Wellington Regional Plan 2006/2007
Foreword from the Regional Commissioner for Social Development
Welcome to the inaugural Ministry of Social Development Wellington Regional Plan. The great work our people do across all areas of the Ministry is reflected in the pages of this document, as are our goals for the coming year. I am excited and privileged to be working with a cohesive, dedicated and passionate group of people.
You will notice that this plan differs greatly from those in the past. Where previously, our focus has been on Work and Income, we are now striving towards a more co-ordinated approach to social development in our community. This means all areas of the Ministry will be working together to offer our services to the community in a convenient and effective manner. By the time you have read this plan, you will understand how broad the range of our work is. Importantly, we all have common goals. We want to offer opportunities for those in our region to improve their standard of living, to inspire and motivate our young people, to honour our older people, to create nurturing and safe families and to build strong, thriving and supportive communities.
All this work, however, is not done in isolation. It is only through our strong partnerships within the community that our goals and expectations can be achieved. This year we will be striving to build on those existing relationships and work towards creating new ones.
Social development is a dedication to ensuring all New Zealanders are afforded equal opportunities and given a fair go. It means that in times of need, we are there to lend a helping hand. By working together, investing in our people and our future, we can head towards better health, education and employment outcomes for our community. To lead social development, we will be working closely with other areas of the public and private sectors. By understanding the range of issues that our communities face we can develop our services, programmes and initiatives to effectively respond to these.
Thank you to all the councils, agencies, providers, community groups and individuals that we have had the chance to work with over the last 12 months. I look forward to engaging with you all again, as we continue to drive the Wellington region forward in a positive direction. As you read through this plan, I hope you are inspired to think of new ways we can work together to achieve our common goals. To the staff of the Wellington region, the passion and dedication you display for your work impacts on the daily lives of those we serve. For your ongoing commitment, expertise and professionalism, I thank you.
Mike Bryant
Regional Commissioner for Social Development
