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About us | Mō mātou
MSD is the lead agency for providing public employment services to New Zealanders, supporting people to prepare for, find and stay in work. We are also the lead agency for managing and delivering New Zealand’s welfare system, and delivering a range of other supports, including disability support services.
DSS was transferred to MSD in 2024 as part of the Government’s response to the Independent Review of Disability Support Services.
Helping New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent is at the centre of what we do.
We recognise the diverse needs of our clients and people we work with, including Māori, Pacific peoples, youth, seniors and disabled people, and prioritise those with the greatest need.
We develop and implement policy and measure the progress of social outcomes for New Zealanders.
As an agency of the Crown, we are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
Our work is not done alone. We work closely with many organisations and community groups who have the right connections and expertise to make a lasting difference in people’s lives. We also take a leadership role in co-ordinating actions across social sector agencies.
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. The vast majority of what we spend goes directly to clients and those providing services to them.
MSD helps New Zealanders by fulfilling a broad range of responsibilities and functions, including:
- providing employment services and support
- providing income support, including superannuation
- providing student allowances and student loans
- assessing eligibility for social housing (also known as public housing)
- designing, allocating funding to, and delivering community services with partners
- providing disability support services
- advising on child poverty reduction
- being the primary provider of social policy advice to the Government
- ensuring the legislation we administer is effective and fit for purpose
- working with other agencies and the wider social sector to deliver to the Government’s priorities and targets and improve the lives of all New Zealanders
- working with iwi and Māori to support the Crown’s obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi.
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.
Figure 1: MSD’s other distinctive functions and administrative relationships
Click for a larger image or show a text description of Figure 1 ▼
Our data and evidence systems
MSD has a well-advanced data analytics programme with depth and breadth in analytical capabilities, methodologies and tools. Our mature approach to data-driven decision making is seen throughout our strategy, policy and investment work, as well as informing day-to-day frontline operations. Our programme draws from a wide range of sources, including research and evaluation, actuarial approaches and modelling, administrative and operational data, and frontline intelligence. We are known as sector leaders in the use of the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is managed by Stats NZ.
An example is our Employment Assistance Evidence Catalogue, which has been developed and refined over recent years and includes effectiveness data from 1992. This is a world-leading impact evaluation, utilising the IDI and underpinned by evidence and evaluation. As well as being used by MSD to support employment investment decisions, the data is available publicly to support other decision makers and academic research. This rich body of evidence, along with other data, frontline intelligence and regional labour market analysis, informs our Employment Investment Strategy, which enables us to be targeted and efficient with available funding and improve outcomes for New Zealanders.
You can find our Employment Assistance Evidence Catalogue online:
Our Ministers
We are responsible to a number of Ministers, including the:
- Minister and Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
- Minister for Disability Issues
- Minister for Child Poverty Reduction
- Minister and Associate Minister of Housing
- Minister for Seniors
- Minister for Youth
- Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence
- Minister for Veterans
- Minister of Revenue.
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 the Vote Social Development Supplementary Estimates of Appropriations during the year.
In September 2024, DSS moved from Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People to MSD, with its associated funding remaining in Vote Social Development. From 1 July 2025, this DSS-related funding moved to the new Vote Disability Support Services. MSD is also responsible for administering this Vote, which we will report against in our Annual Report 2026.
MSD also receives funding from some government agencies to provide accreditation services through Te Kāhui Kāhu and agreed corporate services. Full details of spending in 2024/25 can be found in the financial statements, commencing on page 138.