Latest news with #HePiringaWhare
The Spinoff
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Spinoff
Government unveils $190m social investment fund with focus on early intervention
Nicola Willis is betting on a 'top of the cliff' model of social services, backed by data and led by former a former police commissioner, writes Catherine McGregor in today's extract from The Bulletin. Social investment funding prioritises early support Finance minister Nicola Willis has announced a $190 million social investment fund to support 'services that deliver measurable improvements in the lives of those who need our help, guided by data and evidence'. The fund is part of a wider $275 million allocation to the newly empowered Social Investment Agency, and was unveiled in a pre-budget speech yesterday, The Post's Luke Malpass reports (paywalled). Three projects will receive initial funding: an Autism New Zealand programme providing early support to 50 families; an expansion of Emerge Aotearoa's work with at-risk youth; and He Piringa Whare, a data-informed programme to support at-risk Māori. Additional investments will focus on parenting in the early years and preventing children from entering state care, part of the Crown's response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care. A renamed agency with renewed purpose The announcement builds on changes made last year, when the Social Wellbeing Agency was rebranded as the Social Investment Agency and repositioned as a central government agency with system-wide oversight, explains RNZ's Russell Palmer in his comprehensive explainer on the past and present of social investment in NZ. Early moves such as reprioritising Oranga Tamariki contracts and overhauling Whānau Ora commissioning have caused some friction – not least with John Tamihere, who has taken the government to court over his agency's lost contracts. From policing to public services The agency's CEO is Andrew Coster, whose time as police commissioner was marked by both controversy and reform. Criticised early on by National and Act for being 'soft on crime', he was labelled 'cuddles Coster' by his critics, while former National leader Simon Bridges accused him of being a 'wokester'. The government has since largely changed its tune, with the PM saying Coster had 'delivered bigtime', reports Palmer. Now, Coster is excited to work at the 'top of the cliff', he tells Newsroom's Laura Walters, and to change a system that is hampered by fragmented funding and an excessive focus on compliance. He believes 'the culture of adding on services, rather than assessing the effectiveness of current services, has led to more money being spent but not always better outcomes being achieved', Walters writes. Says Coster: 'We want to know whether [a service] made a difference, not just that it was delivered.' A policy redux Social investment has long been associated with former prime minister Bill English, who promoted the idea of using data to intervene early and reduce the long-term fiscal burden of entrenched disadvantage. His approach was data-driven to the extreme, writes Eileen Joy in the Conversation, including commissioning an actuary firm to calculate the lifetime welfare cost to the state of people on benefits and which type of beneficiary 'is going to cost us the most money'. While English's model was praised for its logic, it gave no consideration 'to structural factors such as colonisation and poverty', writes Joy, and ultimately delivered few tangible results before being sidelined by the Labour government in 2017. Willis, once a staffer for English, has picked up the baton with a broader framing – emphasising both social and financial returns and apparently seeking to avoid English's ideological rigidity. Joy says she remains sceptical. 'Given the government's drive to remove any special policy considerations based on … the Treaty of Waitangi, the risk remains that some Māori will again come to be viewed as a 'cost' to the state.'
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Community Housing Aotearoa Says Unlocking Housing Affordability Is A Key To Reducing Homelessness
Press Release – Community Housing Aotearoa Unlocking affordability is a key to providing secure, affordable, long-term rental homes that support people to thrive. It is also a necessary step towards reducing the number of people and children in emergency housing and addressing New Zealands … 'Focussing on community and tenant outcomes is key to ensuring government investment improves lives so we are heartened to hear Hon. Nicola Willis announce the new $190 million Social Investment Fund to support people in need.' said Paul Gilberd, Chief Executive, Community Housing Aotearoa. 'We acknowledge the three groups included in today's announcement and the awhina, support and services they provide to their communities: He Piringa Whare and Te Tihi o Ruahine alliance, AUTISM New Zealand and Ka Puta Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa's Youth Services. We are also encouraged by the Minister of Finance's statement that she wants to see less people in Emergency housing as a key measure of a desired outcome. We believe this can be achieved by providing access to more affordable, adequate rental housing. Unlocking affordability is a key to providing secure, affordable, long-term rental homes that support people to thrive. It is also a necessary step towards reducing the number of people and children in emergency housing and addressing New Zealand's high and rising levels of homelessness. Community housing providers already offer a range of affordable housing options to match community needs. As a sector, we focus on achieving long-term, sustainable outcomes for residents and communities. As such, we're more than a landlord. We have a duty to ensure our homes are managed and protected for the long-term and wider social good and achieve our vision of ensuring all New Zealanders well-housed for generations to come.' About Community Housing Aotearoa Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) is a peak body for the community housing sector. To achieve our vision of 'all New Zealanders well-housed', we have a strategic focus on supporting a responsive housing system underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Right to a Decent Home. Our member organisations provide homes for nearly 30,000 people nationally across 26,000 homes, and our partner members include developers, consultants and local councils. Community Housing Organisations are primarily not for dividend entities that develop, own and/or manage social and affordable housing stock, with a variety of tenure offerings. CHA is a proud Tangata Tiriti organisation and works closely with national Māori housing advocate Te Matapihi, which also represents iwi-based and Māori community housing organisations. We believe all New Zealanders have the right to a decent home. A home that is affordable, secure, habitable, is near schools, transport and services and is culturally adequate.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Community Housing Aotearoa Says Unlocking Housing Affordability Is A Key To Reducing Homelessness
'Focussing on community and tenant outcomes is key to ensuring government investment improves lives so we are heartened to hear Hon. Nicola Willis announce the new $190 million Social Investment Fund to support people in need.' said Paul Gilberd, Chief Executive, Community Housing Aotearoa. 'We acknowledge the three groups included in today's announcement and the awhina, support and services they provide to their communities: He Piringa Whare and Te Tihi o Ruahine alliance, AUTISM New Zealand and Ka Puta Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa's Youth Services. We are also encouraged by the Minister of Finance's statement that she wants to see less people in Emergency housing as a key measure of a desired outcome. We believe this can be achieved by providing access to more affordable, adequate rental housing. Unlocking affordability is a key to providing secure, affordable, long-term rental homes that support people to thrive. It is also a necessary step towards reducing the number of people and children in emergency housing and addressing New Zealand's high and rising levels of homelessness. Community housing providers already offer a range of affordable housing options to match community needs. As a sector, we focus on achieving long-term, sustainable outcomes for residents and communities. As such, we're more than a landlord. We have a duty to ensure our homes are managed and protected for the long-term and wider social good and achieve our vision of ensuring all New Zealanders well-housed for generations to come.' About Community Housing Aotearoa Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) is a peak body for the community housing sector. To achieve our vision of 'all New Zealanders well-housed', we have a strategic focus on supporting a responsive housing system underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Right to a Decent Home. Our member organisations provide homes for nearly 30,000 people nationally across 26,000 homes, and our partner members include developers, consultants and local councils. Community Housing Organisations are primarily not for dividend entities that develop, own and/or manage social and affordable housing stock, with a variety of tenure offerings. CHA is a proud Tangata Tiriti organisation and works closely with national Māori housing advocate Te Matapihi, which also represents iwi-based and Māori community housing organisations. We believe all New Zealanders have the right to a decent home. A home that is affordable, secure, habitable, is near schools, transport and services and is culturally adequate. Community Housing Aotearoa Nga Wharerau o Aotearoa Community Housing Aotearoa is the peak body for New Zealand's community housing sector. Our 110 members build and manage affordable and social housing. Our Vision is to make sure every New Zealander is well-housed in a warm, safe, dry and affordable home. This is a basic human right. We work to support the growth and development of community housing providers to enable them to provide affordable and social housing. We want to demonstrate that community housing is a critical element alongside private and government owned housing. No one can do it alone. Community Housing Aotearoa aims to: be the voice of the community housing sector build capacity and foster collaboration promote best practice in housing policy champion quality and excellence.
