✨ Government Policy Initiatives
22 DECEMBER NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
Special Housing Action Zones will be established in areas with particularly serious housing needs where the land is predominantly in multiple ownership in order to increase the supply and quality of housing.
My government wishes to encourage home ownership. It will investigate ways of bridging the deposit gap so as to assist modest income families into their first home. The Low Deposit Rural Lending Scheme will be further developed. Self-build and sweat equity schemes will be supported.
Work will be undertaken to determine the best ways to support the voluntary sector and housing associations which are engaged in the development and promotion of not-for-profit housing initiatives.
HONOURABLE MEMBERS
One of the great achievements of the century now ending has been the development of means of ensuring social security in times of need. As society has become more complex and the economy more open and diverse there have, inevitably, been questions raised about some aspects of social security.
In answering these, it is important that we do not forget that social security was a systematic answer to the failure of purely market-based or voluntary responses to meet the social needs of many. In resolving one set of problems it is crucial we do not recreate another, older, and more devastating set.
People in genuine need who are seeking help from the state deserve to be treated with respect and have their needs met. They are exercising their rights of citizenship. My government will urgently review aspects of the benefit system, such as abatement levels, to ensure there are not disincentives for beneficiaries to re-enter the workforce. My government will institute an inquiry into the administration of Work and Income New Zealand. In the meantime, a clear signal has been sent that there has to be an end to the culture of extravagance wherever it has developed in government agencies.
My government's aim is to ensure that people have the opportunity to earn income over their lifetime sufficient to meet their needs.
Individual needs for job-seekers will be identified through new programmes which will ensure quality case management. It is the intention to ensure that no young person leaves school to go on the dole.
The work capacity assessment pilot will be dropped. A sickness benefit will be reestablished as a non-work tested payment.
The voluntary sector is an essential component of social services. It is good both for what it does and for what it is: a sign of a healthy civic society.
My government wishes to develop a compact with the voluntary sector to facilitate and guide the relationship between us.
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VUW Te Waharoa —
NZ Gazette 1999, No 198
NZLII —
NZ Gazette 1999, No 198
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Government Policy Initiatives
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🏛️ Governance & Central AdministrationElective surgery, Health system, Health Funding Authority, Women's health, Older people, Rural health, Maori health, Cervical screening, Breast screening, Maternity services, Influenza vaccination, Elder abuse, Respite care, Long stay geriatric care, Rural health premium, District health boards, Rural general practice, Maori wellbeing, Treaty obligations, Poverty, State housing, Income-related rents, Social allocation, State house building