Bay group to live on $2.25 a day

Neil Ryder and members of his youth group at St Peter's in the City Presbyterian Church are taking on a Live Below the Line challenge for the second year in a row. Photo / John Borren

Tauranga's Neil Ryder is preparing to go hungry to help those living in extreme poverty.

He will be subsisting on a meagre diet of rice, bread, potatoes and lentils for five days this month as part of the Live Below the Line challenge.

People taking part in the challenge are allowed to spend no more than $2.25 a day on food. The annual event aims to raise funds and awareness to end global poverty by encouraging people to experience living below the poverty line.

It will be the second time Mr Ryder, a youth group leader, and the St Peter's in the City Presbyterian Church have taken part.

Mr Ryder will be joined by about 15 to 20 youth group members who will also take on the challenge.

"It's a challenge for the teenagers, putting them out of their comfort zone and doing something a bit fun," he said.

"I devise two menus. It goes up on Facebook. The teenagers like the one they want and we head out and buy our ingredients for $11.25. Then I'll ration it out throughout the week."

On the last night the group would get together for the last meal as part of the challenge. Last year it consisted of chips and half a sausage. "You get quite hungry because it's not really enough to keep going. But I love a challenge," he said.

The group will raise money for Tear Fund, one of New Zealand's leading Christian aid and development agencies that helps with child sponsorship, disaster relief and community development.

Last year Mr Ryder and the group raised $15,000.

Global Poverty Project and Live Below the Line chief executive William Watterson said 1350 New Zealanders had signed up in an attempt to raise $1million. "On the 23rd of September those Kiwis will symbolically walk a mile in the shoes of the 1.2billion people living below the extreme poverty line.

"Through our partnership with 24 charities, Live Below the Line continues to raise the consciousness of many Kiwis ... into what it means to live below the poverty line."

Other charities involved in the Global Poverty Project that sparked the Live Below the Line challenge were Oxfam, Child Fund, P3, Unicef, and World Vision.

By the numbers

What could $11.25 get you in groceries?
Kings Choice Basmati rice, 1kg - $2.99.
Homebrand tomatoes, diced, 400g - 85c.
Homebrand standard milk, 2 litres - $3.39.
Watties lentils, 400g -$1.99.
Homebrand toast bread, white - $1.48.
Grand total $10.70.

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