Mō mātou | About us
Our role is leading social development for all New Zealanders. MSD is the lead agency for managing and delivering New Zealand’s welfare system on behalf of the Government, contributing positively to the wellbeing of people today and into the future. We are also the lead agency for providing public employment services to New Zealanders, supporting people to obtain and maintain employment. Helping people, whānau, families and communities to be safe, strong and independent is at the centre of what we do.
We support the Government to set priorities across the social sector, co-ordinate the actions of other social sector agencies, develop and implement policy, and measure progress for the social wellbeing of New Zealanders.
We provide policy advice, and deliver social services and assistance to young people, working-age people, disabled people, older people, families, whānau and communities.
As an agency of the Crown, we are committed to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
Our mahi is not done alone. We work closely with many different agencies, organisations and community groups who have the right connections and expertise to make a lasting difference in people’s lives.
Together we aim to make a positive impact on the lives of New Zealanders.
What we do
We are responsible for administering Vote Social Development. Over 95 percent of what we spend goes directly to clients, including superannuitants, students and communities.
MSD helps New Zealanders by fulfilling a broad range of responsibilities and functions, including:
- providing income support and superannuation
- providing employment services and support
- designing and delivering community services with others
- allocating funding to community service providers
- administering Student Allowances and Student Loans
- providing public housing assistance and services
- being the primary provider of social policy advice to the Government
- hosting Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People
- monitoring three Crown entities and providing advice to the responsible Minister
- ensuring the legislation we administer is effective and fit for purpose
- working with other agencies and the wider social sector to support government priorities and improve the social outcomes of all New Zealanders
- responding to emergencies.
We are responsible to a number of Ministers including the:
- Minister and Associate Ministers for Social Development and Employment
- Minister and Associate Ministers of Housing
- Minister for Disability Issues
- Minister for Seniors
- Minister for Youth
- Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence.
MSD has a complex range of responsibilities. In addition to our core functions, MSD is responsible for a range of specialist business units and administrative relationships with other agencies, including those described in Figure 1.
What we do with our funding
Our budgeted spending is approved by Parliament following the Budget announcement each year. The annual Vote Social Development Estimates of Appropriations details the funding allocated, policy initiatives approved, Ministers’ spending intentions and how performance will be assessed. These may be amended in Vote Social Development Supplementary Estimates of Appropriations during the year.
MSD also receives funding from some government agencies to provide agreed corporate and accreditation services. Full details of spending in 2022/23 can be found in the Financial statements section commencing on page 138.
Figure 1: MSD’s functions and administrative relationships
Business units within MSD with unique functions
- Office for Seniors
- Ministry of Youth Development
- Historic Claims
- Te Kāhui Kāhu - provides social services accreditation to a number of agencies
- Independent Children's Monitor - until 30 April 2023.
Administrative relationships MSD has with other agencies
- Providing advice on appointments to a board, as well as two statutory tribunals:
- South Auckland Social Wellbeing Board
- Social Security Appeal Authority
- Social Workers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal.
- Monitoring three Crown entities and providing advice to the responsible Minister
- Office of the Children's Commissioner
- Peke Waihanga (New Zealand Artificial Limb Service)
- Social Workers Registration Board.
- Providing an agreed range of services to other agencies. For example, finance, IT, HR, actuarial, information management and privacy.
- Social Wellbeing Agency
- Office of the Children's Commissioner
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
- Oranga Tamariki.
- Hosting Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People. Whaikaha is a departmental agency hosted by MSD. As part of this arrangement MSD provides corporate services to Whaikaha.
