Agency overview | |
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Formed | 2001 |
Jurisdiction | New Zealand |
Headquarters | The Aurora Conference Centre 56 The Terrace Wellington 6011 |
Annual budget |
Vote Social Development Total budget for 2016/17 $24,941,620,000 |
Minister responsible |
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Agency executive |
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Website | www |
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) (Māori: Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora) is the public service department of New Zealand charged with advising the government on social policy, and providing social services.
MSD is the largest public service department employing public servants in over 200 locations around New Zealand. It works closely with other public service departments and agencies, non-government organisations, advisory and industry groups, and communities and iwi. MSD delivers its programmes and services through a number of business groups and agencies.
The Ministry of Social Development provides:
Heartland Services is a government funded interagency initiative which provides people in provincial and rural New Zealand with access to Government services. Some Service Centres are based in existing government premises while others are in stand-alone Heartland Service Centres.
Work and Income provides financial assistance and employment services throughout New Zealand. They offer a single point of contact for New Zealanders needing job search support, financial assistance and in-work support.
On September 1, 2014 a beneficiary, Russell John Tully shot two people dead in a Work and Income office in Ashburton. In 2016 it was reported that there has been a 12 fold increase in call outs to the police at the Ministry's sites in the last five years and MSD had spent $20 million on extra security measures.
StudyLink administers Student Allowances, Student Loans and Jobseeker Support Student Hardship for people undertaking study.
Youth Service aims to get young people into education, training or work-based learning.
Senior Services:
Integrity Services:
Social services policy provides social sector policy advice concerning young people, working age people, and older people. The Ministry of Youth Development also sits within Social Services.
A number of other agencies are administered the Ministry of Social Development. They are generally responsible to a separate Minister.
The Ministry of Youth Development encourages and assists young people to be involved in the social, educational, economic and cultural development of New Zealand, both locally and nationally.
The Ministry has five key functions:
The Office for Disability Issues promotes and monitors the New Zealand Disability Strategy; provides policy advice on issues affecting people with disabilities; and provides services to the Minister for Disability Issues.
The Office for Senior Citizens provides policy advice on issues affecting older people; promotes and monitors the Positive Ageing Strategy; and provides services to the Minister for Senior Citizens.
1904 - Old Age Pensions Department established.