Some claim Australia to be the land of milk and honey
leading many New Zealanders to fly across the ditch
in search of their fortunes.
However, Melbourne-based group Melbourne Tautoko Whanau warn others
not to just fly across without securing a job first.
The group has provided support for Maori and others
living in poverty in Melbourne and throughout Victoria.
Unemployment is the source of their poverty.
I ventured across the ditch to help the group feed the homeless.
As they say, it's the season for giving.
But for Melbourne Tautoko Whanau,
it's always the season for giving - year in, year out.
Maria Kumar says,
there are large numbers of New Zealanders
moving across to Melbourne in search of employment
underestimating how difficult the job market is in Australia
which then eventually leads them to wind up homeless.
And over the years Australia's
social security laws have been toughed up -
New Zealanders are unable
to apply for social welfare benefits in Australia.
Kumar and her group help those in dire straits
to be able to stand on their own two feet again.
Here is one of the people who have benefitted
from Melbourne Tautoko Whanau's charity.
He moved to Australia in 2002 to seek employment.
When he was injured he lost his job
and wound up on the streets of Melbourne.
They gave him a home, a job, and the bare necessities.
He is one of the group's many success stories.
When I arrived there,
a woman and her family of 11 had been kicked out of their home,
and that's when this group sprang into action.
They collaborated with other volunteers
who deal with those in poverty.
Here are some others.
They are the operators of a mobile shower service.
The idea for the service came from the founder of One Voice,
Josh Wilkins,
as he reflected on how the homeless were unable to wash themselves.
At the moment they are only in Melbourne,
however, they have ambitions to expand
to the other major urban centres in Australia,
and eventually to New Zealand.
Indeed, it's a service provided out of charitable passion.
While they are able to provide well and help these people out,
Kumar and her group are on the look for donations
so they can give more to those who have less.