SOI 2022 cover

Tō mātou taiao mahi Our operating environment

Global issues such as climate change and COVID-19, and domestic issues such as child wellbeing, health and access to affordable housing, continue to present significant long-standing challenges for New Zealand.

We regularly assess how our operating environment is changing to identify trends, risks and opportunities. In the next four years, the external factors outlined below are those we expect will have the biggest influence on our operating environment. 

Ka hoahoatia tō tātou horopaki e ngā whakaarotau rāngai pāpori a te Kāwanatanga

Government social sector priorities shape our context

MSD has a key role in delivering on Government social sector priorities including:

  • keeping New Zealanders safe from COVID-19 by co-ordinating the welfare side of Care in the Community under the COVID-19 Protection Framework
  • supporting people to prepare for, secure and sustain employment
  • lifting children out of poverty
  • reducing debt to government
  • laying the foundations for the future including the welfare overhaul work programme. 

In addition, MSD is delivering on cross-government strategies and action plans to improve outcomes for Māori, Pacific peoples, seniors, youth, disabled people, carers, women, families and whānau. For example, Te Aorerekura National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence [1] and Te Mahere Whai Mahi Māori – the Māori Employment Action Plan [2]. We are also leading work on social sector commissioning, strengthening social cohesion and supporting a more joined-up public service in the regions. 

We are responding to the Government’s expectations around strengthening the Māori Crown relationship, delivering to the All-of-Government Strategy for a Digital Public Service – Rautaki mō tētahi Rāngai Kāwanatanga Matihiko, implementing the new Public Service Act within MSD and improving diversity and inclusion in our workplace.

He waiwai te mahi ā-rangapū ki te tuku i ngā whakaarotau o te rāngai pāpori

Working in partnership is essential to delivering on social sector priorities

Supporting people through challenging and complex situations often requires more than one agency or organisation including non-government organisations, hapū, iwi, business and community groups, whānau and families. As we have seen through our COVID-19 response, taking a more active, flexible and equity-focused approach to partnering acknowledges the fact that we are all stronger and more effective when we work together. 

We have adapted, and continue to adapt, the way we provide services to partner with those closest to the communities they serve. Acknowledging the work that local communities do to impact our outcomes, we will continue to expand a locally-led, regionally-enabled, and nationally-supported approach to providing services. 

E haukurua ana te matea ki te pūnaha tokoora e te huringa o te taupori, te pāpori me te taiao whānui o Aotearoa

New Zealand’s changing population, society and broader environment is driving greater demand on the welfare system

New Zealand’s landscape is changing. The population is ageing and becoming more ethnically diverse. Increasingly, our clients have multiple needs and expect to interact with us in different ways. Technological advancement is fundamentally shifting the way people and businesses operate. We are consistently called to lead Government response to crisis events such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks and pandemic events. We must respond to all of these challenges while continuing to fulfil our existing responsibilities. We are transforming our organisation so we can better respond to these demand drivers.

E piki haere ana te matea ki ngā whare ngāwari te utu puta noa i Aotearoa

Demand for affordable housing across New Zealand is growing

Every person should have access to a safe and healthy place to live. Demand for housing across New Zealand is growing and more people are experiencing a severe and immediate need. This demand is generated by a shortage of affordable housing which in turn is driving up house prices and rents. People on low incomes are the most affected by rising housing costs. We will continue to work with people who need housing and financial support and manage the Public Housing Register [3] of applicants for public housing.

E piki haere ana te pānga mai o te huringa āhuarangi

The impact of climate change is increasing

In December 2020, the Government launched its Carbon Neutral Government Programme (CNGP) alongside its declaration of a climate change emergency. We will be increasingly called to play a role in response to climate-related adverse and crisis events in New Zealand and in other parts of the Pacific – particularly around displacement, housing, employment opportunities in New Zealand, food security and social payments.

We are committed to reducing our emissions and introducing more sustainable practices to support the CNGP and contribute to better outcomes for people, whānau and New Zealand. We are also focused on supporting long-term social and economic development through an equitable transition to a lower-emissions New Zealand. We have a substantial number of programmes underway which will form the foundations for the welfare response to climate change. Our Chief Executive is also a co-lead for the Equitable Transition principle in the Emissions Reduction Plan.

Footnotes:

  1. National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence | Violence Free NZ www.tepunaaonui.govt.nz
  2. Employment Strategy | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment www.mbie.govt.nz
  3. The Public Housing Register is comprised of applicants who have been assessed as eligible for public housing and are waiting for placement.

Keep reading:

SOI 2022 cover
Print this page.