South D Work and Income office relocating

The Ministry of Social Development will relocate its South Dunedin office to Caversham next year....
The Ministry of Social Development will relocate its South Dunedin office to Caversham next year. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
Beneficiaries and pensioners will need to travel to Caversham when the South Dunedin Work and Income office closes next year.

The move had been criticised as making services harder to access, but the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) says it will mean clients are better served overall.

The new MSD building is set to open in mid-2024 in Caversham’s College St, as part of the Te Kāika Wellbeing Hub.

South Dunedin pensioner Rob Donaldson (75) said the current Hillside road office was "very handy" for the hundreds of beneficiaries and pensioners living in South Dunedin.

Travel to the new location for those without cars could prove difficult.

Many older people relied on buses, and he did not believe public transport links to the new location were very good.

For many the move would come as a shock, he said.

"It’s a shame they can’t get other premises in South Dunedin to relocate to."

While younger beneficiaries might be able to deal with Work and Income largely online, he did not use the internet and pensioners often needed to go there in person, he said.

MSD southern regional commissioner Steph Voight said yesterday the Hillside Rd office was relocating to a "one-stop shop" in Caversham.

She did not say when the South Dunedin office would close, but said the new building was due to open in the middle of next year.

It would contain employment, health, social welfare and other community services.

"We are currently working through the process regarding the transition and timing over the move to Te Kāika," she said.

"The hub will be located five minutes by car from the old centre, have ample parking and is one block away from South Rd, which means clients will have easy access via public transport."

For some clients the centre would be further away, but for others it would be closer.

"It will be the first in the country to integrate MSD services with social, primary and secondary health services means clients will be better served overall.

"The new building will be next to the existing Te Kāika centre, which offers a range of services including low-cost dental care, nursing, physiotherapy, addiction support and a free gym."

fiona.ellis@odt.co.nz

 

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