Regional Commissioner's foreword

Welcome to the Ministry of Social Development's Bay of Plenty Regional Plan for 2009/2010. This plan highlights some of the initiatives we will focus on in the forthcoming year.

In the current economic situation we need to focus on employment and upskilling opportunities. We will support our industries to retain staff wherever possible. We will work to identify skill shortages affecting industries, and in conjunction with those industries, to help our jobseekers access training to build those skills. And we will help our local jobseekers identify and get employment wherever possible.

We appreciate that some individuals and families have complicated, interconnected problems which require higher levels of co-ordinated, multiagency contact and support. Within this plan you will read about the expansion of Child, Youth and Family's Differential Response, and Work and Income's 'Work First' focus. All of these measures improve our ability to co-ordinate multiple government and non-government agencies so we can address the issues facing our high-needs families and clients.

For the Ministry of Social Development, the Bay of Plenty Region extends into parts of the Taupo and South Waikato Districts. We value the many great partnerships we have across those territorial authorities and the positive relationships with community, and non-government organisations, iwi and hapū. Together we can do so much more for our people than any of us can accomplish alone.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the many Ministry staff who do a great job everyday. Together we are making a real difference, and though the economic situation will make the coming year difficult, I'm sure that with the support of our partners we will continue to make a substantial difference in the lives of our people and our communities.

Mike Bryant
Regional Commissioner
for Social Development