Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has welcomed latest child abuse statistics showing that the number of children abused in the year ended June 2014 fell by 2,306 or 12 percent on the previous year.

“Let there be no doubt that our child abuse figures remain appallingly high but it is pleasing to see the numbers going down for the first time in 10 years,” says Mrs Tolley.

During the year to June 2014, 16,289 children had 19,623 findings of abuse substantiated compared to 18,595 children with 22,984 findings of abuse in the previous year. 

Applications are now open for the 2015 round of School and Year Start-up payments available to kin carers, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley confirmed today.

“The beginning of a new school year can be costly – this payment is available to help with pre-school and school-related costs such as clothing, school fees and stationery.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley welcomes today’s release of benefit figures which show year-on-year benefit numbers continue to track downwards.

There were 309,145 people on benefit at the end of the December 2014 quarter.

“Compared with last year there are more than 12,700 fewer people on welfare. This is the lowest December quarter since 2008 and the third consecutive quarter (June, September, December) with such record lows.” Mrs Tolley says.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has paid tribute to former Children’s Commissioner John Angus who died this week after battling illness.

“Dr Angus, who served as Commissioner for Children between 2009 and 2011, was devoted to improving the lives of New Zealand children,” says Mrs Tolley.

“Beginning his distinguished career as a social worker in Dunedin, Dr Angus rose through the management ranks of the country’s social welfare system focused on improving social policy and services for vulnerable children and their families.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley announced today that the Temporary Accommodation Assistance (TAA) programme for Canterbury quake victims would be extended.

The TAA was initiated following the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, to support homeowners with additional costs caused by the need to reside in temporary accommodation while waiting for repairs to their homes to be completed.

More than 300 children and young people have benefited from the first round of the Extraordinary Care Fund, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley confirmed today.

“The Extraordinary Care Fund recognises the job grandparents and extended family members do raising children who come into their care, often because of the death of a parent or because of abuse or neglect.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says new government investment of $2 million will bolster community budgeting services.

As part of Budget 2014 the Government announced new operating funding of $22 million over the next four years to help New Zealanders with money management skills.  This is in addition to the $9 million that the government invests annually in budgeting.

“Budgeting Services received a $1.5 million top-up earlier this year to help with growing demand,” says Mrs Tolley.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley today launched a new episode of the innovative online drama Common Ground, part of the Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Project.

Written by Go-Girls writer Sam Shore, Common Ground is designed to encourage conversations about key issues affecting young people’s wellbeing.

The latest episode, In Memory, features Sophie, a young girl struggling to cope with the loss of her mum, and her family who are trying to support her.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley today congratulated the 19 young recipients of the 2014 William Wallace awards.

An annual award for children in care, each scholarship recipient will receive between $1,500 and $3,000 towards tertiary, vocational, or leadership training.

“These young people had a harder start to life than most. The William Wallace awards recognise how far they and their foster families have come and the strength of character they've shown taking charge of their futures.

Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley have acknowledged the Glenn Inquiry Report into family violence released today.

“The report looks at several issues that the Government is focused on and reinforces the importance of taking collective action on family violence,” say the Ministers.

“There are number of initiatives in place across Government to deal with the scourge of family violence in our communities, many of which address the issues raised in this report,” says Ms Adams.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says preferred supplier agreements for whiteware and optical goods and services are proving a huge winner for beneficiaries, low income people and the taxpayer.

As part of the government’s welfare reforms the Ministry of Social Development is contracting with preferred suppliers and delivering brand new quality whiteware and optical goods and services at a much cheaper price for low income people who borrow the money from MSD.

Today the Marlborough Children’s Team begins working with local families for the first time, says Social Development Minister Anne Tolley.

“I visited the new Children’s Team in Blenheim last Friday and I was able to see for myself how they’ve brought together a coordinated group of frontline professionals to plan and wrap services around at-risk children early, to keep them safe from harm so they can thrive, achieve, and belong.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley this morning adopted her Buddy Day “Buddy” called Poppy at the launch in Wellington.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley today presented awards honouring ten foster care families at Government House in Wellington.

“These awards recognise the hard work and selfless commitment foster carers make to some of our most vulnerable children in need of a stable home,” Mrs Tolley says.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley celebrated the success of KickStart breakfasts at Holy Family School today.

Since the Government began partnering with Fonterra and Sanitarium to deliver the KickStart Breakfast programme, an additional 3 million breakfasts have been served bringing the total number to more than 8 million meals since 2009. The programme reaches more than 26,000 children throughout the country.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley welcomes the first reading of legislation to allow greater flexibility for people to move to the Cook Islands, Niue, or Tokelau, and receive New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension.

Under the Social Assistance (portability to Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau) Bill a person who has lived in New Zealand for 10 years, 5 being after the age of 50, will be able to return to these islands. When they turn 65 they can then apply for Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says the Government’s 3K to Christchurch scheme is a winner with 633 unemployed people taking up the offer.

“Since the scheme began in July a total of 523 men and 110 women have received the $3,000 payment as an incentive to move off benefit to Christchurch for a fulltime job.  204 of these are aged between 16 and 24 years.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley today announced that Jo-anne Wilkinson has been appointed as interim Families Commissioner and Chair of the Families Commission Board.

“I’m delighted that Ms Wilkinson has agreed to take on the role while we look for a permanent appointment. 

“As co-founder and former Chief Executive of the Foundation for Youth Development (previously known as the Project K Trust), Ms Wilkinson brings a wealth of experience of the youth and NGO sectors.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley welcomes the latest release of benefit figures showing the number of people on welfare for the September quarter is the lowest since 2008, with sole parents leading the impressive results.

Today’s release of the September quarter benefit factsheets shows year-on-year benefit numbers continue to track downwards.

“There are over 10,000 fewer people on welfare compared to September 2013, and more than 70 per cent of these are sole parents,” says Mrs Tolley.