Latest news with #SocialInvestment
RNZ News
06-08-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Children the priority in first round of Social Investment Fund
Photo: Supplied The Social Investment Agency has revealed that its initial round of funding will focus on children of families with complex needs. To qualify for funding, organisations will need to be working with children whose parents are, or have been, in prison, or working with children whose parents experienced the care system. It also covers children that were stood down or suspended from school when they were 12 or younger. The secretary for Social Investment, Andrew Coster, says children who have had these experiences are more likely to experience poor outcomes and require significant social support throughout their lives.
RNZ News
06-08-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
First portion of social investment funding to prioritise children
Photo: RNZ The Social Investment Agency will prioritise social services working with children of families with complex needs for its first round of funding. In May, the government announced the $190 million Social Investment Fund , as part of this year's Budget. Former police commissioner Andrew Coster heads the agency. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The fund is governed by the Social Investment Agency, led by former police commissioner Andrew Coster. Applications for the first round of funding will open on 25 August. To qualify, organisations need to be working with one, or more of, the following: "We know children who have had these experiences are more likely to experience poor outcomes and require significant social support throughout their lives," Coster said. Three initiatives have already been supported by the fund, including an Autism NZ early screening and intervention scheme, an Emerge Aotearoa youth offending programme, and a Te Tihi o Ruahine wraparound support initiative for families in need. The fund is expected to invest in at least 20 initiatives in its first year.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Budget 2025: Nicola Willis announces $190m 'Social Investment Fund'
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has unveiled a new $190m Social Investment Fund designed to transform the way the social services are delivered to vulnerable New Zealanders. It forms the centrepiece of a $275m commitment over four years to the government's social investment approach, with more details expected in next week's Budget. Speaking in South Auckland on Thursday morning, Willis said the funding would target deeply entrenched issues by investing in services that deliver "measurable improvements" in people's lives. The fund would be governed by the new Social Investment Agency and was expected to invest in at least 20 initiatives in its first year. The first three initiatives to receive support from the fund were an Autism NZ early intervention scheme, an Emerge Aotearoa youth offending programme, and a Te Tihi o Ruahine progamme supporting families in need. Nicola Willis. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone As well, the Social Investment Agency was allocated $45 million for parenting initiatives and state care prevention programmes. Willis said each investment would have robust evaluation built in from the beginning, so the government could track the fund's impact. "We're not talking about waving a magic wand, applying a quick fix or simply servicing misery," Willis said. "This is about investing in smart, targeted early interventions that not only make a difference in the lives of... whānau, but mean the Government reduces the money it might otherwise have spent on treating the symptoms rather than the cause of dysfunction." Willis said the fund would scale up over time, taking over contracts currently secured by government agencies. The government currently spends about $7b a year on social services from non-government agencies. "The Social Investment Fund is a rejection of the failed approaches of the past. It's being set up as a totally new way of working with you," Willis said. "I see it as a force for enduring change that will survive changes of government." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Big changes foreshadowed for social service funding
Former police commissioner Andrew Coster started as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency this week. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The head of the Social Investment Agency - on the big changes ahead for funding of social services provided by NGOs for some of the most vulnerable. Yesterday the Minister for Social Investment Nicola Willis announced a new $190 million Social Investment Fund designed to transform the way the social services are delivered to vulnerable New Zealanders. She says it is starting small, but over time, more of the government's 7 billion dollars of contacts with NGOs would come under the auspices of the agency. The announcement came on the same day as a scathing report by the Auditor General found that Oranga Tamariki didn't look at the impacton children and families when it made abrupt cuts to social service contracts last year. Andrew Coster, former Police Commissioner, is the Chief Executive of the Social Investment Agency and will oversee the new fund.
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Nicola Willis announces $190m 'Social Investment Fund'
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has unveiled a new $190m Social Investment Fund designed to transform the way the social services are delivered to vulnerable New Zealanders. It forms the centrepiece of a $275m commitment over four years to the government's social investment approach, with more details expected in next week's Budget. Speaking in South Auckland on Thursday morning, Willis said the funding would target deeply entrenched issues by investing in services that deliver "measurable improvements" in people's lives. The fund would be governed by the new Social Investment Agency and was expected to invest in at least 20 initiatives in its first year. The first three initiatives to receive support from the fund were an Autism NZ early intervention scheme, an Emerge Aotearoa youth offending programme, and a Te Tihi o Ruahine progamme supporting families in need. Nicola Willis, Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone As well, the Social Investment Agency was allocated $45 million for parenting initiatives and state care prevention programmes. Willis said each investment would have robust evaluation built in from the beginning, so the government could track the fund's impact. "We're not talking about waving a magic wand, applying a quick fix or simply servicing misery," Willis said. "This is about investing in smart, targeted early interventions that not only make a difference in the lives of... whānau, but mean the Government reduces the money it might otherwise have spent on treating the symptoms rather than the cause of dysfunction." Willis said the fund would scale up over time, taking over contracts currently secured by government agencies. The government currently spends about $7b a year on social services from non-government agencies. "The Social Investment Fund is a rejection of the failed approaches of the past. It's being set up as a totally new way of working with you," Willis said. "I see it as a force for enduring change that will survive changes of government." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
