New ZealandKiwi shortlisted for one-way Mars tripAn Auckland man could end up swapping his job at the Ministry of Social Development for a one-way ticket to Mars.16 Feb 11:22 PM
New ZealandAshburton shooting reportA review of security at the Ministry of Social Development, prompted by last year's deadly shooting at the Ashburton Work and Income office, has found tighter security would not have prevented the incident.10 Feb 09:15 AM
New ZealandBenefits crackdownA tough new policy cracking down on beneficiaries with unresolved arrest warrants has resulted in the issuing of thousands of alerts.06 Feb 10:28 PM
New ZealandTop 10 wrongly paid benefits: $2.14mThe ten largest amounts of wrongly acquired benefits totaled more than $2.14m last year - but advocates say most of the $23 billion paid out was genuinely needed.06 Jan 04:00 PM
New ZealandDrop in public sector jobsThe number of core public servants has fallen well below the Government’s cap.03 Dec 11:55 PM
New ZealandCommission's rebrand really GaulsThe Families Commission is rebranding today taking a name which almost identical to that of a French supermarket chain.01 Dec 12:01 AM
New ZealandSmith swindled thousands from taxpayerConvicted murderer and paedophile Phillip John Smith swindled thousands of dollars from the taxpayer, using false documents when studying in prison.26 Nov 10:48 PM
New ZealandBeneficiary awarded more than $20,000A beneficiary has been awarded more than $20,000 after Housing New Zealand was found to have been over-collecting private information about him.12 Nov 01:58 AM
New ZealandMSD hints at superannuation reviewThe Ministry of Social Development has signalled a need to “explore options relating to the age of eligibility” for NZ superannuation, and wants a review of benefit rates to tackle child poverty.12 Nov 12:48 AM
New Zealand98 jobs to go at MSD, 107 to be madeNearly 100 jobs are set to go at Work and Income - but the government says even more new roles will be created.03 Nov 10:33 PM
OpinionJohn Armstrong: Taxpayer looks the loser in English's pet reformBill English's masterplan to radically "reform" the Labour-initiated, octogenarian state housing scheme has all the hallmarks of being ideological for ideology's sake.25 Oct 12:13 AM
New ZealandMinistry man investigated over blogA public servant is under investigation over allegations that he said beneficiaries were "stupid" for having children.28 Aug 05:00 PM
New ZealandNats include 18, 19-year-olds in schemeA further 3500 young people on welfare could have their spending tightly controlled by an adult supervisor if National is re-elected.11 Aug 05:00 PM
New ZealandNational to extend control of teen beneficiaries' financesThe Government is to extend its control of spending by young beneficiaries to all teen parents and many 18 and 19-year-olds.11 Aug 07:52 AM
New ZealandCalls to helplines went unansweredA Hastings woman who died following an overdose made two calls to emergency helplines that went unanswered before her death.16 Jul 07:18 AM
New ZealandGovt restores incentives for solo parent studentsSocial Development Minister Paula Bennett has released plans to restore some incentives for solo parents who take up full-time study.10 Jun 04:53 AM
New ZealandDying mum: 'It's a struggle'An Auckland mother with terminal cancer who is sharing a two-bedroom flat with her four sons is worried they won't cope in the small space as her condition deteriorates.22 Apr 05:30 AM
New Zealand'Mindset change' cuts benefit rollA single parents' group says "a complete change of mindset" has helped reduce the number of people on the sole parent benefit to the lowest level in more than 20 years.18 Apr 04:15 PM
New ZealandBennett criticised over beneficiary tripsBeneficiary advocates say Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is unfairly trying to paint beneficiaries as extravagant after she disclosed how many had benefits suspended for unapproved trips abroad.03 Apr 03:15 PM
OpinionEditorial: Figures on benefits don't actually tell whole storySocial Development Minister Paula Bennett is naturally happy to attribute a big reduction in the state's welfare liability to the Government's efforts.27 Jan 04:30 PM
New ZealandLow drug result a victory: BennettOf 8,001 beneficiaries sent for jobs requiring drug testing, only 22 tested positive or refused to take tests, a result that has been greeted as a victory by the Social Development Minister.10 Jan 04:30 PM
New ZealandAlarm at CYF's bungled numbersNZ's child abuse rates are higher than anyone ever realised, officials admit, after bureaucrats bungled the numbers for more than two years.23 Nov 04:30 PM
New ZealandWelfare snooping bill criticisedNew powers allowing welfare officials to secretly approach beneficiaries' banks or workplaces if they suspected them of committing fraud are being questioned.13 Nov 04:30 PM
New ZealandFood work payoutFast-food giant McDonald's has been paid $272,000 by the Government to help unemployed people get back to work.19 Oct 04:30 PM
New ZealandHome survivors sue GovtFormer residents of a home for troubled kids have launched a $500,000 lawsuit against the Govt for claims of physical and sexual abuse.28 Sep 04:30 PM
New ZealandWelfare cuts for almost 100 fugitivesNearly 100 beneficiaries on the run from police have had their welfare cut in the six weeks since the policy was introduced, says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.24 Sep 04:36 AM
New ZealandCompulsory screening for child workersA major law change which will introduce compulsory security screening of up to 376,000 people working with children has been unanimously backed in Parliament.18 Sep 12:29 AM
New ZealandMiddle NZ 'subsidises' the restCrusading doco-maker Bryan Bruce returns to TV screens this week to claim that New Zealand's middle class is subsidising the rich and the poor through a terrible tax burden.25 Aug 12:02 AM
