Bay of Plenty Regional Plan 2006/2007

Foreword from the Regional Commissioner for Social Development

I am pleased to reflect on the upcoming year’s challenges for the Ministry of Social Development, and to share with you our goals for this coming year.

One of our major goals will be to smooth the process through which our clients access assistance from our various service arms. For most of our clients, their first point of contact is through the benefit support systems at Work and Income. It is my goal that a client coming to a Work and Income office to see a case manager will see more than a Work and Income employee; they will see a representative of the Ministry, able to advise on our entire spectrum of available services and help clients to access them.

In practice this means that a client who comes to us will not only be able to receive access to the benefit system and employment services, but referrals to agencies which address the whole scope of their social needs be it budget advice, housing or health assistance. This task will require us to formalise already existent practices, to develop new ones and to further develop an awareness of and linkages with external agencies. In doing so, I hope to foster a culture of helping; a culture where my staff assist our clients to achieve a positive outcome in addressing their needs, and a helpful step on the path to achieving social and economic independence.

Reflecting on economic development in the Bay of Plenty, it is obvious that the improvements in employment rates and conditions which have led to historically low unemployment rates have not been received equally in all communities. I intend that we will co-operate with local agencies to help foster social and economic development in communities where there is need. By doing so, I believe that we can foster opportunities for our most vulnerable clients to share our region’s economic and social benefits.

This is a year in which we will increase our involvement and co-operation with local government, other government agencies and community groups to achieve our joint goals of a better social and economic future for our people.

I wish to take the opportunity to personally thank my staff and the Ministry’s partners and stakeholders for their achievements and efforts over the past year and for their support in the coming one. As a region we have challenges. Working together we can turn them into opportunities to improve the lot of our people and their communities. I look forward to working with you to make this a reality.

Carl Crafar
Regional Commissioner for Social Development