Tā mātou mahi Our role
Te whanaketanga pāpori mā ngā tāngata katoa o Aotearoa Social development for all New Zealanders
He whakataukī
Unuhia te rito o te harakeke
If you remove the central shoot of the flaxbush
Kei hea te kōmako e kō?
Where will the bellbird find rest?
Whakatairangitia, rere ki uta, rere ki tai;
Will it fly inland, fly out to sea, or fly aimlessly;
Ui mai ki ahau,
If you were to ask me,
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
What is the most important thing in the world?
Māku e kī atu,
I will tell you,
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
It is people, it is people, it is people [1].
MSD works to contribute positively to the wellbeing of people today and into the future. Helping people, whānau, families and communities is at the centre of what we do. From the services we deliver to the policy advice we give, we strive to keep improving so we can help each generation of New Zealanders build the capabilities they need to contribute positively to society.
We help people in all sorts of ways. Whatever the situation, we will do our best to understand and connect people with all the support we can. We seek to do this with integrity and compassion, driven by our purpose to help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
More than a million people contact us each year. Some require financial support to alleviate poverty and hardship, while others seek services to help re-enter the workforce. They may be a disabled person seeking temporary or permanent assistance to lead an independent life with dignity, a family dealing with violence, a person needing a safe, warm and dry home, a student seeking support, a parent needing help with the costs of childcare, or an older New Zealander applying for superannuation.
As an agency of the Crown, we are committed to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner, 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 partner with many different agencies, organisations and community groups who have the right connections and expertise to make a lasting difference in people’s lives.
By working together, we can make a positive change for the people of New Zealand.
Footnote:
- We would like to acknowledge Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri Trust for their permission to use this whakataukī.
Keep reading:
- Next page: Tā mātou hōkaitanga - Our scope
- Previous page: Wāhanga 1 – Ko wai mātou, ā, he aha ngā mahi - Part 1 – Who we are and what we do
