Displaying 1 - 24 of 63 results.

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Associate Housing Minister Paula Bennett today released the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s estimates of the number of first home buyers in Canterbury who are to benefit from the Government’s new KiwiSaver HomeStart package.

  • Nick Smith
  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says people and families in need of social housing will be better supported by the Government’s investment of $95.7 million of new money over the next four years.

“We want to ensure those with a genuine social housing need are in the right house, for as long as they need it.  Some people may simply need some extra assistance to access housing in the private market.  This will free up social housing for people that really need it,” says Mrs Bennett.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development
  • Housing

From tomorrow selected community groups will be able to offer income related rents for people needing social housing and people will be able to test their eligibility through Work and Income.

“We are growing low cost housing by partnering with dedicated community groups that are providing the properties.  We are also expanding income related rent subsidies beyond Housing New Zealand,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

  • Nick Smith
  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development
  • Housing

The Government today announced the next step in delivering housing assistance to those most in need with reviewable tenancies for all social housing tenants. 

In the first year this will apply to people currently paying market rents or close to market rents to see if they can move into and sustain a private rental.

About 800 reviews, commencing from 1 July 2014, are expected to be completed in the first year, out of approximately 68,000 state house tenancies.

  • Nick Smith
  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has launched a new resource to help address family violence in ethnic communities.

The ‘Culture No Excuse for Abuse’ booklet has been produced by Auckland’s Shakti Community Council with help from the Ministry of Social Development’s ‘It’s Not OK’ family violence prevention campaign.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Local Government
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says thousands of carers have received extra cash to help meet the costs of looking after children since she announced new payments and grants last month.

“I wanted to ensure carers were aware of the extra funding before Christmas so they could relax a bit, knowing that help was on the way.”

Around 12,000 children are cared for by grandparents, extended family or other carers.

Already, around 2,000 payments of more than $880,000 have been made.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Latest benefit numbers reveal thousands of New Zealanders have gained financial independence by coming off welfare in the past 12 months, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says. 

Figures for the December 2013 quarter released today show over 17,000 fewer people are on benefit compared to December 2012.

“This is a significant decrease and proof that the welfare reforms implemented by this Government are making a huge difference for New Zealanders,” Mrs Bennett said.

There were 321,869 people on benefit in the December 2013 quarter.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is delighted over 62,700 people went off benefit and into work in the first nine months of 2013 alone.

“It’s not easy taking the plunge into work, but we’re seeing an average of over 7,000 people a month going off welfare into work,” Mrs Bennett said.

“People are stepping up and building better futures, and it’s important we recognise just how significant the move off welfare is for them and their families.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Break-Away holiday programmes are offering thousands of children from high needs communities a fun and busy break over the school holidays.  

Break-Away programmes run during the Christmas and Easter holidays, and are delivered by community organisations with support from MSD.

“Since this Government introduced the Break-Away initiative in 2009, almost 95,000 school children from the Far North to Southland have taken part,” Mrs Bennett said.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

A group of 20 young people in care will be recognised today at the William Wallace Awards, jointly hosted by Prime Minister John Key and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

The Awards are an annual event celebrating young people in foster care who’ve excelled across a range of areas, including academically, in music, art, and sport, and as role models in their communities.

“These young people have all overcome extremely difficult starts to life, and have shown huge determination and courage to get to where they are now,” Mrs Bennett said.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is welcoming public submissions on the Vulnerable Children Bill to be heard from next week.

“The ten-year Children’s Action Plan and Vulnerable Children legislation is the most important work I have done as Minister and New Zealanders continue to have a vital role in shaping this,” says Mrs Bennett.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Work opportunities continue to open up for beneficiaries thanks to strong relationships between Work and Income and employers.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett was pleased to help open Countdown Lincoln Road in Henderson today, where 44 new jobs have been created – 14 filled by Work and Income clients.

“Work and Income have been incredibly active in the lead up to the new supermarket opening, establishing contact with Countdown and letting them know beneficiaries were ready and waiting to get hired,” Mrs Bennett said.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Figures released by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett illustrate the benefits of going from welfare to work, factoring in tax credits for families.

“On average around 1,500 people a week, move off welfare into work which brings pride to individuals and families and is financially beneficial.”

An average sole parent with two children under thirteen, living in South Auckland would receive around $642 on benefit, including accommodation supplement and a minimal extra allowance for costs.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says the Ministry of Social Development is well on track to deliver social housing reforms next year.

“From April next year, MSD’s Work and Income will assess and manage the social housing needs of low income New Zealanders,” says Mrs Bennett.

“It makes sense for Work and Income to take on this role, with offices around the country and staff who are familiar with individuals and families in need.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has been leading a project to set up supported flatting arrangements for teenagers.

“There are teenagers living away from home for a variety of reasons.Many face real challenges and lack the support they need to thrive,” says Mrs Bennett.

Teenagers can be at-risk living independently without good support and safe, appropriate accommodation.

“I’ve been investigating options to provide supported flats that allow teens to live independently, but in a safe place and with support close by.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has challenged Labour to explain its plan to axe the Families Commission.

“Labour says it would need to ‘axe’ the Families Commission so it can carry out its ‘poverty plan’ which is clearly limited to simply counting poverty.”

“The Commission has gone through significant change since her colleague Rajen Prasad was commissioner and is now doing meaningful work.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

An agreement between CYF and Tainui marks a new understanding and connection between the two says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Waikato today.

“This is the third agreement to be signed with iwi and is a significant step forward,” says Mrs Bennett.

“A new working relationship will focus on protecting children, using iwi networks to proactively support whānau in need.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Changes to the benefit system for young people are seeing more in education, training and attending vital parenting and budgeting courses.

“Welfare reform started with young people, for good reason – a recent report found young people who go on benefit, then spend an average 19 years on benefit,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“We now require all beneficiary 16 and 17 year olds and teen parents to be in education or training so they have a better chance at getting a decent job.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

The Families Commission’s new Social Policy and Evaluation Research Unit (SuPERU) will manage the Growing Up in New Zealand study from today.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett welcomed the transfer of the longitudinal study from the Ministry of Social Development to SuPERU.

“This is a pleasing development and means the study will now benefit from the academic rigour of the SuPERU and its focus on delivering greater transparency and value for money.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Whangarei’s Children’s Team goes live today, a milestone welcomed by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“Children’s Teams are a new, community-driven way of engaging with and supporting vulnerable children and families,” Mrs Bennett said.

“I’ve visited Whangarei several times in recent months and am impressed with how enthusiastic and committed the community is to making a difference for their children.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has joined in celebrations with social workers in Wellington today to mark National Social Workers Day.

“Social work is an incredibly demanding and difficult area, and social workers do a superb job supporting vulnerable children and families,” Mrs Bennett said.

“I also want to acknowledge and thank all social workers who work with district health boards, schools, non-government organisations, and other organisations. Their contributions are significant.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Outstanding arrest warrants are being cleared through a policy to sanction beneficiaries who are on the run from Police.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says this imaginative policy has already seen 161 arrest warrants cleared within six weeks of operation.

“Arrest warrants don’t just go away by themselves; they have to be dealt with and by prompting action through the benefit system, that’s happening faster.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

The Government has finalised a whiteware purchasing agreement which will provide a good deal for both beneficiaries and taxpayers.

“In this year’s Budget I announced we would work to get better value for beneficiaries and taxpayers in the way we help people purchase fridges, freezers and washing machines,” Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said.

Hardship grants are available to beneficiaries and people on low incomes to purchase whiteware products. These grants have to be repaid.

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett was delighted to get unanimous support from Parliament for the Vulnerable Children Bill at first reading.

“This legislation is part of the wider Children’s Action Plan, with more than 30 initiatives to prevent child abuse and improve the lives of our most vulnerable children,” says Mrs Bennett.

“I’ve deliberately kept politics out of this and I’m delighted Opposition parties have found a way to support this work in exactly the same vein.”

  • Paula Bennett
  • Housing
  • Social Development