Minister: Paula Bennett

Investigation into circumstances surrounding the death of a child

Beehive — Wed, 30 May 2012 05:37:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Child Youth and Family has been asked to urgently investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a child who was suffocated by his intoxicated mother. Ngaire Tukiwaho was today sentenced in the Rotorua High Court after pleading guilty to manslaughter of her two-month old Tahi Elvis Edwards. Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says, “there are just too many unanswered questions around this family”. ...

Funding for Canterbury social services

Admin — Tue, 29 May 2012 01:27:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

The Government is investing another $13 million over the next two years to support the ongoing demand for Canterbury social services. “Since the earthquakes, Canterbury social service providers have done an outstanding job meeting the needs of the community,” says Mrs Bennett. “The Government has provided $20 million for community and non-government organisations (NGOs) in Canterbury since September 2010, but we see the need for more funding over the next year.” ...

Families Commission refocused

Beehive — Mon, 28 May 2012 04:44:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has announced a major restructure of the Families Commission. “The way the Families Commission works is going to change.” The Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Professor Sir Peter Gluckman has identified a gap in monitoring, evaluation and research in the social sector. “This restructure will see the Families Commission take on a new role providing for independent monitoring, evaluation and research to measure the effectiveness of initiatives for families and society,” says Mrs Bennett. ...

$287.5m up-front investment in welfare reforms

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:17:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Budget 2012

The Government is making an up-front investment of $287.5 million over the next four years in the first phase of its welfare reforms, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says. “We always said welfare reform would cost more up-front to save over the longer term and that translates to more support to help people off welfare into work,” Mrs Bennett says. The phase 1 funding includes $81.5 million of additional money, with the remainder reprioritised from within Social Development spending. ...

Extra support for vulnerable youth

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:15:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Budget 2012

Budget 2012 includes an $18.3 million investment over the next four years in mental health services for children and young people, Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett says. “Young people can be among our most vulnerable and need specific support to address their needs,” she says. “I’m pleased to be putting more funding into mental health services for young people, including youth workers and One-Stop Shops.” ...

Some skin for Youth Week

Admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:30:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Youth week, a week of fun and informative community based youth activities begins today says Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett. “Love the skin you are in is the theme of this year’s Youth Week and a good message for anyone young or old,” Mrs Bennett says. “Around the country young people will be getting into some serious fun with a serious message about being true to yourself and being comfortable with who you are.” ...

New Board to oversee Work and Income performance

Admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:05:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today announced the new Work and Income board members to oversee the investment approach to welfare. This new approach will be embedded at all levels of the welfare system and the Board will be responsible for ensuring accountability and overseeing the delivery of reforms that will see fewer people on welfare for long periods. “Paula Rebstock will chair the Board with five other members from outside the public service with a wide range of relevant experience and expertise.” ...

Fewer New Zealanders on welfare

Admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:14:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

The number of people on benefits has fallen to the lowest level since July 2009 says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett. There are now 320,954 people on benefits, down by 2,000 in the last month, representing around 12 per cent of working age New Zealanders. There are 58,000 people on Sickness Benefits and 99,000 sole parents on the Domestic Purposes Benefit. “It is pleasing to see the number of people on Unemployment Benefits has fallen in the past month to 51,422,” says Mrs Bennett. ...

Budget 2012: Extra funding for welfare reforms

Beehive — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:13:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Budget 2012

The Budget this month will provide $287.5 million over the next four years for the first phase of the Government’s welfare reforms to help more New Zealanders into work, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says. This includes $81.5 million of additional up-front funding, with the remainder reprioritised funding from within Social Development. The second phase of reforms will be funded in Budget 2013. The entire welfare package is expected to cost at least $520 million and it will save $1 billion over four years. ...

Youth services vital to reducing welfare dependence

Beehive — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:27:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Youth service providers connecting young people to education, employment or training will ensure fewer become welfare dependent says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett. “More than 150 providers have applied to provide services that wrap support around 16 and 17 year olds, giving them every opportunity to succeed.” The Youth Services tender process which closed yesterday is the first step to ensure fewer disengaged young people end up trapped in the welfare system. ...

Address to New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services

Beehive — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:32:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

It is a pleasure to be here to speak to you all. I hope you have had a successful conference to date and that you have shared ideas, problems and solutions. I admire the work you do in our communities. There are moments in my job when I sincerely feel the pull to be working at the grass roots level. But we all have our roles to play and thank you for the important role you play. They say that this is the worst time to be speaking to a conference - after lunch, before an audience with full tummies who might nod off. ...

Thousands move off benefits into work in March

Beehive — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 19:35:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says more than 8,000 people cancelled their benefit last month because they found work. “More than 5,000 people who were on Unemployment Benefits around New Zealand went off welfare into work last month,” says Ms Bennett. The number of people on Unemployment Benefits is now 53,479. This is the lowest level in the month of March since 2009. ...

Better support for youth mental illness

Admin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Youth workers trained to recognise mental health issues will be put into selected secondary schools and Youth One Stop Shops as part of the National-led Government’s youth mental health package, says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett. The package, announced today by Prime Minister John Key, will significantly improve the way the Government deals with young people who have mental health problems. “I am delighted to be putting specially-trained youth workers into schools to work alongside nurses to help our young people,” says Ms Bennett. ...

Minister recognises contribution of Dr Hone Kaa

Admin — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:48:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Minister for Social Development Paula Bennett was saddened to hear news of the passing of Rev Dr Hone Kaa and sends her condolences to his whanau and iwi. “Dr Kaa was a passionate New Zealander and strong community leader who will be dearly missed by all who knew him,” says Ms Bennett. “My thoughts are with his grieving family and the wider Maori community who with Dr Kaa’s passing have lost an influential leader.” ...

Welfare reform bill passes first reading

Beehive — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

The Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today and will be referred to select committee. Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says, “this is a significant step in a series of welfare reforms being introduced by this Government”. “This Bill will deliver a more active welfare system with greater support for young people, some sole parents, widows and women alone.” The Bill will be referred to the Social Services Select Committee. ...

Welfare Reform

Beehive07 — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:53:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

The welfare system is failing New Zealanders. It has created a cycle of dependency that has 12 percent of working age New Zealanders on benefits, directly affecting more than 220,000 children. The system, I say, is failing them. And it is out of step with today’s needs because times have changed. Today we have teenagers on welfare who have been given a weekly sum of money and just left to get on with it. ...

Working for Families family tax credit and minimum family tax credit amounts rise

Admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:03:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Revenue

Working for Families tax credits will increase from 1 April this year, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today. “This adjustment will assist Families who are eligible for the WFF tax credits and compensate for cost of living increases over past year”, said Mr Dunne. “These increases will make a real difference to families for whom every cent counts,” said Social Development Minister Paula Bennett. ...

Benefit rates rise to meet increased living costs

Admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:02:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett announced the annual increase in benefit payments and superannuation for more than a million Kiwis. “We passed legislation so annual increases are linked to increases in the consumer price index and keep up with rising living costs,” says Ms Bennett. The increase will take effect from April 1 this year. The 2012 Annual General Adjustment will see a 1.77 percent increase to: ...

Benefit numbers decline in February

Admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:33:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says the number of people on benefits fell by more than 21,000 in the last month. “February saw 5,651 fewer people on Unemployment Benefits, which is a 9 percent drop,” says Ms Bennett. There are now 56,471 people on the Unemployment Benefit and a total of 329,649 people on all benefits. “I am particularly pleased to see nearly 3,000 fewer young people on Unemployment Benefits in February, though we still have a long way to go.” There are now 16,400 young people on Unemployment Benefits. ...

Unemployed Cantabrians to work in the red zone

Admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:22:00 +0000

Gerry Brownlee | Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett have announced a “Working InZone” programme to get unemployed Cantabrians working in the region’s residential red zone. “Funding of more than $770,000 will support up to 100 Christchurch and North Canterbury beneficiaries to clean up, maintain and secure the properties purchased by the Government in the residential red zone,” Ms Bennett said. ...

NZ Disability Support Network Conference

Beehive06 — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:30:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

E nga mana, e nga reo, e te iwi o te motu, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you all. It’s great to be here. Today I’d like to spend a bit of time talking about: • our current welfare system • welfare reform • what it means for people with disabilities Our welfare system is failing you. And worse, it is failing the people you work with. ...

Employment scheme for weather bomb clean up

Admin — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:47:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has announced funding for a clean up operation in parts of South Taranaki damaged by a weather bomb at the weekend “Community members have already sprung into action and this measure is designed to support them,” says Ms Bennett. Enhanced Taskforce Green will be activated to subsidise a clean up and repair crew, along with hire equipment and supervision. “This also provides paid work for local beneficiaries who gain skills and experience as they repair damage to buildings and clear debris.” ...

Submissions closed but conversations continue

Admin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:49:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett thanks New Zealanders for responding to the Green Paper on Vulnerable Children and encourages continued discussion. “A big thank you to everyone who joined me in this debate, submissions have closed but the debate goes on and that’s how it should be,” says Ms Bennett. The Government, Green Paper Champions and Ministry of Social Development have held 68 Green Paper meetings since the Green Paper was launched in July last year. ...

Welfare Reform

Beehive — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:21:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Welfare Reform Special Feature The second term National-led Government is comprehensively reforming welfare. Delivering better public services is one of the National-led Government’s four key priorities for this term. Welfare reform is central to that. ...

Building on the success of Future Focus

Beehive — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 03:04:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

The first stage of welfare reforms announced today build on the success of Future Focus changes says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett. “Just by requiring people to reapply for the Unemployment Benefit after one year, so far 12,500 have cancelled their benefit, saving $17 million.” Of that number, more than half didn’t even complete the application and more than 3,300 had already found a job. ...

Welfare reform legislation to be introduced

Beehive — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:58:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett today announced that stage one of the National-led Government’s comprehensive welfare reforms will get underway next month. ...

Green Paper submissions close this Tuesday

Admin — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:25:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is encouraging New Zealanders to make a submission to the Green Paper before the closing date this Tuesday 28 February. “In the past when I have spoken about child abuse and neglect, people have looked at their feet in desperation to escape these uncomfortable topics,” says Ms Bennett. “But the Green Paper has helped New Zealanders confront these issues and this was evident in the level of thought and care in ideas put forward at the 17 Green Paper meetings I fronted.” ...

Young New Zealander of the Year congratulated

Beehive — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:03:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Youth Affairs

Youth Affairs Minister Paula Bennett congratulates Sam Johnson, winner of the Young New Zealander of the Year award. “This young man mobilised the Student Army to help Cantabrians clean up after the earthquakes and made a huge impression on New Zealand.” Sam Johnson used Facebook to amass an army of 26,000 volunteers. “He got thousands of students willingly turning up day after day with shovels and wheelbarrows ready to do whatever was necessary to help others.” ...

Opportunities for young Aucklanders applauded

Admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett welcomes a joint initiative to provide work experience opportunities for young people in Auckland. The Auckland Council, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Social Development are working together on an initiative to provide around 230 places this year. “Work experience is vitally important for young people looking for that first job,” says Ms Bennett. ...

Learning results in raft of changes to better protect children

Admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:03:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Social Development

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says a Ministerial Inquiry into a case of serious abuse of a nine year old, has led to major changes. “Both parents responsible for the appalling litany of abuse against their nine year old child have now been found guilty and sentenced and that’s where the primary responsibility lies,” says Ms Bennett. ”But I called for a Ministerial Inquiry because it was clear multiple agencies and adults missed the abuse and we have to do things better.” ...