The matter was discussed on NewstalkZB the following day framed as a free speech issue.
But I want to focus on the claim itself.
There is some confusion over what exactly Henry said but the gist of it was that a mechanic/engineer employed in a muffler business in Palmerston North told Paul he was working six days a week and earning less than the unemployed guy next door whose partner had just had a baby. The guy had never worked and showed no interest in doing so.
The protesting podcaster took issue retorting that a beneficiary would never get more than an employed person. That Henry was just making stuff up.
Henry himself appeared on the NewstalkZB show and said, "I certainly didn't say this person was single. My assumption actually was that this was a couple that just had a child."
An earlier texter to the show wrote, "My sister's got four kids, mate. Under 12, mate. And she gets $1,500 a week. Plus sells weed."
The host was quick to add, "We can't verify that. It's just a text."
When pressed again by the show hosts on whether Paul had checked the mechanic's claim he replied, "...yes, we've done the numbers, and it's entirely possible it's true."
So let's run some numbers.
An entry-level/apprentice mechanic wage starts around $23 to $26 per hour (training wages for registered apprentices can start lower around $19.16/hour). A qualified/General Mechanic earns an average of $30 to $43 per hour.
So the mechanic's wage for a six day week would range from $763 - $1,541 take home pay.
What would an unemployed couple with just one child receive? No need to guess or speculate.
The latest MSD report on beneficiary incomes (April 2025) shows the couple would receive, on average, $976 net. If they had two or more children that figure would rise to $1,255. These figures would have increased on April 1, 2026.
So it is entirely likely that the mechanic wasn't lying and, by proxy, neither was Paul Henry.
And conceivably, neither was the texter with the dope-selling, mother-of-four, sister.
And this is why hard-working, knackered people are angry with 'the system'. They are forced to support people who refuse to support themselves.
They daren't express their resentment because people like the Dunedin protestor shout them down as liars or shame them as 'privileged'.
Rather than suppressed, these figures need to be spread far and wide so that working people can feel on very safe ground when they question or complain about this damaging and unsustainable situation.
Click to view
References
https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/research/benefit-system/total-incomes-report-2025.pdf
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1049-matt-heath-tyler-adams-af-46787368/episode/full-show-podcast-11-september-2026-343655499?viewTranscription=true
Lindsay Mitchell is a welfare commentator. This article was sourced HERE
The protesting podcaster took issue retorting that a beneficiary would never get more than an employed person. That Henry was just making stuff up.
Henry himself appeared on the NewstalkZB show and said, "I certainly didn't say this person was single. My assumption actually was that this was a couple that just had a child."
An earlier texter to the show wrote, "My sister's got four kids, mate. Under 12, mate. And she gets $1,500 a week. Plus sells weed."
The host was quick to add, "We can't verify that. It's just a text."
When pressed again by the show hosts on whether Paul had checked the mechanic's claim he replied, "...yes, we've done the numbers, and it's entirely possible it's true."
So let's run some numbers.
An entry-level/apprentice mechanic wage starts around $23 to $26 per hour (training wages for registered apprentices can start lower around $19.16/hour). A qualified/General Mechanic earns an average of $30 to $43 per hour.
So the mechanic's wage for a six day week would range from $763 - $1,541 take home pay.
What would an unemployed couple with just one child receive? No need to guess or speculate.
The latest MSD report on beneficiary incomes (April 2025) shows the couple would receive, on average, $976 net. If they had two or more children that figure would rise to $1,255. These figures would have increased on April 1, 2026.
So it is entirely likely that the mechanic wasn't lying and, by proxy, neither was Paul Henry.
And conceivably, neither was the texter with the dope-selling, mother-of-four, sister.
And this is why hard-working, knackered people are angry with 'the system'. They are forced to support people who refuse to support themselves.
They daren't express their resentment because people like the Dunedin protestor shout them down as liars or shame them as 'privileged'.
Rather than suppressed, these figures need to be spread far and wide so that working people can feel on very safe ground when they question or complain about this damaging and unsustainable situation.
Click to view
References
https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/research/benefit-system/total-incomes-report-2025.pdf
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1049-matt-heath-tyler-adams-af-46787368/episode/full-show-podcast-11-september-2026-343655499?viewTranscription=true
Lindsay Mitchell is a welfare commentator. This article was sourced HERE
7 comments:
In addition to the benefit money in the spreadsheet, there are all the supplementary benefits and other advantages they get with community service cards and social housing. Add to that all the foodbank supplies and iwi payouts. So much for the msm propaganda.
A working person does not get 'rewarded' with higher pay for having additional children, wherein lies the anomaly.
Is there any possibility that payments as discussed are being conflated with fortnightly welfare payments against the weekly workers wage?
The earnings figures for the hypothetical mechanic seem wrong. At $30 per hour over a six day week (assuming 5 days at 8 hours plus 4 on Saturday at time and a half) works out at ($30 x 46hrs) $1380 per week or $1091 per week after tax. How is the $763 per week figure quoted above actually calculated?
Anon at 10.08, youre making assumptions. My son is an adult apprentice in a similar role, and no, he doesnt get $30 an hour, (see Lindsays figures) and he doesnt get overtime rate until a certain number of hours over normal time have been worked.Regardless that seems a lot of benefit compared to what a working person gets.
How can you expect people to believe , that work is a dignified , wholesome . honest activity when schools don't promote it but instead reinforce play school philosophy even into primary school.
Another Progressive destructive ideology idea that has contributed to the destruction of this country.
As I keep saying like the great educationalist, Marva Collins of poor children - Welfare is like Slavery. Gaynor
To Basil Walker, No. The benefit incomes are weekly. I provided the link in references to enable people to check out the report themselves.
https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/research/benefit-system/total-incomes-report-2025.pdf
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