A Tauranga clothing retail worker's quest to sustain herself in "the real world" is being challenged by the Government's bid to introduce a starting-out wage of $11 an hour.
Laura Blair, 18, is fresh out of high school, and embracing her new-found independence. She studies radio broadcasting at the Bayof Plenty Polytech Monday to Thursday, and works at a clothing store Friday to Sunday.
She considered the possibility of earning $50 less a week, for doing the same work as her workmates, nonsensical.