Search

All low decile primary schools will have social workers to help protect and support children, by the end of the next school term.

“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to expand the number of social workers, adding an extra 149 frontline staff around the country.”

“Social Workers in Schools (SWiS) do an outstanding job of protecting children, they’re a vital frontline response to preventing and addressing abuse and neglect,” says Mrs Bennett.

Despite notifications to Child, Youth and Family more than doubling in the past six years, social worker response times continue to improve, with 98.7 per cent of critical notifications being attended to within 24 hours.

“As has been repeatedly explained to the Labour spokesperson, the cases she refers to were not instances where children were left in danger, but where cases were not recorded in the system in a timely manner,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett announces the appointment of Belinda Milnes as Chief Families Commissioner.

“Ms Milnes is well positioned to lead the Families Commission, having been interim Chief Commissioner since February this year.”

An independent panel said Ms Milnes had demonstrated good judgement in her current role and has a broad knowledge of the Commission’s role and direction as well as the current legislative changes.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett welcomes the Ministry of Social Development’s Household Incomes Report for the 2011 calendar year.

“This provides a candid snapshot of how New Zealanders were doing financially in 2011,” says Mrs Bennett.

The report shows incomes increased as New Zealand recovered from the Global Financial Crisis and work increased on the Christchurch rebuild.

The latest quarterly benefit figures released include both the new categories effective from July 15 and the old categories for comparison.

“We’re continuing with a transparent approach to reporting benefit numbers as we said we would,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“There are currently 309,782 people on benefits in New Zealand, a reduction from 310,146 the previous quarter and down from 320,041 the year prior.”

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says from tomorrow New Zealand’s welfare system will be fundamentally different.

“The welfare system will look and feel very different, with new expectations and obligations and a much stronger work focus,” says Mrs Bennett.

“The investment approach will allow us to provide more individualised support to people, with a particular focus on those at risk of long-term dependence.”

From tomorrow the DPB, Unemployment and Sickness Benefits won’t exist.

A new approach to helping sole parents and other beneficiaries move into work, is making a difference says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

Work and Income has been trialling the new approach in 24 locations around New Zealand and have helped 6,000 people off welfare, including nearly 800 on DPB related benefits and around 5,000 Unemployment Beneficiaries.

“I’ve always said this Government was determined to help more people off welfare into work with better support and we’re doing it.”

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today signed an agreement with Malta to allow portability of Superannuation and Veteran’s Pensions.

“This Social Security Agreement will allow Maltese living in New Zealand and New Zealanders living in Malta, financial independence.”

The Malta Agreement will cover Superannuation and Veteran’s Pensions, allowing partner countries to pay these benefits and pensions.

New Zealand children are getting a better start in life as a result of progress towards the Government’s Better Public Services results, social sector Ministers Tony Ryall, Paula Bennett and Hekia Parata say.

“This National-led Government is committed to ensuring New Zealand children are safe and healthy,” Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

Comprehensive changes to the welfare system are already proving successful, with increasing numbers of people moving off benefit and into work, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

Result 1: Reduce the number of people who have been on a working age benefit for more than 12 months

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today announced Croatians will no longer need a visa to travel to New Zealand for a short visit.

Mrs Bennett made the announcement while in Croatia advancing discussions on a Social Security Agreement between New Zealand and Croatia.

“The visa waiver will make it easier for business visitors to come to New Zealand which will help further develop trade ties,” says Mrs Bennett.

“It will also mean a lot to Croatians visiting their Kiwi-Croatian relatives.”

People who fail to clear outstanding arrest warrants could see their benefits stopped as the next stage of welfare reforms comes into effect this month.

“Taxpayers overwhelmingly say they don’t want to fund people to actively avoid the Police and this Government agrees,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

From July 15, beneficiaries with outstanding warrants will have their benefits stopped if they fail to come forward and clear their warrant within 38 days.

Those with children will have their benefit reduced by no more than half.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett leaves tonight for Ireland and Europe to meet Ministerial counterparts, visit community organisations and advance Social Security Agreements.

In Europe we have an opportunity to advance and conclude bilateral Social Security Agreements with Croatia and Malta.

In Croatia, Minister Bennett intends to advance discussions on the signing of a Social Security Agreement which would allow pension portability for nationals of both Croatia and New Zealand.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is pleased to see a number of good work opportunities around New Zealand as businesses expand.

“We’re seeing some positive economic indicators, with business confidence growing and it’s translating to jobs which those on benefits can take up,” says Mrs Bennett.

NZ Bus Limited is recruiting up to 120 new staff in the next six months.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today welcomed the appointment of Sue Mackwell as the new National Children’s Director.

“Ms Mackwell has been a key figure in social policy development for many years, and a highly respected leader at the Ministry of Social Development,” Mrs Bennett said.

“In her role as Deputy Chief Executive for Social Policy and Knowledge she has been instrumental in driving the extensive policy work behind the White Paper for Vulnerable Children.”

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today announced the appointment of the Rotorua Children's Director to lead implementation of the local Children’s Team.

Toni Hocquard, the Rotorua Regional manager of Stand Children's Services, has been seconded to take up the role after Kirsten Rei reached the end of her appointment.

“I’m delighted Toni has taken on this leadership role, she has the skills and experience necessary to keep the momentum going around this vitally important work in Rotorua,” says Mrs Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett believes the Government has struck the right balance by supporting the KickStart Breakfast expansion.

“This is a genuine partnership between the Government, the community and New Zealand business which will benefit children,” says Mrs Bennett.

The KickStart Breakfast programme will increase from two to five mornings a week in decile one to four schools. Higher decile schools that want and need it, can opt in during 2014.

The Government is extending the funding for Family Violence Response Coordination (FVRC) says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“We’ve decided to extend the funding for a further two years from 2013/14 to 2014/15 as existing funding of $2.8m per year was time-limited and due to end at the end of 2012/13,” says Mrs Bennett.

FVRC funds more than 30 local family violence networks, working with more than 1,000 local agencies to undertake family violence prevention activities.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is impressed with projects developed by young New Zealanders during a series of Lifehack weekends held around the country in April.

“Around 100 young people took part in the sessions, working in teams alongside mentors from technology companies, universities and the social sector,” Mrs Bennett said.

“A range of innovative projects were pitched, with ten chosen to progress to the development phase, with teams receiving funding and support to progress their ideas.”

The Government has committed $16 million over the next four years to continue the Ministry’s successful Historic Claims Resolution Process for those abused in care.

“It’s important we listen to those who experienced past abuse as children in state care, that we apologise and do what we can to put things right,” says Mrs Bennett.

To date more than 400 historic claims have been resolved.

The Government is supporting New Zealanders on low incomes with a suite of measures designed to help them become more independent.

“We’re increasing funding for Budgeting Services, procuring whiteware to bring down costs for beneficiaries, and exploring options for low- and no-interest loans through microfinancing,” Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

To help Budgeting Services provide advice for people to manage on low incomes, the Government has already announced an extra $1.5 million for 2013/14.

The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable children through the Children’s Action Plan, Chair of the Ministerial Oversight Group Paula Bennett says.

Funding of $35 million over four years has been set aside in contingency for extended family members caring for children, recognising the difficult job they do.

More than 12,000 New Zealand children are being cared for by wider family members because of the death of a parent or family breakdown, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

“We know they are doing a tough job, often on limited incomes with children who need extra attention and help, and we’re determined to support that.