Kai on the table and a roof overhead are becoming increasingly out of reach for many whānau as inflation surges to record rates.
For the last three months, Porirua father of four Paora Hekenui has been in and out of emergency situations.
Hekenui is on a benefit and can't afford to rent a place of his own, and the rising cost of living is making it even harder to provide for his whānau.
"You're having to worry about where you're going to stay the next day and when you've got young children, it's not a good feeling," he tells The Hui.
A Horizon Research poll commissioned by The Hui reveals the cost of living is the issue Māori are most concerned about.
Inflation increased by 5.9 percent within the last year, which is the biggest movement since a 7.6 percent annual increase, more than 30 years ago.
Jessica Te Huia from the community organisation Porirua Whānau Centre is seeing what this means for the families she supports.
"We've got a lot of whānau harm, family harm going on because whānau can't afford the normal cost, the day to day living."
Te Huia says many whānau simply feel lost.
"They come and they go, 'Oh, there's just no way out'."
Māori economic policy advisor Will Workman says with inflation predicted to keep climbing, the future is looking tough.
"Well, how long is a piece of string at the moment. Six percent is nearly the highest it has ever been in one year," Workman says.
"So that's the cycle that we need to avoid. That's the real risk of high inflation for Māori more than others."
Hekenui and his daughter will be in an emergency motel room for the next 12 weeks - a cycle many whānau feels is impossible to break.
"This doesn't allow for growth - you are stuck in a place of survival," he says.
"How are we supposed to get better when we're just trying to live day by day? It doesn't make sense."
Made with support from Te Māngai Pāho and the Public Interest Journalism Fund.
