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Over $4.5 million of funding has been provided to 121 community organisations in the eighth round of the Community Response Fund.

“This funding recognises the important role local social services play in the health and well being of their communities,” says Ms Bennett.

The Community Response Fund was established in 2009 and extended until mid-2012 to help community groups struggling with extra demand as a result of the recession.

The Fund has now provided $66.8 million to 1434 organisations.

The number of New Zealanders on Unemployment Benefits dropped by 791 last month says Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett.

“There are 13,500 fewer people on Unemployment Benefits since the peak last January and about half of that decrease is made up of young people.”

“We’ve seen 549 fewer 18-24 year olds on the Unemployment Benefit over the last month, which is fantastic,” says Ms Bennett.

There are 54,870 New Zealanders on the Unemployment Benefit and 330,755 people on all benefits.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is pleased to announce the successful applicants to the Fresh Start Innovation Fund.

“Nine providers have received funding to make a real difference with young offenders, particularly with young Maori,” says Ms Bennett.

“As part of the Fresh Start policy for young offenders, the Innovation Fund supports new ideas or programmes that offer a different approach to working with at risk young people,” Ms Bennett says.

The Minister for Social Development and Employment, Paula Bennett and the Minister for Disability Issues, Tariana Turia, today announced the new Disability Innovation Fund making $500,000 available for innovative ways of getting disabled people into work or retaining them in work.

“A priority for me is to get people into work. This fund supports disabled people into work and also supports employers to retain disabled workers,” said Minister Bennett.

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

In this great little country of ours we have 328,000 people of working age receiving a benefit – that’s around 12 per cent of the entire working age population.

More than half of these people have been on welfare for most of the past decade. We have 222,000 children being brought up in homes where the main income is the benefit.

The relatively flat 6.6 per cent unemployment rate in September underlines the importance of the Government continuing with strong and stable economic management, Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett says.

"Unemployment peaked in 2009 and is gradually coming down. And it is good to see an extra 63,000 jobs were created in the past two years, despite challenges from the Canterbury earthquakes and the global financial crisis.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has received the first substantive report back on progress from Community Response Model Forums.

“I established these Forums around New Zealand with local people because I believe people know their own communities best and can make good decisions about where social service funding is most needed.”

The fourteen Forums have been established across New Zealand to engage with communities on what services work and what supports are missing.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today announced help for small businesses and sole traders impacted by the Rena grounding.

“We’re providing support to businesses that either can’t operate or have experienced significant loss as a result of the Rena grounding and cannot pay employees,” says Ms Bennett.

“This Rena Support Subsidy will give the worst-affected businesses, which rely on the sea and coastline, a hand to keep paying their staff.”

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has today confirmed the Government’s intention to comprehensively reform the benefit system.

“It’s not socially or financially sustainable to continue to spend eight billion dollars a year to pay benefits to 12 per cent of working age New Zealanders.”

There are clear links between welfare, poverty and poor health. Evidence shows children are better off when their parents are in work, not on welfare.

Kia orana! Ni sa bula vanaka. Talofa lava, fakaalofa lahi atu. Taloha ni! Talofa, malo e lelei.

Tēnā koutou, otirā tātau me ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Huri atu te pō, nau mai te ao

I want to firstly acknowledge Pastor Teremoana Tauira and the Pacific Ministers Forum for blessing us with a strong foundation for us all to be here today.

This is such an exciting moment in your journey, and I am so proud to have been invited along to launch the Maori and Pasifika collective, Waka e Tasi.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is pleased to announce another round of Break-Away School Holiday Programmes is going ahead.

“This is the third year we have run free school holiday programmes for young people who might not otherwise get the chance to attend,” says Ms Bennett.

This year $3 million in funding will provide 30,000 one-week places over the summer holidays and in April next year.

Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, Hon Tariana Turia, has welcomed Mr Richard Wood as the new Chair of the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families.

Mr Wood replaces outgoing Chair Peter Hughes, the former Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development.

Mrs Turia said Mr Wood has been a very active member of the Taskforce since its establishment in 2005.

“He has an excellent knowledge of the Taskforce’s aims, past achievements and the challenges ahead”.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is delighted to announce an increase in numbers of social workers both in schools and on the frontline.

“Protecting children is an absolute priority and we need enough qualified social workers focused exclusively on children to do that,” says Ms Bennett.

“We’re answering the call from low decile schools to provide specialist support for children and we’re also boosting frontline social workers to cope with increasing notifications and findings of abuse,” says Ms Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett welcomes the appointment of Murray Edridge as the new head of Family and Community Services.

“Mr Edridge has worked with community organisations for many years and is a well liked and highly respected leader in the sector,” says Ms Bennett.

“He has a big job ahead of him, but his experience, leadership skills and talent will stand him in good stead,” she said.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says the number of people on benefits remains high, though thousands still find work every month.

“Last month more than 6,700 people cancelled their benefit because they found a job and I congratulate every one of them,” says Ms Bennett.

“While total benefit numbers remain high, the Unemployment Benefit is now at its lowest since July 2009.”

At the end of September there were 55,661 unemployment beneficiaries.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has announced a $2.8 million boost to out of school care funding, supporting a focus on work not welfare.

“This Government is balancing greater work expectations on beneficiaries who have children, with greater support, including childcare.”

“We’re committed to removing barriers to work and providing adequate quality childcare is a vital part of that,” says Ms Bennett.

Community organisations have received more than $7 million from the Government in the seventh round of the Community Response Fund. 

“This funding acknowledges the vital role social service providers play and confirms this Government is backing them,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett

The Community Response Fund was originally introduced for two years, but Minister Bennett extended it in the last Budget until mid-2012.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says Work and Income’s youth focused seminars are getting results, but non-attendance is a real issue.

“These seminars provide opportunities for young people to connect with local employers, or take up education that will lead to a job,” says Ms Bennett.

The seminars run by Work and Income around the country are seeing young people move off benefit into jobs and training.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has asked Child Youth and Family to strengthen processes to respond better to school reports of abuse.

“Teachers and principals know the children they teach, they know what’s normal for each child and what’s not,” says Ms Bennett.

“I felt we could strengthen the priority process, so if teachers have genuine concerns about a child’s welfare, they get a rapid response.”

Friday 16 September 2011; 10am

I couldn’t be prouder to be here today.

This is an historic day – a powerful moment in our shared histories when a statement is being made about the state of our lives.

This is a day when together  - Te Kawerau a Maki, Ngati Whatua and Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi have stood tall. 

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett welcomes the Child Matters and Child Youth and Family partnership teaching professionals about child abuse.

“This country has appalling rates of child abuse and its vital people working with children know what to look for and how to respond to signs of abuse.”

Since May last year 62 workshops have reached 1,850 professionals and a further 21 workshops will reach a total of around 2,490 individuals by October 2011.

Twenty five years ago Te Whakaruruhau was established as the first Maori Women’s Refuge in Aotearoa.  

Ever since those early days, Te Whakaruruhau has been known as breaking new ground, providing the leadership and the inspiration for working with whanau in a way which would best result in wellness and wellbeing.

And so I am absolutely delighted, having shared the journey over the years, to now be here with you all, celebrating the opening of your new safe-house.

I have to say, I have a special fondness for Whakaruruhau. 

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says the number of people on the Unemployment Benefit dropped last month, particularly among youth.

“Unemployment Benefit numbers dropped last month by 1,145 with half of the decrease due to more young people going into work,” says Ms Bennett.

“We’ve consistently kept the focus on young people and Work and Income staff have really taken that to heart and made a big difference.”

The total number of people on the Unemployment Benefit is now 55,974, the lowest it’s been since July 2009.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says the Government’s high priority on young people continues through the Job Ops with Training and Skills for Growth programmes.

“Since 2009 this Government has backed nearly 12,000 young people into work by giving them a job and valuable experience through the Job Opportunity employer subsidy,” says Ms Bennett.

Job Ops paid $5,000 to an employer to take a young person off benefit and employ them for a minimum of six months.