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Showing 151 to 200 of 725 written question sets.

Answered

Question 33107 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    For each month from 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2026, how many, if any, calls to Ministry of Social Development contact centres exceeded each 15-minute wait-time threshold from 30 minutes to 180 minutes inclusive?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development's (MSD) database records wait times in bands up to a maximum category of 45+ minutes. As wait times beyond 45 minutes are not recorded separately, MSD is unable to provide a breakdown of…

Answered

Question 33109 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to Written Question 30232 (2026), what assessment, if any, has MSD undertaken of the impact of these performance measures on Māori, Pacific peoples, disabled people, people with health conditions, and solo parents?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development has not undertaken a specific assessment of the impact of these performance measures on Māori, Pacific peoples, disabled people, people with health conditions, or solo parents. The…

Answered

33110, 33111 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Questions

  • 33110 (matches this search)

    Further to Written Question 30232 (2026), how many Ministry of Social Development managers, if any, have been subject to performance management since 1 July 2024 because they did not achieve one or more of the measures listed in response…

  • 33111 (matches this search)

    Further to Written Question 30232 (2026), what weight does each performance measure listed carry in the assessment of Ministry of Social Development managers?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that no Ministry of Social Development frontline managers have been subject to formal performance management since 1 July 2024 for not achieving any of the 11 performance measures referred to in my response to WPQ 30232…

Answered

33112, 33113 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Questions

  • 33112 (matches this search)

    Further to Written Question 30232 (2026), what were the median and 90th-percentile completion times for client requests in each month from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026?

  • 33113 (matches this search)

    Further to Written Question 30232 (2026), what proportion of clients, counted as remaining off benefit for at least 26 weeks following an employment placement since 01 January 2024, if any, have remained off benefit for at least 52 weeks?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development is unable to provide the information sought by the member within a written parliamentary question timeframe as it would take substantial effort and require the Ministry to divert…

Answered

Question 33115 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to Written Question 30232 (2026), what measures of employment quality, if any, are considered when determining whether the employment services effectiveness and employment sustainability targets have been achieved?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am further advised that no separate measures of employment quality are used in determining whether these targets have been achieved. The Ministry of Social Development’s primary focus is on supporting jobseekers into employment. The…

Answered

33116, 33117 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Questions

  • 33116 (matches this search)

    Further to Written Question 30232 (2026), from 1 July 2025 to 1 July 2026, how many, if any, Jobseeker Support exits counted towards the reduction target, broken down per month, by attributions to paid employment, sanctions, benefit…

  • 33117 (matches this search)

    Further to Written Question 30232 (2026), how is the “monthly phased reduction target” for Jobseeker Support calculated, including which types of benefit exit are counted towards the target?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

The Government has set a target of reducing the number of people receiving Jobseeker Support by 50,000 by 2030. The Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) remain focused on helping people move into sustainable employment and…

Answered

Question 33118 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to Written Question 30232 (2026), what safeguards, if any, are in place to ensure that the housing services reduction target does not discourage staff from approving Emergency Housing Special Needs Grants or other housing…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that Ministry of Social Development frontline staff are expected to assess each client's circumstances and provide the support that person is eligible to receive under the relevant legislation and policy settings. Where a…

Answered

Question 33153 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many Ministry of Social Development staff, if any, were subject to management action where failure to meet emergency housing-related performance metrics formed part of the reason for that action?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that no Ministry of Social Development staff have been subject to management action where failure to meet emergency housing-related performance metrics formed part of the reason for that action.

Answered

Question 32894 (2026)

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Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to reply 29748 (2026), were any Regional Commissioners subject to any other form of performance management, whether formal or informal, short of a targeted performance improvement plan during the 2025/26 financial year, and if so,…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

No. I am advised that no Regional Commissioners were subject to any other form of performance management, whether formal or informal, short of a targeted performance improvement plan during the 2025/26 financial year.

Answered

Question 32895 (2026)

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Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to reply 29743 (2026), are the 11 performance measures weighted equally in determining a Regional Commissioner's overall end-of-year rating, and if not, what weighting does the Housing services effectiveness measure carry?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

Yes, I am advised that all measures are weighted equally for determining Regional Commissioners' end-of-year performance.

Answered

Question 32896 (2026)

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Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to reply 29745 (2026), when a Housing services effectiveness target is not met and the Ministry works with a Regional Commissioner to understand internal and external factors, does that process result in any adjustment to how the…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

The results of the Housing Services effectiveness target are considered alongside performance across all 11 performance measures. I am advised that any adjustment to a Regional Commissioner's performance assessment would depend on the…

Answered

Question 32897 (2026)

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Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to reply 29752 (2026), were all 13 Regional Commissioner positions at the Ministry of Social Development filled and covered by a performance agreement throughout the 2025/26 financial year, and if not, how many positions were…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

Yes, I am advised that all 13 Regional Commissioner positions were filled and covered by a performance agreement throughout the 2025/26 financial year.

Answered

Question 32898 (2026)

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Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to reply 29751 (2026), by what date does the Ministry of Social Development expect the Regional Commissioner performance reviews for 2025/26 to be completed, and will the Minister provide the number of Regional Commissioners rated…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry intends to complete all performance meetings by the end of July 2026. I am also advised that no decision has been made on whether individual performance ratings would be provided, should they be requested.…

Answered

32899, 32900 (2026)

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Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

  • 32899 (matches this search)

    Further to reply 29747 (2026), separately from the year-end performance review, does the Ministry of Social Development hold in-year data on how many Regional Commissioners met the Jobseeker Support reduction measure in each quarter of the…

  • 32900 (matches this search)

    Further to reply 29750 (2026), separately from the year-end performance review, does the Ministry of Social Development hold in-year data on how many Regional Commissioners met the monthly phased reduction target for emergency housing…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I refer the member to the attached table which provides the number of Regional Commissioners’ meeting performance targets for the Jobseeker reduction target and the Emergency Housing target. This is also my response to WPQ 32900

Answered

Question 32901 (2026)

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Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to reply 29737 (2026), were the two retirements the total number of people who left Regional Commissioner roles at the Ministry of Social Development during or at the end of the 2025/26 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that the two retirements occurred during the 2025/26 financial year.

Answered

Question 32902 (2026)

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Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to reply 29737 (2026), did any other people in Regional Commissioner roles at the Ministry of Social Development leave the role or the Ministry during or at the end of the 2025/26 financial year by any means other than retirement,…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

No. I am advised that no other people, apart from the two who retired, left Regional Commissioner roles or the Ministry during or at the end of the 2025/26 financial year through resignation, transfer, the end of a fixed-term appointment,…

Answered

Question 31880 (2026)

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Asked by

Ginny Andersen

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What targets, if any, have officials set for the number of placements to be made through the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, and what is performance against those targets?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry of Social Development that there are no targets associated with the RiverLink project.

Answered

31881, 31898, 31900 (2026)

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Asked by

Ginny Andersen

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

  • 31881 (matches this search)

    Has the funding provided by officials for, or the staffing provided by officials to, the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt changed in any way since 27 November 2023; if so, in what way and for…

  • 31898 (matches this search)

    Has the funding provided by officials for the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt changed in any way since 27 November 2023; and is that Hub funded for the remainder of the RiverLink…

  • 31900 (matches this search)

    Does a Jobs and Skills Hub operate in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt; if so, when was it established, who operates it, and which agencies fund it?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) that there have been no changes to the funding provided to, or the staffing within, the Lower Hutt Jobs and Skills Hub. The Lower Hutt Jobs and Skills Hub is funded through…

Answered

9 questions (2026)

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Asked by

Ginny Andersen

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

Matching question numbers: 31893 (2026), 31894 (2026), 31895 (2026), 31896 (2026), 31897 (2026)

  • 31882 (matches this search)

    How many people receiving a main benefit, if any, have been placed into employment through the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, in total and broken down by financial year and by benefit type?

  • 31883 (matches this search)

    How many of the people placed into employment through the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, if any, had exited a main benefit three months after placement, how many had exited a main benefit…

  • 31884 (matches this search)

    How many Ministry of Social Development clients, if any, have been referred to the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, in total and broken down by financial year?

  • 31891 (matches this search)

    How many contractors, subcontractors or suppliers working on the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, if any, have sourced workers through the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to that project, and what proportion of the total…

Show the remaining 5 questions
  • 31893 (matches this search)

    How many of the people placed into employment through the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, if any, remained in employment six months after placement, and how many remained in employment…

  • 31894 (matches this search)

    How many people, if any, have commenced training, gained a qualification, or commenced an apprenticeship through the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, broken down by type of training or…

  • 31895 (matches this search)

    How many of the people placed into employment through the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, if any, were resident in Lower Hutt at the time of their placement?

  • 31896 (matches this search)

    How many of the people placed into employment through the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, if any, were placed into roles on the RiverLink project itself, and how many were placed into roles…

  • 31897 (matches this search)

    How many people, if any, have been placed into employment through the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, in total and broken down by financial year, since that Hub was established?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that for the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) to obtain this information would require substantial manual collation and engagement diverting Ministry staff from their core duties. In accordance with Speaker’s…

Answered

31885, 31899 (2026)

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Asked by

Ginny Andersen

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

  • 31885 (matches this search)

    Do officials fund, part-fund, or provide staff to the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt; if so, how much has been contributed, broken down by financial year, since that Hub was established?

  • 31899 (matches this search)

    How much have officials contributed to the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, in total and broken down by financial year, since that Hub was established?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) is unable to identify the costs associated with individual projects. This would require substantial manual collation and engagement diverting staff from their core duties.…

Answered

Question 31886 (2026)

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Asked by

Ginny Andersen

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What advice, if any, has he received on the employment and training outcomes delivered by the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt since 27 November 2023?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I have not received any advice on the employment and training outcomes delivered by the Lower Hutt Jobs and Skills Hub in relation to the RiverLink project.

Answered

Question 31887 (2026)

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Asked by

Ginny Andersen

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Have officials undertaken, commissioned or received any evaluation or review of the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt; if so, what did it find, and will he release it?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry of Social Development that it has not undertaken an evaluation of the RiverLink project to date.

Answered

Question 31888 (2026)

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Asked by

Ginny Andersen

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What reporting, if any, do officials receive on the performance of the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, how frequently is that reporting received, when was the most recent report received,…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that due to how information is recorded in Ministry systems, officials do not receive reporting on the performance of the Lower Hutt Jobs and Skills Hub in relation to the RiverLink Project specifically. To provide specific…

Answered

Question 31892 (2026)

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Asked by

Ginny Andersen

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What targets, if any, were set for the number of employment placements and training placements to be delivered through the Jobs and Skills Hub operating in relation to the RiverLink project in Lower Hutt, and what is performance against…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry of Social Development that no targets were set in relation to the RiverLink project. The Hub support major projects which improve employment and skills outcomes for communities through close collaboration…

Answered

Question 31937 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How, if at all, will the $8 million per year in baseline funding for Food Secure Communities be allocated across the national partners, the regional food hubs, the local food providers, the Food Security Initiatives, and for addressing…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that the $8 million per year in baseline funding for Food Secure Communities in 2026/27 is allocated as follows: • $6.4 million to three national partners to maintain their operation at a national level. • $1.5 million for up…

Answered

Question 31384 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    In the year to March 2026, what was the number clients who received food grants, the average value of food grants received by each client, and the number of those clients who received food grants up to or near the cap for a six-month…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I refer the member to the attached table, which provides the number of clients who were granted food hardship grants, total amount granted, and average grant amount between 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. I am advised that the number of…

Answered

Question 31535 (2026)

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Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 6 July 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

In my capacity as Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, I regularly request and receive advice on a range of topics. In the interest of transparency, a list of reports received by my office from the Ministry of Social…

Answered

Question 31536 (2026)

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Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 6 July 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

In my capacity as Minister for Social Development and Employment, I regularly request and receive advice on a range of topics. In the interest of transparency, a list of reports received by my office from the Ministry of Social Development…

Answered

Question 31640 (2026)

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Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 6 July 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 31641 (2026)

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Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 6 July 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

With the exception of Cabinet Appointments and Honours (APH) papers and minutes, all Cabinet and Cabinet committee papers and minutes must be proactively released and published online within 30 business days of final decisions being taken…

Answered

Question 31138 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if any, have the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, budgeted for the carbon neutral government programme in the 2026/27 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that in the 2026/27 year the Ministry of Social Development has budgeted $382,351 for the Carbon Neutral Government Programme (CNGP). This includes two FTE as well as a CNGP reporting tool and annual CNGP audit costs. I am…

Answered

Question 31159 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much in total, if any, was spent on renumeration of Crown appointees in the Minister's departments, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, for the 2022-2023 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

For the Crown entities and other bodies I am responsible for, $640,507 was spent on remuneration in the 2022-23 financial year.

Answered

Question 31162 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, spend on the carbon neutral government programme in the 2025/26 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that in the 2025/26 year the Ministry of Social Development spent $439,097 on the Carbon Neutral Government Programme (CNGP). This includes three FTE as well as annual CNGP audit costs I am further advised that the Independent…

Answered

Question 31167 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much in total, if any, is forecast to be spent on renumeration of Crown appointees in the Minister's departments, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, for the 2026-27 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

For the Crown entities and other bodies I am responsible for, $784,968 is forecast to be spent on remuneration in the 2026-27 financial year.

Answered

Question 31169 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much in total, if any, was spent on renumeration of Crown appointees in the Minister's departments, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, for the 2023-24 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

For the Crown entities and other bodies I am responsible for, $767,099 was spent on remuneration in the 2023-24 financial year.

Answered

Question 31171 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much in total, if any, was spent on renumeration of Crown appointees in the Minister's departments, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, for the 2025-26 financial year?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

For the Crown entities and other bodies I am responsible for, $715,131 was spent on remuneration in the 2025-26 financial year.

Answered

Question 30764 (2026)

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Asked by

Carmel Sepuloni

Member for Kelston · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What contracts, if any, does the Ministry for Social Development have for translating Pacific languages, by vendor, value of the contract, and when it was signed?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development does not have contracts for the translation of Pacific Languages.

Answered

Question 30876 (2026)

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Asked by

Barbara Edmonds

Member for Mana · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has the Minister instructed any chief executive not to action the head count reduction targets or baseline savings exercise as part of Budget 2026, and if so, which chief executives?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I refer the member to page 72 of the Budget 2026 - Summary of Initiatives - 28 May 2026 which outlines information relevant to the Baseline Savings initiative including which agencies are excluded.…

Answered

Question 30878 (2026)

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Asked by

Barbara Edmonds

Member for Mana · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has the Minister instructed any chief executive not to action the head count reduction targets or baseline savings exercise as part of Budget 2026, and if so, which chief executives?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I refer the member to page 72 of the Budget 2026 - Summary of Initiatives - 28 May 2026 which outlines information relevant to the Baseline Savings initiative including which agencies are excluded.…

Answered

Question 30879 (2026)

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Asked by

Barbara Edmonds

Member for Mana · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What instructions, if any, has the Minister given to the Chief Executives they are responsible about the public service headcount reduction targets or baseline savings exercise as part of Budget 2026?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I refer the member to the reply to written question 30814 by the Minister of Finance.

Answered

Question 30881 (2026)

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Asked by

Barbara Edmonds

Member for Mana · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What instructions, if any, has the Minister given to the Chief Executives they are responsible about the public service headcount reduction targets or baseline savings exercise as part of Budget 2026?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I refer the member to the reply to written question 30814 by the Minister of Finance.

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Question 30431 (2026)

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Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 29 June 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

In my capacity as Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, I regularly request and receive advice on a range of topics. In the interest of transparency, a list of reports received by my office from the Ministry of Social…

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Question 30433 (2026)

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Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 29 June 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

In my capacity as Minister for Social Development and Employment, I regularly request and receive advice on a range of topics. In the interest of transparency, a list of reports received by my office from the Ministry of Social Development…

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Question 30537 (2026)

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Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 29 June 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Penny Simmonds

Member for Invercargill · National Party · Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

None.

Answered

Question 30538 (2026)

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Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 29 June 2026, by title and date?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

With the exception of Cabinet Appointments and Honours (APH) papers and minutes, all Cabinet and Cabinet committee papers and minutes must be proactively released and published online within 30 business days of final decisions being taken…

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30224, 30226 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Questions

  • 30224 (matches this search)

    Since the current Ministry of Social Development staff performance framework was introduced, what reviews or evaluations, if any, has the Ministry undertaken into whether emergency housing performance measures have influenced staff…

  • 30226 (matches this search)

    What monitoring, if any, is undertaken by the Ministry of Social Development to ensure that performance measures relating to emergency housing do not discourage eligible applicants from applying for, or receiving, emergency housing…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development is regularly monitoring performance and the performance framework to ensure effective and timely services are delivered to clients. This is also my response to WPQ 30226 (2026).

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Question 30225 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What guidance, if any, has the Ministry of Social Development issued regarding the target that 95 percent of people exiting emergency housing should not receive a further emergency housing grant within six months?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has no specific guidance has been issued to staff on this topic. The 95% metric is used to measure how well clients sustain housing after exiting emergency housing, not as a rule…

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Question 30227 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What changes, if any, have been made to the performance measures relating to emergency housing grants since they were first introduced?

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that while the Ministry of Social Development first introduced this performance framework with the letters of expectation in the 2025/26 financial year, measuring operational performance has been a long-standing and on-going…

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Question 30228 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

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  • (matches this search)

    Since the introduction of the current Ministry of Social Development staff performance metrics, how many staff members, if any, have received a performance rating of "Needs Improvement" for the emergency housing grants performance measure,…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development’s performance framework does not apply to frontline staff. As the financial year has just concluded, performance reviews have not yet taken place.

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30229, 30231, 30237 (2026)

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Asked by

Ricardo Menéndez March

List MP · Green Party

Questions

  • 30229 (matches this search)

    Since the introduction of the current Ministry of Social Development staff performance metrics, how many staff, if any, were required to undertake a targeted improvement plan where performance relating to emergency housing grants formed…

  • 30231 (matches this search)

    Since the introduction of the current Ministry of Social Development staff performance metrics, how many Ministry of Social Development staff, if any, have been required to undertake a targeted improvement plan because they did not meet…

  • 30237 (matches this search)

    Since the introduction of the current Ministry of Social Development staff performance metrics, how many staff members, if any, have been subject to a performance improvement plan, formal performance review, disciplinary process, or any…

Answered by

Hon Louise Upston

Member for Taupō · National Party · Minister for Social Development and Employment

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development’s performance framework does not apply to frontline staff. No leaders have been asked to undertake a targeted improvement plan due to the performance measures. This is also my response…