Harris aid angers mum denied help

DEAN KOZANIC/The Press

SPECIAL-NEEDS REJECTION: Bonnie Avery, who has cancer, was refused a clothing grant for son Cordae Avery-Kahukura, 16 months.

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A young Christchurch mother fighting cancer is angry that she was refused a grant to buy clothes for her baby while the government gave a former gang leader taxpayer money for a swimming-pool fence and car tyres.

Bonnie Avery, 20, was refused a $119 Work and Income special-needs grant to buy clothes for baby Cordae in June. She has since been diagnosed with a malignant tumour and requires chemotherapy every third week at Christchurch Hospital.

Avery said that since speaking to The Press about her case, a $200 special-needs grant for baby clothes was approved by Work and Income yesterday.

She thought it was unfair that the government had approved $30,000 in special-needs grants for former Christchurch gang leader Darryl Harris.

"How can he get a grant for tyres for a Chrysler when my child was not able to be dressed?" she said.

"It makes me feel absolutely sad and horrible for my wee boy's sake."

Avery was also denied a special-needs grant for larger trousers during her pregnancy. She said the baby-clothes grant was originally declined because she was still repaying a $920 grant for a fridge and a washing machine.

Her child desperately needed new clothes, she said, but she could not afford them on her invalid's benefit of $220 a week.

She said she was struggling to pay for the petrol to get to hospital for her chemotherapy treatment.

"I had to cut his feet out of his baby [outfit]. I cannot even afford to buy my son presents for Christmas. As a new mum, it is very hard living like this."

It was "ridiculous" that she had to contact the media before Work and Income would approve her grant.

- © Fairfax NZ News