Purpose, Values and Principles (Recs 1-8)

Recommendation 1:

Amend the Social Security Act 2018 to state that anyone exercising power under the Act have regard to the following purpose and values.

The purpose of the welfare system is to whakamana tāngata and ensure a dignified life by:

• providing financial security and social security sufficient for an adequate standard of living

• supporting people to achieve their potential for learning, caring or volunteering, and earning through good and appropriate work

  The welfare system is underpinned by Kia Piki Ake Te Mana Tangata, including kaupapa Māori values of:

• manaakitanga – caring with dignity and respect

• ōhanga – economics

• whanaungatanga – treasuring kinship ties and relationships

• kotahitanga – unity

• takatūtanga – preparedness

• kaitiakitanga – guardianship.

Recommendation 2:

Use the following principles to guide the design and operation of the welfare system.

• Be person-centred and wellbeing focused.

• Keep children paramount.

• Value whānau and families.

• Treat people with dignity, respect and compassion.

• Provide an income sufficient for an adequate standard of living.

• Provide full and correct entitlements.

• Deliver support that is easy to access, timely and appropriate.

• Provide an employment service that supports people into good and appropriate work.

• Support the provision of housing that is affordable, secure, of good quality and appropriate for the person (and their family or whānau).

• Promote mutual expectations.

• Aim for equitable outcomes.

• Build and maintain effective links with other parts of government.

• Be sustainable.

Recommendation 3:

Establish a cross-ministerial approach to implement and monitor the effectiveness of the implementation and impact on outcomes of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group’s recommendations (across welfare, health, housing, justice, education and employment) that is cognisant of responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) and involves users of the welfare system.

Recommendation 4:

Direct the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development to design and implement a welfare system that will fulfil the new purpose and principles of the amended Social Security Act, is cognisant of responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and involves users of the system.

Recommendation 5:

Direct the Ministry of Social Development and Inland Revenue to publish yearly, whether as part of their Annual Reports or Statement of Intent, or as a standalone report, information on key outcomes for those interacting with the welfare system, including information about full and correct entitlements, take-up rates of payments, employment outcomes, the impact of employment supports and services, and after-tax and abatement earnings.

Measures should include:

• full and correct entitlement for all who are eligible by ethnicity, gender, location, health conditions and disabilities, and number and age of dependent children (0–17 years)

• take-up rates of payments by ethnicity, gender, location, health conditions and disabilities, and number and age of dependent children (0–17 years)

• employment outcomes by benefit type, ethnicity, gender, location, health conditions and disabilities, age, and duration off benefit (3, 6 and 12 months)

• impact of employment supports and services on outcomes by ethnicity, gender, location, health conditions and disabilities, and number and age of dependent children (0–17 years)

• after-tax and abatement earnings for those receiving financial support from Inland Revenue or the Ministry of Social Development by ethnicity, gender, location, health conditions and disabilities, and number and age of dependent children (0–17 years).

Recommendation 6:

Embed the competencies required to achieve greater equity for Māori in the job descriptions, key performance indicators and performance reviews of the Ministry of Social Development’s management and staff.

Recommendation 7: Include in the amended Social Security Act specific requirements for the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development to be accountable to iwi (as recognised collectives) and to Māori (as individuals, whānau and communities) for achieving equitable wellbeing outcomes for Māori from the welfare system.

Recommendation 8:

Direct the Ministry of Social Development to commit to building its cultural responsiveness to Pacific People, to achieve equitable outcomes for Pacific People engaging with the welfare system. Cultural responsiveness includes having an awareness of cultural obligations experienced by Pacific People around contributions for weddings, funerals and other critical cultural events and taking account of the nuances within diverse Pacific communities.