Introducing Matt Crawshaw: Worker on the Wesley Community Action Good Cents initiative

Cannon's Creek resident, Matt Crawshaw has recently joined the Wesley Community Action team in Porirua to work on the Wesley Good Cents initiative. Originally from Wellington, Matt now calls Porirua home having lived in the area with his wife and family for over six years and worked for Porirua City Council for three. His three children attend the local school and kindergarten. He is currently working for twenty hours a week on
Good Cents, alongside family commitments and consultancy work.

The Good Cents project, part of the Inspiring Communities network, has  emerged from local conversations over the past year. Wesley Board members were puzzled that, in spite of recent economic growth and high employment rates, demand for the local foodbank remained high. Close relationships with foodbank users themselves enabled staff to identify the underlying reasons.

These families had become trapped in debt because of the exorbitant
rates of interest charged by loan sharks. For example, Super Loans in Porirua charges rates of 8% per week - or the equivalent of 416% per annum. At these rates, repayment of loans becomes an impossibility for many people. This indebtedness often has a Pacific face as these families have obligations over and above everyday costs, such as church donations or supporting extended families.

Good Cents is tackling high interest indebtedness at a number of levels. Moving stories told by families in debt are being documented. There are also ongoing conversations with KiwiBank to explore a partnership with them aimed at reducing the rates of interest experienced by families. It is hoped that Pacific elders will engage with the initiative and take a role in directing its development.

This is an initiative which operates on community-led development principles, driven by the stories of indebted people themselves and working to engage the wider community and business interests.