Thousands hit in welfare shake-up
Thousands of people are expected to be chopped off welfare benefits as sweeping changes in New Zealand's social security system come into force today.
Welfare
Teens testing system
Teens testing system
Teenagers among the first "guinea pigs" for a new money management system for welfare say they are getting more than they need for food but not enough for transport, baby supplies and medical costs.
Welfare reforms affect 17,000
Welfare reforms affect 17,000
The first stage of the Government's welfare reforms came into force yesterday, with a shake-up to youth benefits, as services were contracted out to 43 different local providers.
Facts lost in welfare debate
Facts lost in welfare debate
Minister for Social Development PaulaBennett defends the "investment" approach to welfare and backs the expertise on the new Work and Income Board.
Funds for welfare reform
Funds for welfare reform
The first phase of the Government's welfare reforms has received $287.5 million, over the next four years.
Tackling the costs of welfare
Tackling the costs of welfare
The vexed issue of "welfare" attracts extremes of opinions on both sides of a divide all too often defined by political ideology.
Bennett, King debate welfare
Bennett, King debate welfare
National and Labour have agreed on one thing: work is the answer to getting people off benefits.
National outlines welfare policy
National outlines welfare policy
Prime Minister John Key has outlined an overhaul of the welfare system that will require more people to look for work and take jobs when offered.
National to announce $130m welfare reform package
National to announce $130m welfare reform package
National will tomorrow announce a $130 million welfare reform package aimed at getting people off benefits.
It's time to apply some real solutions
It's time to apply some real solutions
Will we continue with approaches to social problems that fail or will we choose those that work? asks Laura Black.
Criticism of Govt's new welfare policy from Dunedin
Criticism of Govt's new welfare policy from Dunedin
Prime Minister John Key, facing "nanny state" criticism over the Government's new $25 million welfare policy for young people, says he is not going to apologise to anyone for intervening in their lives.
Welfare proposals fighting imaginary enemy
Welfare proposals fighting imaginary enemy
The announcement of the Government's intention to make welfare reform an election platform refocuses attention on the Welfare Working Group's recommendations. While there are some initiatives to applaud there are also many to be concerned about, writes Laura Black.
National's pre-election challenge
National's pre-election challenge
No voter should be in doubt now about the choices that will be before him or her at November's general election. Unusually in New Zealand politics, the ruling party has declared its hand well in advance of the poll, seeking a specific mandate across several policy areas to govern for a further term.
Back to work, report urges
Back to work, report urges
About 300,000 welfare beneficiaries who are judged to be capable of work will face a day of reckoning tomorrow when the Government receives a report that recommends they be forced to look for jobs.
Huge welfare overhaul proposed
Huge welfare overhaul proposed
Having welfare mums head back to work when babies are 14 weeks old and merging main benefit levels into one support payment are some of the radical changes suggested to discourage long-term dependence on the dole.
Welfare discussed at meetings
Welfare discussed at meetings
Personal stories were shared and collective community reflection and political analysis were provided at welfare information meetings in Dunedin this week.
Week in politics: More to welfare reform story than massive numbers
Week in politics: More to welfare reform story than massive numbers
There it sits, a very large and seemingly very juicy statistic buried in the back pages of this week's discussion paper on welfare reform; a figure which screams for attention as indisputable evidence that the present benefit system must get the chop or, at a minimum, serious restructuring.
Beneficiaries would be helped, ministry confirms
Beneficiaries would be helped, ministry confirms
People who do not have identification when they apply for a benefit will be helped to get what they need, the Ministry of Social Development confirmed.
For our benefit
For our benefit
Katrina Bell still remembers the doctor at Waikato Hospital who effectively turned her away when her life collapsed.
NZ still in dark over Whanau Ora: Labour
NZ still in dark over Whanau Ora: Labour
New Zealanders are still in the dark about how the Whanau Ora policy will be implemented or funded, Labour acting social development spokeswoman Ruth Dyson said today.