Millionaire couple campaign for ministry to claw back Covid-19 wage subsidies

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Grant and Marilyn Nelson also took the issue to the High Court.
Photo: Supplied

A petition demanding the Ministry of Social Development claw back billions of dollars in Covid-19 wage subsidies has got more than 10,000 signatures.

It was launched by Christchurch millionaires and philanthropists Grant and Marilyn Nelson, who also took action in the High Court in May over the issue.

Grant Nelson said the response to the petition campaign has been overwhelming.

He said they were asking that the ministry contact businesses who received the subsidy and ask them to confirm they were entitled to it, or pay it back.

“We know that around $780 million has been voluntarily repaid and we acknowledge the ministry’s efforts to bring around 36 cases to the courts over the past three years, however this is just a drop in the ocean when compared to the prosecution of up to 453 beneficiaries in a single year.”

He did not think it was too much to ask, and believed thousands of New Zealanders agreed, he said.

“Marilyn and I would like to personally thank everyone who has supported our call for action and signed the petition. We feel strongly that the right thing must be done, which is why we have funded a national public awareness campaign to call attention to the issue.”