Social Development and Employment

Up to 14,000 Kiwi kids could be lifted out of poverty as the Government delivers on its promise to change child support rules this week.

Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention.

Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and into work.

The Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services.

Pensioners, students, children and parents, and those on main benefits will all see a boost to their income from next month, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced today.

The Government has announced $17.5 million to further support communities and community providers impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, and the streamlining of application processes to support a faster and smarter response and recovery.

The Government has announced an $11.5 million Community Support Package to help tens of thousands of people affected by the recent floods, and as regions prepare to respond to Cyclone Gabrielle.

The Government is unlocking an additional $700,000 in support for regions that have been badly hit by the recent flooding and storm damage in the upper North Island.

The strong economy has attracted more people into the workforce, with a record number of New Zealanders in paid work and wages rising to help with cost of living pressures.

Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Social Development and Employment, has activated Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG) in response to flooding and damaged caused by Cyclone Hale in the Tairāwhiti region.

Five years on from the Government’s Families Package, MSD research released today shows it has made a real difference to increasing incomes for New Zealanders which will help them t

Cabinet has agreed to all ten key actions from a review of the Emergency Housing system by the Ministry for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Ministry of Social Development’s (MSD).

A phased roll-out of faster claim payments for survivors of abuse in State care has begun, with the first claimants now receiving offers.

The Government will introduce a ‘circuit-breaker’ response aimed at quickly addressing the repeat offending of a small group of children and young people, Minister for Children Kelvin Davis, Minister of Police Chris Hipkins and Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced today.

Changes to Special Needs Grant limits for dental treatment come into force today.

The Government will extend pay equity to all community and iwi organisations who employ social workers and receive funding from the Crown.

The success of the Government’s Flexi-Wage expansion continues with over 20,000 people supported into jobs.

The Government is easing cost of living pressures for the majority of New Zealand families by improving access to and the value of childcare assistance Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today.

The Government’s Training Incentive Allowance has had an overwhelming response with an over 600 per cent increase in uptake from 1 January to 30 June 2022 in comparison with the same time last year.

The Government has today launched the Social Sector Commissioning Action Plan 2022-2028, marking a significant and exciting shift in the way social services deliver suppport for people, whānau and communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Government is supporting more opportunities for communities to come together and build on the values we share, strengthening New Zealand’s social cohesion.

September Quarter Benefit statistics released today show the number of people receiving a Main Benefit continues to fall year-on-year.

The Annual Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Child Poverty Report shows child poverty continuing to decline despite the 1 in 100 year economic shock caused by COVID-19.

The Government is taking the important steps to modernise access and better connect New Zealanders experiencing family violence to the services that can support them.