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Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is welcoming the establishment of New Zealand’s third Children’s Team, in the Horowhenua and Ōtaki region.

“The Team will be officially launched tomorrow and I’m delighted the communities of Foxton, Levin, Shannon and Ōtaki have succeeded in getting up and running so quickly to implement a new approach to child protection in their area,” says Mrs Bennett.

Budgeting services now have the opportunity to apply for extra funding to support their work with low income New Zealanders, with a $2 million funding round open for applications. 

“Budgeting services work alongside some of the most vulnerable people in the community, providing the advice and financial skills they need to get ahead, and stay out of debt,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today officially launched a Community Finance pilot scheme that will see StepUP low-interest loans available in Manukau and Waitakere.

“Community Finance will help people with borrowing for assets they need for employment, education and a better quality of life,” says Mrs Bennett.

“This is another way we are helping families to help themselves become financially independent, by offering sustainable borrowing that avoids spiralling debt.”

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has announced new Government funding for the Zeal Education Trust to support its work with young people in West Auckland in reducing anti-social behaviour.

“Zeal does an amazing job with young people in West Auckland, and funding of $200,000 over the next two years will help them to develop and run a new initiative to better connect with at-risk young people,” Mrs Bennett said.

The Government’s welfare fraud reforms are working to make sure the benefit system is there for those who need it, says Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows.

With the seven key initiatives in the package now all underway or in force, Mr Borrows today released figures showing the programme had already recouped or saved over $47 million and stopped thousands of illegitimate or fraudulent benefits.

The effect on the lifetime liability of current beneficiaries is estimated at a reduction of between $119 and $134 million as of March 2014.

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows has welcomed the expansion of supported bail for young offenders as an important step to reducing reoffending.

The latest supported bail expansion increases the total places to 305 placements, available almost anywhere in New Zealand, up from 175 in 2006.

“Supported bail is an important tool for managing lower level young offenders in a way that is better for them and better for the community,” says Mr Borrows.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says 157 people across the country have so far taken up the Government’s 3K to Christchurch scheme.

“It is early days but there’s no doubt the incentive payment of $3,000 to help people with moving and establishing themselves in Canterbury is paying off for those individuals now working as well as the region.

Efforts to tackle youth offending are building momentum as communities and government agencies embrace the Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP).

Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows today praised the progress made during the first eight months of YCAP, the Government’s 10-year plan to reduce crime by children and young people, and help those who offend to turn their lives around.

Extraordinary Care Fund grants to help children being raised by their grandparents or extended family open for application soon, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett confirmed today.

“The Extraordinary Care Fund recognises the amazing job that grandparents and extended family members do raising children who come into their care, often because of the death of a parent or because of abuse or neglect,” Mrs Bennett said.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse have announced plans for a new programme aimed at getting more Kiwis into seasonal work, alongside an increase to the annual RSE cap.

Mr Woodhouse says the need to raise the cap on Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers from 8000 to 9000 demonstrates the success of the RSE scheme.

Results released today show good progress is being made to achieve the Government’s Better Public Services targets, say social sector Ministers Tony Ryall, Paula Bennett and Hekia Parata.

“This National-led Government is committed to ensuring New Zealand children are getting a better start in life,” Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

“We all need to work together to support children, young people and their families and the Better Public Services targets help us do this,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says welfare reforms are making good inroads into achieving the Better Public Service target of significantly reducing long term benefit dependency by 2017.

The Government has set the public services some very ambitious targets in areas that are critical in improving the education, health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has today released latest benefit figures showing the number of people on welfare for the June quarter is the lowest since 2008, with sole parents leading the impressive results.

“There are over 16,000 fewer people on welfare compared to June 2013, with the total number currently 293,586,” Mrs Bennett said.

Further relief for Northland is on the way after Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today activated Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG) to help with the clean-up following the recent storms.

“Northland is moving into recovery mode and the Government is pitching in with wage support, and by paying locals beneficiaries to help with the clean-up,” Mrs Bennett said. 

More than 80 new social work staff for Child, Youth and Family will soon be recruited to help alleviate pressure on frontline staff.

Social Development Minister, Paula Bennett has welcomed the decision in response to the recently released Workload and Casework Review. 

“Social workers do one of the toughest jobs there is, and I commend the Ministry of Social Development for carrying out this review in the first place. Increasing staff numbers isn’t the only answer, but it’s a significant start,” says Mrs Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has today launched ‘Common Ground’, an exciting new addition to the Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Project.

“Common Ground has been designed as an online ‘first stop’ for anyone concerned about a young person’s emotional wellbeing,” Mrs Bennett said.

Including a website, a free phone line, social media channels, and links to other services and resources, Common Ground seeks to make sure people get the information they need when it comes to youth mental health.  

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says in its very first week, 50 people have taken up the Government’s 3K to Christchurch offer. 

“There has been strong interest in the $3.5 million initiative which provides beneficiaries with a one-off payment of $3,000 if they take up a full time job in Christchurch.

“The rebuild is creating thousands of jobs in the city and we are providing unemployed people with the means to move and set up there if they have firm job offers.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed the latest Household Incomes Report showing child poverty has fallen three percent.

“Today’s release shows we are making progress.  From a survey conducted between July 2012 and June 2013, findings show that median household incomes rose four percent in real terms in the two years since July 2011,” says Mrs Bennett.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today announced changes to make payments easier for Child, Youth and Family caregivers.

“Currently CYF caregivers are reimbursed for day to day needs including medical prescriptions.  From next month they will receive regular lump sum payments to cover costs and won’t have to waste time applying for the money.

“We trust caregivers to provide a loving nurturing home and it is ludicrous that we then make them jump through hoops to access funds to support the children in their care. 

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows has welcomed the start of new powers to hold both parties to relationship welfare fraud to account.

From today the amendments in the Social Security (Fraud Measures and Debt Recovery) Amendment Act 2014 come into force, creating a new offence for partners who are involved in relationship welfare fraud.

Prime Minister John Key and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today joined Lincoln Heights School to celebrate the handing over of the 100,000^th KidsCan raincoat to a school child.

Operating since 2005, the children’s charity KidsCan is supporting more than 400 low decile schools by providing much needed items to vulnerable children including food, raincoats, waterproof trousers, shoes, socks and hygiene products.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says an evaluation of Youth Service, the first of the Government’s welfare reforms, provides hard evidence that it is working in turning around young peoples’ lives.

"Every bit of common sense told us that getting in early, connecting them with a mentor and engaging them in education and training would be one of the best things we could do.

The Government has announced it will introduce a whole-of-Government approach to address family violence in New Zealand, break the cycle of violence and achieve intergenerational change.

Associate Minister for Social Development, Tariana Turia says Achieving Intergenerational Change – A whole-of-Government approach recognises that government agencies must strengthen the way they work with each other and with non-governmental organisations and communities to truly address family violence in New Zealand. 

The Government has welcomed the report from the Expert Advisory Group on Family Violence released today.  The Expert Advisory Group (EAG) was tasked with providing independent strategic advice to the Government to assist in determining key priority actions to address family violence in New Zealand.

Associate Minister for Social Development, Tariana Turia says that the report is comprehensive, covering key elements crucial in any discussion on family violence issues and solutions.