become police officers and take on a role that put their lives at risk, she said.
"Why would people want to go and train to be a police officer when there is all this crap happening?"
At the moment there was no chance of her son becoming a police officer but the new allocated funding would change his mind, she said.
South Dunedin resident David Gray said he was happy to see more money in the back pocket of the minimum wage earner.
A single adult working 40 hours a week on the minimum wage would be better off by about $25 per fortnight and $651 every year.
"It’s about time they start giving back to people," he said.
The working couple tax relief of about $80 per fortnight for two adults both earning $150,000 would not help many people in Otago and Southland.
"Who earns that?
"We don’t earn that this f...... way. You’re lucky if you earn $55,000 as a couple."
He was hopeful some of the $8.5 billion allocated for health would see its way into the new Dunedin hospital build.
"I know a lot of stuff goes to the North Island and a lot of it goes to Chirstchurch.
"It’s about time they spent some f...... money around Dunedin and Invercargill.
"I want the hospital built exactly the way it was first intended to be."
