Consider This
The recession started long ago for sick and injured people in New Zealand with the "Mother of All Budgets" instigated by Bolger/Shipley/Richardson of the 1990s National government. Sick - injured - pensioners - and those on any form of welfare were the main targets of the National and ACT party of the 1990s.
As soon as Helen Clark was elected Prime Minister in 1999, the benefits were restored to some degree, the Twenty dollars a week taken from pensioners was immediately given back to them by the Labour Govt. 
For those who have been fortunate enough to prosper through the times of economic growth from 1999 to 2008, spare a thought for the forgotten ones (Sick and Injured) who have been living in constant poverty and embroiled in battles with government departments just to feed their families.
I feel the government would be happier the sick and injured all die off a little faster !, , as they usually do anyway.