The soaring cost of living is playing out in the Far North with people sleeping in cars, begging for food, and seeking support in 'astronomical' numbers.
When it comes to poverty and crime, Kaitaia has felt it for years, but locals say it's getting worse.
They desperately want some sort of reprieve from the price of petrol, food and rent in tomorrow's Budget.
Our reporter Katie Todd and camera operator Marika Khabazi are in Kaitaia.