MSD Central Region Regional Plan

Speech notes for Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Darren Hughes at the Central Region Regional Plan Launch, Horowhenua District Council Chambers, Levin

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Good afternoon, and thank you for your introduction Penny.  I’m pleased to be here to present the Ministry of Social Development’s 2008/2009 Regional Plan for the Central Region. 

Over the past year we have worked with individuals, families and communities to drive positive change in the Central Region. We want to make a real difference in the lives of all New Zealanders.  In partnership with other government agencies, individuals and organisations, the Ministry has developed and implemented a variety of unique initiatives to address the Central region’s important social issues. These initiatives are designed to help build a strong, healthy society for the people who live here.  

One initiative implemented in the past 12 months was an Early Years Service Hub in Tararua.  The Hub provides families with young children access to a range of co-ordinated and integrated services designed to help them parent better.  Families can learn about the agencies they can contact for help in providing better health, safety, education, mental, emotional and physical development and general wellbeing for their children. 

In partnership with the Wairarapa, Otaki and Horowhenua Primary Health Organisations we have been able to help people with Mild to Moderate Mental Health move towards employment.  While it is early days, more than 30 people in the Horowhenua have been referred to this new service. 

A Social Work Student Unit is also now permanently established at our Child, Youth and Family office in Palmerston North. The Unit will help increase the number of social work students and graduates. This not only gives support to young people wanting to pursue a meaningful career, but it also means we have more well-trained social workers to carry out the Government’s work. 

These initiatives have been successful because they are tailored to meet the individual’s or families specific needs. We know that a “one size fits all” approach is not the answer. This applies to our region as well - Central is different from Auckland, or from Wellington. 

There are 236,100 people living in the Central Region.  Agriculture, Horticulture and Viticulture, as well as tertiary education drive our economy. We stretch from Kapiti and Horowhenua to Wairarapa and Tararua. Palmerston North is our largest city.

We have a high number of young people in our region. One of our challenges is successfully helping our young people move from school into higher education and work in a way that engages them and leads to a positive future. 

Older people also make up a large proportion of our population, because this is a great place to retire to.  We value our older people and will be helping them stay independent and keep on contributing to our communities.  

Regional Plans allow us the flexibility to ensure we can find the right solutions for the challenges facing us here in the Central Region.  The Plan is supported by the $446 million multi-year Pathway to Partnership plan. This new funding model aims at strengthening community-based family, child and youth focused services.  This will simplify the funding process for those delivering essential services, and mean they can attract and retain quality staff. 

This 2008/2009 Central Regional Plan has five key priorities as a focus for the year.  The driving factor behind the first priority recognises that children are New Zealand’s future and that all children deserve to grow up in a safe and happy environment.  We plan to build on the establishment of the Early Years Hub in the Tararua and extend this to the Horowhenua.  Providing support to families when their children are young helps reduce the need for our services in later years. More than that, it has a real and positive effect on the day-to-day life of those children. 

A second priority is to provide young people with a voice. Teenagers and young people need to feel valued and connected to others. They also need to be included in the decision-making process on issues affecting them.  We’ll work to find fresh ways to involve the region’s young people in their communities.  One initiative includes holding ministerial forums on youth issues and on how young people can contribute to their communities.  

The Plan’s third priority is to enable people to live independent lives.  We plan to offer working opportunities for more people using a Work-Focused support approach.  This recognises that most people want to work, and can, with the right support.   This enhanced service will focus on the individual, building a service around their goals and the outcomes they want to achieve.  Under this programme, we’ll also help sole parents and others with caring responsibilities find work opportunities, if they so wish. 

Our fourth priority, to support families and whanau to be safe and resilient, will continue to build on projects such as Life to the Max Horowhenua.  This project helps young people aged 10 to 19 and their families overcome the challenges of drug and alcohol use.  A multi-disciplined team works intensively with young people and their families to resolve their issues.  It gives them the opportunity to make more positive choices for their futures.  

Strengthening communities is the fifth priority of the plan.  We will help communities identify ways to improve the development, planning, delivery, effectiveness and funding of social services for families through Local Services Mapping.  Working with the various agencies and service providers within communities, the process “maps” the services available and seeks to build strong links between these, and between community and government.  During 2008/2009 we’ll be completing the Local Services Mapping community report for Horowhenua. 

As you can see, we have a year of challenges and opportunities ahead of us.  Together, with this plan we can address the priorities that have been set and help people in the Central Region find solutions to live better lives. 

It has been a pleasure to join you here today.