Articles tagged with Social Development
Showing 15 of 45 articles
New State Redress Service Simplifies Claims for Survivors in NZ
02 Sep 2026 | 6 days ago | 156 viewsThe new State Redress Service provides survivors of abuse in State care with a single point of contact for information, new claims, and ongoing support, streamlining access across multiple agencies. It assigns one case manager for claims involving multiple agencies to simplify the redress process and reduce the need for survivors to repeatedly share their experiences. This service operates alongside existing agencies responsible for claim assessment and decision-making, as part of the government’s response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.
Tags: Erica Stanford Vikki Carter State Redress Service Ministry of Social Development Oranga Tamariki Ministry of Education Ministry of Health Health New Zealand Te Puni Kōkiri Department of CorrectionsNew Zealand Launches Mahi Aroha Carers’ Strategy for Support and Recognition
01 Sep 2026 | 1 week ago | 145 viewsThe New Zealand Government has launched the Mahi Aroha Carers’ Strategy Action Plan to recognize and support unpaid or informal carers, focusing on health and wellbeing, financial security, and appreciation. Developed collaboratively with the Ministry of Social Development, Carers Alliance, and other groups, the plan sets ongoing, realistic outcomes without an expiration date to address carers' complex challenges. The initiative involved extensive consultation with carers and stakeholders, ensuring accountability and meaningful progress in improving carers' lives.
Tags: Penny Simmonds Ministry of Social Development Carers Alliance Mahi Aroha New Zealand Government Associate Minister Social Development Carers Strategy EmploymentNew Zealand Launches Ongoing Action Plan to Support Unpaid Carers
01 Sep 2026 | 1 week ago | 134 viewsThe New Zealand Government has launched the Mahi Aroha Carers’ Strategy Action Plan to recognize and support unpaid or informal carers, focusing on health and wellbeing, financial security, and recognition. Developed collaboratively with the Ministry of Social Development, the Carers Alliance, and other advocacy groups, the plan is ongoing with realistic outcomes and accountability measures. The initiative reflects extensive community input and aims to provide a sustainable, long-term roadmap addressing the complex challenges carers face.
Tags: Penny Simmonds Mahi Aroha Carers Alliance Ministry of Social Development New Zealand Carers Social Development Employment Government Action PlanNew Social Security Bill Tightens Jobseeker Support and Housing Subsidies
28 Aug 2026 | 1 week ago | 200 viewsThe Social Security (Jobseeker Support and Accommodation Supplement) Amendment Bill, passed in Parliament, tightens eligibility for Jobseeker Support and adjusts the Accommodation Supplement to better target financial assistance. It requires 18- and 19-year-olds to meet the Parental Assistance Test before receiving benefits and increases the homeowner contribution threshold for housing subsidies from 30% to 40% of income. The legislation aims to reduce benefit dependency, encourage work, and ensures certain groups, like pension recipients, are exempt from the new Accommodation Supplement changes.
Tags: Louise Upston Social Security Jobseeker Support Accommodation Supplement Welfare System Budget 2025 Parental Assistance Test New Zealand Government Social Development Employment MinisterCommunity Job Coaching Helps 4,000 Young New Zealanders Into Sustainable Jobs
26 Aug 2026 | 2 weeks ago | 218 viewsCommunity Job Coaching, launched in October 2025, has enrolled 4,000 young New Zealanders aged 18–24, providing up to 26 weeks of personalized employment coaching and ongoing support to help them secure sustainable jobs. The program, delivered across multiple regions and expanding to three more, aims to reduce youth reliance on welfare by offering tailored local support, contributing to the government’s goal of 50,000 fewer Jobseeker Support beneficiaries. With over 640 paid work activities and 290 individuals off benefits so far, the initiative focuses on breaking the cycle of long-term welfare dependency and promoting career pathways for young people.
Tags: Community Job Coaching Louise Upston Ministry of Social Development Jobseeker Support New Zealand employment programme youth employment community providers sustainable employment job coachingGovernment Launches Upgraded MyMSD Jobs Site to Connect Job Seekers with Employers
11 Aug 2026 | 4 weeks ago | 297 viewsThe Government has launched an upgraded job search website, MyMSD Jobs, to better connect job seekers with employers using enhanced job matching technology and improved Jobseeker profiles. Over 94,000 clients have updated their profiles to access matched job opportunities, with more than 7,700 positions currently available, and positive feedback has been reported from users. Future improvements include a dedicated employer portal, as part of MSD’s broader transformation to provide more efficient services and support stronger, resilient communities.
Tags: Louise Upston Ministry of Social Development MSD JobSeeker Support MyMSD Jobs Kimi Mahi Mai Social Development and Employment Minister job matching technology New Zealand employment platformGovernment Contributes $50,000 to Support Kaikōura Flood Relief Efforts
23 Jul 2026 | 1 month ago | 421 viewsThe Government is contributing $50,000 to the Kaikōura Mayoral Relief Fund to assist with recovery from severe flooding and landslides that caused widespread damage in July. This funding, requested by the Kaikōura District Council, will support community needs like residential waste disposal and replacing uninsurable items, supplementing an earlier $50,000 grant to local farmers. Mayoral Relief Funds provide rapid, targeted aid to fill immediate gaps after emergencies, complementing other support from agencies without replacing insurance or other funding sources.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Kaikōura Government Mayoral Relief Fund Emergency Management Flooding Farmers Adverse Events Trust Federated Farmers Kaikōura District Council Ministry of Social DevelopmentJane Searle Appointed New Children’s Commissioner to Advocate for Kids' Wellbeing
07 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 493 viewsJane Searle has been appointed Children’s Commissioner, bringing over 15 years of experience in child protection, including roles as chief executive of Child Matters, a police detective, and legal professional. Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston highlighted Ms Searle’s deep understanding of children’s issues and her capability to advocate for their wellbeing. Ms Searle will begin her five-year term on 1 August 2026, succeeding Dr Claire Achmad, who was thanked for her dedicated service.
Tags: Jane Searle Louise Upston Claire Achmad Child Matters Children’s Commissioner Social Development Employment Minister New Zealand Police barrister solicitorNew Zealand Social Housing Reform: Progress, Challenges, and Future Plans 2026
23 Jun 2026 | 2 months ago | 590 viewsThe Government acknowledges the broken social housing system and housing crisis driven by unaffordable housing and planning barriers, committing to reforms focused on building the right homes for those most in need through initiatives like the Housing Investment System, Kāinga Ora Turnaround Plan, and Flexible Fund. Significant progress includes stabilizing house prices and rents, reducing Kāinga Ora's debt, increasing social housing stock, lowering financing barriers for Community Housing Providers, and establishing a data-driven Housing Investment Plan to target resources effectively. The ongoing Review of Social Housing aims to create a fairer, more efficient system by refocusing support on those most in need, improving incentives for tenant independence, and working collaboratively with stakeholders to develop sustainable, long-term solutions.
Tags: Paul Gilberd Damon Salesa James Palmer Kāinga Ora Ngāti Whātua Orakei Community Housing Aotearoa Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Ministry of Social Development Social Investment Agency Social Housing ReviewGovernment Modernises Welfare System with Automated Decision-Making for Efficiency
29 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 623 viewsThe Government has passed the Social Security (Modernisation) Amendment Bill to enhance welfare system efficiency by expanding the use of automated decision-making for straightforward cases, while maintaining human oversight for complex decisions. The Bill aims to reduce manual processing, improve accuracy, and ensure fair, consistent, and sustainable delivery of welfare support without changing eligibility criteria. It also includes safeguards to manage bias, ensure transparency, and allow challenges to decisions, ultimately freeing case managers to better assist clients.
Tags: Louise Upston Social Development Employment Minister Welfare System Social Security Bill Ministry of Social Development Budget 2025 New Zealand Welfare AssistanceBudget 2026 Welfare Package: Supporting Kiwis into Work and Independence
28 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 661 viewsBudget 2026’s welfare package aims to encourage employment and independence while supporting those most in need through targeted investments. Key initiatives include $45 million for community food support, $93.3 million to help sole parents find work, and $22.4 million to prevent and reduce emergency housing needs, generating significant net savings over four years. Social Development Minister Louise Upston emphasizes the government’s commitment to a fair, sustainable welfare system that effectively helps people transition off benefits despite economic challenges.
Tags: Budget 2026 welfare package Louise Upston Social Development Employment Minister community food support sole parents assistance emergency housing New Zealand families social safety netGovernment Tightens Welfare Eligibility to Support Sustainability and Target Need
14 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 831 viewsThe Government has introduced the Social Security Amendment Bill to improve fiscal sustainability by tightening eligibility for Jobseeker Support for 18- and 19-year-olds and adjusting the Accommodation Supplement calculation for homeowners. The Bill requires young beneficiaries to meet the Parental Assistance Test unless they have dependent children, aiming to reduce long-term benefit dependency and better target assistance to those most in need. Additionally, the Accommodation Supplement changes, the first in 33 years, focus support on vulnerable groups by requiring homeowners to contribute a higher share of income toward housing costs before receiving subsidies.
Tags: Louise Upston Social Development Employment Minister Jobseeker Support Accommodation Supplement Welfare system Budget 2025 Parental Assistance Test New Zealand Government Social Security Amendment BillGovernment Grants $150K to Mayoral Relief Funds for Lower North Island Flood Recovery
01 May 2026 | 4 months ago | 727 viewsThe Government is contributing $150,000 to Mayoral Relief Funds to assist communities in the lower North Island affected by recent flooding, with $100,000 allocated to Wellington City and $50,000 to Ruapehu District Council. Minister Mark Mitchell emphasized the importance of this support for clean-up efforts and acknowledged the contributions of emergency responders and community members. These funds aim to quickly address immediate needs but do not replace insurance or other agency support.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Philip Sutton Wellington City Ruapehu District Mayoral Relief Funds Government Emergency Management Civil Defence Ministry of Social Development Ministry for Primary IndustriesNew Zealand Sees 5,580 More People Move from Benefits to Work by March 2026
16 Apr 2026 | 4 months ago | 878 viewsMinister Louise Upston highlights that more New Zealanders moved from benefits into work over the year to March 2026, despite challenging economic conditions, with 5,580 more people exiting benefits compared to the previous year. The number of people receiving Jobseeker Support and working-age main benefits decreased significantly, reflecting the impact of the Government’s welfare reset and initiatives like the Traffic Light System and Kōrero Mahi seminars. These measures aim to make jobseekers more proactive and work-ready, providing practical support to help them secure sustainable employment.
Tags: Louise Upston Minister for Social Development and Employment New Zealand Jobseeker Support MSD Kōrero Mahi Traffic Light System welfare reset employment support main benefitNew Zealand Ends Greyhound Racing by 2026 to Ensure Animal Welfare and Support
02 Apr 2026 | 5 months ago | 898 viewsRacing Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the passing of legislation to end greyhound racing in New Zealand, citing serious animal welfare concerns and overwhelming parliamentary support for the bill. The government will establish a transition agency to oversee the wind-down of the industry, support dog rehoming, and assist affected workers with retraining and wellbeing services. The ban will take effect from August 1, 2026, ensuring a responsible and compassionate phase-out aligned with global trends away from the sport.
Tags: Winston Peters Heather Simpson Murray Johnson Lindsay Burton New Zealand greyhound racing Racing Minister Ministerial Advisory Committee Ministry of Social Development Parliament