Publications and resources

Resource centre for Ministry publications, statistics and fact sheets.

This section contains publications and resources produced by the Ministry of Social Development.

Please note: Some of our documents are published in PDF format. Where possible, we may also publish these documents in other electronic formats to make our information more accessible. 

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Latest publications

Full and correct entitlement report

In July 2022, we began a 12-month pilot to assess whether clients were receiving their full and correct entitlement. 

NEET Trial Services Evaluation

The Youth Service NEET (not in education, employment or training) Trial Services evaluation report was prepared for the Ministry of Social Development by Malatest International.

Helping grow NZ's infrastructure workforce: MoU expanded

An updated MoU between MSD and NZTA sets in stone the approach the two agencies will take to achieve quality employment outcomes on all major infrastructure projects.

Creative Careers Service (CCS) Process Evaluation

The Creative Careers Service (CCS) pilot was co-designed by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage (MCH) in response to the economic impacts of COVID-19 on the creative industry.

Patterns of Early Childhood Residential Mobility, Unmet Healthcare Needs, And Child Health in Aotearoa New Zealand – New evidence from the Growing Up in New Zealand study

International research has demonstrated links between residential mobility in childhood, and adverse health, social, educational, and physiological outcomes in children. Aotearoa is a highly mobile population, with particularly high levels of residential mobility among young people.

The Families Package monitoring and evaluation: Final update

From 2019 to 2023 MSD led a programme of work to monitor and evaluate the impacts of the Families Package initiatives. The final Families Package update summarises the key findings from all the studies completed as part of the evaluation and relevant monitoring data. There are separate reports that summarise the key findings for Māori and Pacific Peoples.

Total Incomes annual report – 2023

Older people experiencing vulnerability and multiple disadvantage in New Zealand

 This report presents the first phase of work and demonstrates where compounding hardship is occurring across different communities in Aotearoa, NZ.

Housing Brokers and Ready to Rent initiatives: process evaluation

This report is a process evaluation of the Housing Broker and Ready to Rent initiatives, which were implemented under the Aotearoa New Zealand Homelessness Action Plan 2020-23.

Assessing the Impact of Screen Time on Children’s Language, Educational Ability, and Social Functioning from Infancy to Age 8 

This report analyses Growing Up in New Zealand data (GUiNZ) to examine the relationship between screen exposure and later outcomes. The study aimed to assess the impact of screen exposure on language, early educational skills, and social functioning, considering different developmental periods and exposure trajectories.

Evaluation of the Employment Service in Schools Pilot

The Employment Service in Schools is a pilot service lead by MSD in partnership with the Ministry of Education which aims to address the employment-related needs and goals of young disabled learners in their last two years of school.

An ecological examination of factors related to active school travel in young children

This report uses data from Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) study eight-year old cohort to explore Active school travel (AST) in young children. 

Real-Time Evaluation of the Care in the Community Welfare Response

MSD designed a real-time evaluation of the welfare response that collected and used information to inform organisational decision making in real time. This evaluation was run in three cycles, each with their own findings.

Male survivors of sexual violence and abuse: Barriers and facilitators to reporting and accessing services

This research explored what helps and hinders male survivors to report and access support services for sexual violence and abuse. This work was commissioned as part of a work programme on the Budget 2019 investment in SV services.

Families Package Monitoring and Evaluation 2022 update

MSD leads the work to monitor and evaluate the impacts of the Families Package initiatives. The 2022 update summarises findings from new studies completed in 2022 and relevant monitoring data.

Alcohol Use in Pregnancy and Neurocognitive Outcomes in a Contemporary New Zealand Birth Cohort

This report uses data from the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) study eight-year-old cohort to explore the effect of Prenatal alcohol exposure on neurocognitive development.

Experiences and support needs of the Pacific sexual violence workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand

This study investigated the experiences and support needs of the Pacific sexual violence (SV) workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand. This work was commissioned as part of a work programme on the Budget 2019 investment in SV services.

Gender and Ethnic Pay Gap Action Plan 2022-2023

The 2022/23 Action Plan shows MSD’s commitment and focus to reducing its gender and ethnic pay gaps. The plan outlines the efforts MSD has made to date as well as the areas we will target to reduce any further internal pay gaps in alignment with Te Kawa Mataaho’s Kia Toipoto. 

The Investment Approach - Employment and Social Outcomes Investment Strategies

Our latest Investment Strategy sets the investment shifts and principles that will inform employment spending allocations over the next few years.

Annual Report 2021 - 2022

The 2021 - 2022 Annual Report shows how the Ministry has made progress towards achieving the outcomes and acknowledges the challenges it has faced across the year. This Annual Report includes service performance results and full financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2022.

Youth health and wellbeing survey results

The Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey called What About Me? surveyed 7,209 young people years 9 to 13 in their schools during 2021. Read the report of the results from young people surveyed in school settings.

Child Poverty in New Zealand

This report uses Stats NZ survey data to describe day-to-day life for children living in households defined as poor by the measures used in the Child Poverty Reduction Act 2018, show trends material hardship and low incomes for households with children, and to provide international comparisons as to how New Zealand children are faring.

Tauākī Whakamaunga Atu | Statement of Intent 2022 - 2026

The 2022 - 2026 Statement of Intent recognises and embraces a need for change. It sets out the Ministry of Social Development’s (MSD’s) focus for the next four years and the key social development initiatives that the Government is seeking to progress over that period.

Gendered Parenting and the intergenerational transmision of gendered stereotypes: Evidence from GUiNZ

Researchers used Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) data to investigate the intergenerational transmission of gender attitudes and inequality in Aotearoa New Zealand from parents to their young children

What happened to people who left the benefit system -  Year ended 30 June 2020

This series of reports uses anonymised cross-government data to describe what people did once they exited the benefit system – for example if they went into employment, or some form of education/training. It also follows their outcomes for 12 months after their exit.

Working paper: Total incomes of MSD main benefit clients as at April 2022

This paper outlines findings from a new dataset exploring the full range of financial support main benefit clients receive – known as their ‘total income’. It describes the level and composition of total incomes for different families, including changes over time, along with the impact of housing costs and inflation.

Employment and Social Outcomes Investment Strategies 2022 to 2025

Our latest Investment Strategy sets the investment shifts and principles that will inform employment spending allocations over the next few years.

Evaluation of the Intensive Case Management and Navigator Initiatives

The Intensive Case Management and Navigator Initiatives aim to improve the wellbeing of clients in their current situation, enabling them to better engage with public and private housing and sustain housing in the long term.

Evaluation report on the procurement and co-design of Whānau Resilience

MSD recently commissioned a kaupapa Māori evaluation of the procurement and co-design of the Whānau Resilience Programme. The evaluation aimed to understand how well the procurement and co-design processes of the Whānau Resilience programme were developed and implemented in three areas: Counties Manukau, Wellington, and Tasman. 

Families Package Monitoring and Evaluation 2021 update

MSD leads the work to monitor and evaluate the impacts of Families Package initiatives. The 2021 updates summarise findings from our monitoring reports and impact studies to date.

Housing related experiences of families with young children in Aotearoa New Zealand

This study used Growing Up in New Zealand data for the first four years of a child’s life to understand the housing experiences of children and their families, particularly those living in rental accommodation and those in low income households

The Material Wellbeing of NZ Households

The 2021 report updates the 2019 edition using non-incomes data from Stats NZ’s larger 2018-19 and 2019-20 Household Economic Surveys, and includes New Zealand’s rankings for international comparisons of material hardship rates.

The material wellbeing of New Zealand households: trends and relativities using non-income measures

This report provides information on the material wellbeing of New Zealanders using non-income measures (or non-monetary indicators).

The report uses data from Stats NZ's Household Economic Surveys (HES) from 2006-07 to 2019-2020 and from MSD's 2008 Living Standards Survey.

Life During Lockdown: Findings from the GUiNZ survey

MSD commissioned Growing Up in New Zealand to survey the health, wellbeing and education experiences of around 2,500 cohort children during the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Ordering a publication

We have limited hard copies of some publications available. Please email for further information.