ODT

NationalJuly 29

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.

NationalSeptember 20

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.

NationalAugust 20

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.

OpinionMay 29

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.

DunedinMay 25

Funds for welfare reform

The first phase of the Government's welfare reforms has received $287.5 million, over the next four years.

EditorialMarch 2

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.

NationalNovember 2

Bennett, King debate welfare

National and Labour have agreed on one thing: work is the answer to getting people off benefits.

NationalNovember 1

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.

NationalOctober 31

National to announce $130m welfare reform package

National will tomorrow announce a $130 million welfare reform package aimed at getting people off benefits.

OpinionAugust 30

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.

DunedinAugust 15

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.

OpinionJune 5

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.

NationalJune 1

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.

NationalMarch 14

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.

NationalMarch 14

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.

DunedinSeptember 22

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.

NationalAugust 13

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.

DunedinJune 29

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.

The MixJune 11

For our benefit

Katrina Bell still remembers the doctor at Waikato Hospital who effectively turned her away when her life collapsed.

NationalApril 8

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.

NationalMarch 29

Welfare changes breach human rights: Attorney-general

Work testing sole parents on the domestic purposes benefit (DPB) is an unjustifiable breach of human rights, Attorney-General Chris Finlayson advised Parliament today.

NationalMarch 29

Govt crackdown on unwilling workers

Welfare reforms announced by the Government today are expected to ramp up the pressure on beneficiaries to return to the workforce.

DunedinMarch 24

Welfare changes 'harmful'

The Government was "kicking people when they're down", Dunedin Methodist Mission chief executive Laura Black said last night.

NationalFebruary 15

New social services system will be a Maori model: Key

Families using the new Whanua Ora social services system will have to accept it is based on the Maori way of doing things, Prime Minister John Key says.

NationalFebruary 12

Labour dubious about Whanau Ora policy

Secrecy around the Government's Whanau Ora policy is a sign that ministers couldn't agree about it, Labour's social development spokeswoman Annette King said today.