Part 1: Roles and responsibilities
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The social development portfolio directly influences the strength and fabric of New Zealand’s society and economy. It impacts on nearly every New Zealander at some stage in their lives. The portfolio is responsible for over $23 billion of expenditure each year.
Role of social development Ministers
As a Minister with portfolio responsibilities relating to social development you will help set the direction for the portfolio, including the major policy settings and implementation of New Zealand’s social welfare system. You will play an important role in helping the Government achieve its broader priorities and results.
You will be responsible for maintaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including other social sector Ministers, the Work and Income Board, advocates, advisory groups, and non-government and community organisations. There are necessarily strong links to other portfolios such as Senior Citizens, Disability Issues and Youth Affairs. Information on these portfolios and their priorities are set out in Parts 6-8 of this document.
The Minister for Social Development is responsible for the Ministry of Social Development and for four Crown entities – the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, the Families Commission, the New Zealand Artificial Limb Service and the Social Workers Registration Board.1
Role and structure of the Ministry of Social Development
The Ministry of Social Development supports you to deliver your portfolio responsibilities by providing social policy advice and social support services for children and young people, working age people, older people, families and communities.
An overview of the Ministry is provided in the attached A3.
The Ministry delivers, or purchases from other providers, most of New Zealand’s social services and administers benefits and New Zealand Superannuation. Services and assistance are provided to more than 1 million New Zealanders and 110,000 families every year.
Over recent years, the Ministry’s role and functions have expanded. The Ministry is responsible for:
- managing the statutory care and protection of vulnerable children and young people, youth justice and adoption services
- providing employment, income support and superannuation services
- conducting social housing assessments and providing housing support
- coordinating social and support services and funding to family and community service providers
- providing student allowances and student loans
- providing access to concessions and discounts for seniors, and subsidised health care for older people, families and lower-income New Zealanders
- upholding the integrity of the benefit system and minimising debt levels of people we work with.
The Ministry is the lead government agency for the social sector. There is an increasing emphasis on working closely with other government agencies, non-government organisations, advisory and industry groups, and communities and iwi to improve the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.
Our structure
To deliver these services the Ministry is structured around three clusters:
- Service delivery provides services to people through Work and Income, Child, Youth and Family and Community Investment. Many of these services are provided through contracts with non-government and community organisations.
- Policy provides policy advice in the areas of Ministry responsibility and leads social sector-wide policy advice. It also includes the Ministry of Youth Development, Office for Senior Citizens and Office for Disability Issues.
- Corporate ensures the Ministry is governed efficiently and effectively, reports on key accountabilities, provides a centralised Data Hub and supports Ministers.
