Anne Tolley
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says MSD’s latest Household Incomes Report shows that the majority of households have experienced strong real income growth in recent years, and that New Zealand has experienced a stronger recovery than many OECD countries since the Global Financial Crisis.

The Household Incomes Report uses data from the 2014 and early 2015 period, and is released today alongside a companion report using non-income measures.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says that seven and a half million breakfasts have been served in schools around the country since the Government expanded the KickStart Breakfast programme in 2013.

“With more than 125,862 breakfasts served every week in 870 decile 1-10 schools, we can be sure these students are getting the best start to their school day,” Mrs Tolley says.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says a new trial for beneficiaries with mental health conditions will start next month and will work with clients to support them into work.

“Just over half of all clients receiving a main benefit have a health condition, injury or disability so it’s important that we work effectively with them to find the right support so they can move into long term independence,” Mrs Tolley says.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Speech

E nga mana, e nga reo, e te iwi o te motu, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa

Good morning everyone and can I thank you for the invitation to be here today. I’d like to acknowledge:

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says that a new child-centred, stand-alone ministry with a new Chief Executive is to be established to focus on the care and protection of vulnerable children and young people.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

The Government will provide $500,000 over two years for short-term emergency housing to ensure perpetrators of family violence can be safely kept away from victims at a time of crisis.

Budget 2016 funding will provide emergency housing in Christchurch and Waikato, where the new Integrated Safety Response pilot is being trialled. The ISR pilot aims to ensure families experiencing family violence are safe and receive the services they need to prevent further harm.

Anne Tolley Amy Adams Social Development Justice
Release

The Government is seeking input into a new Risk Assessment and Management Framework designed to keep victims safer, Ministers have announced.

The framework proposes a better, more consistent way to assess and manage the risks of family violence so victims can get the help they need, whoever they turn to.

“This Government wants to do what we can to ensure that New Zealanders are protected from family violence. We know that properly and consistently identifying risk and intervening earlier is critical to achieving this,” says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

Anne Tolley Amy Adams Social Development Justice
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley and Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell today announced Project 1000; a scheme to provide 1000 new jobs for currently unemployed Hawke’s Bay workers over the next three years.

Project 1000 is part of Matariki – Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan 2016, which aims to accelerate job growth and raise incomes in the region.

Te Ururoa Flavell Anne Tolley Social Development Maori Development
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says changes to accommodation support for studying sole parents mean that more parents are accessing higher rates of the support.

“The majority of sole parents who are studying full time are now receiving the same accommodation support they would if they were on a benefit, leaving them on average $38.88 a week better off,” Mrs Tolley says.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says a Bill to expand the Youth Service has passed its final reading in Parliament today.

The Social Security (Extension of Young Persons Services and Remedial Matters) Amendment Bill expands the wraparound support provided by the Youth Service to all 19-year-old parents and 18 and 19-year-olds at significant risk of long term welfare dependence.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Ministers today welcomed a new pilot in Christchurch which aims to ensure families experiencing family violence are safe and receive the services they need to prevent further harm.

At the heart of the new approach are government agencies and NGOs working together for families and whānau to provide increased support to high-risk victims, better manage perpetrators and improve collaboration between agencies.

Judith Collins Anne Tolley Amy Adams Social Development Police Justice
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Social Development Minister Anne Tolley will today represent the New Zealand Government at the International Battle of the Somme Commemorative Service in Thiepval, France.

The commemoration, organised by the French and British governments, marks a hundred years to the day since the battle began on 1 July 1916.

The New Zealand Division joined the battle in September 1916. It’s estimated that there were 8000 New Zealand casualties at the Somme, including 2000 troops who were killed, in what was the division’s first major engagement on the Western Front.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley is today attending commemorative events in Brockenhurst, Hampshire, which was the site of the No.1 New Zealand General Hospital in the First World War.

The hospital opened a hundred years ago this month to support New Zealand troops serving in the war, and by 1919 21,000 patients had been treated there, with another 27,000 patients treated at the No.2 General Hospital in Walton on Thames.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says that a Bill enabling the first stage of major reforms of state care has passed its first reading in Parliament.

The Children, Young Persons and Their Families (Advocacy, Workforce, and Age Settings) Amendment Bill represents the first raft of legislative changes as part of the radical overhaul of care and protection, and:

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says more than $1.9 million has been paid to support 1725 children and young people in care through the Extraordinary Care Fund.

The fund, which was set up as part of the Children’s Action Plan, provides financial assistance when children and young people in care are experiencing difficulties that are impacting on their development, or when they are showing promise in a chosen field.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says nominations are now open for the 2016 William Wallace Awards, which recognise outstanding young people in care and their achievements.

“Any young person in the care of the state, iwi or child and family services or who has recently come out of care when they turn 17 is eligible to receive an award and can be nominated,” Mrs Tolley says.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says a Bill to establish New Zealand’s first child sex offender register has passed its second reading in Parliament.

The Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Register) Bill enables agencies to be more proactive in the management of offenders by assessing and monitoring risks to public safety so that appropriate action can be taken.

“At the moment child sex offenders can disappear into communities when they have completed their sentences or orders,” says Mrs Tolley.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says the Social Security (Extension of Young Persons Services and Remedial Matters) Amendment Bill has passed its second reading.

The bill extends the Youth Service to all 19-year-old parents and 18 and 19-year-olds at significant risk of long term welfare dependence by supporting them into education and training and ensuring they complete budgeting and parenting courses.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says that a Bill introduced to Parliament today will enable the first stage of major state care reforms, announced in the complete overhaul of care and protection in New Zealand.

As part of the overhaul, a new child-centred operating model with a single point of accountability will be in place by the end of March 2017, focused on prevention, intensive intervention, care support services, transition support and preventing youth offending and reoffending.

Anne Tolley Social Development
Release

Budget 2016 includes $4.2 million of operating funding over four years to support more low-income families access low and no-interest loans as part of the Community Finance partnership, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says.

“This is a positive example of the Government working closely with the private sector and NGOs to support low-income earners avoid crippling debt caused by finance options with hidden fees and high interest,” Mrs Tolley says.

Anne Tolley Social Development Budget 2016
Release

Budget 2016 invests $111.5 million of operating funding over four years to support more New Zealanders, especially young people, to get off benefits and gain sustainable employment, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says.

“Building on the success of the Government’s welfare reforms, we are sharpening the focus on New Zealanders at highest risk of remaining on a benefit long-term, so they and their families can thrive and lead successful lives,” Mrs Tolley says.

Anne Tolley Social Development Budget 2016
Release

Budget 2016 will invest $347.8 million of operating funding over this year and the next four years for the care and protection of vulnerable children and young people, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says.

“This operating funding addresses increased demand in the current Child, Youth and Family model, and will help transform it into a world-class care and protection system delivering the safety and long-term life outcomes that young New Zealanders deserve,” Mrs Tolley says.

Anne Tolley Social Development Budget 2016