Welfare
Has the government walked the walk on welfare
According to its own welfare advisory group, the government isn't doing enough to help lift people out of poverty - despite the claims of social development minister Carmel Sepuloni. Audio
Advocates says benefits need to increase to stop the debt cycle
Lifewise CEO says beneficiaries need more money help get them out of their cycle of debt. Audio
Benefit levels need to rise to relieve cycle of debt - advocates
The government is being told it should be more willing to write off debts run up by beneficiaries to pay for basic living costs such as school uniforms, power bills and car repairs.
Orphan stuck in Syrian refugee camp could be a New Zealander
It's claimed a three-and-a-half-year-old orphan stuck in a Syrian refugee camp is the child of a deceased New Zealand citizen. Nine to Noon has been told the toddler, who's parents had been living in… Audio
Australian government plans to drug test beneficiaries
Australia correspondent Annika Smethurst looks at plans to trial the drug testing of welfare recipients, starting with those on the Newstart and Youth Allowance. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says… Audio
MSD’s relationship definition needs to change – new report
A new report by academics and advocates say the way relationship status is defined by the Ministry of Social Development is unclear and outdated. It's calling for immediate changes, saying the rules… Audio
Can a computer model accurately identify kids at risk of abuse?
Kathryn speaks with Stanford University Associate Professor of Medicine, Jeremy Goldhaber-Fiebert, who has evaluated the effectiveness of a predictive risk assessment tool developed by a New Zealand… Audio
Immediate action being called on for elite athlete welfare
A wide-ranging report into elite athlete welfare in New Zealand says immediate action is needed to prevent the issue reaching a crisis point. The report, commissioned by government agency Sport New… Audio
Weapons or soldiers? Do animals deserve protection in war?
Currently there are no regulations protecting the way the likes of military dogs and horses should be treated when they're used in action or once they return. The question of military animals' status… Audio, Gallery
Children's commissioner wants more Maori perspective
Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft joins the panel to explain why he thinks the care and protection system needs greater emphasis on Maori perspectives, given the large number of Maori in… Audio
Outgoing chief social worker Paul Nixon
Just over six thousand children and young people are in the care of the state under the Ministry for Children or Oranga Tamariki. It's the latest name for the government agency with legal powers to… Audio
Te Ikaroa-Rāwhiti: the Te Wero debate
Candidates for the Maori seat of Te Ikaroa-Rawhiti debate welfare, health funding, the Ture Whenua bill, Treaty Settlements and boot camps during the run-up to the General Election. Audio
UBI answer to broken system - economist
The time has come for a universal basic income, says British economist Guy Standing. Audio
Mounting challenges for resthomes
The challenges facing resthomes, and why some have an uncertain future. Kathryn Ryan talks to Esther Perriam from Eldernet - which is a leading information provider about services relating to older… Audio
Te Tai Hauāuru: the Te Wero debate
Candidates for the Māori seat of Te Tai Hauāuru debate water rights, seabed mining, homelessness, economic policies, welfare and Treaty settlements. Audio
Three-month WOF for Oranga Tamariki
The new standalone ministry, which incorporates Child, Youth and Family, some MSD and Community Investment functions and other services came to being in April. How close is it to achieving any of its… Audio
Jenny Shipley launches another attack on middle class
Former Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley says the nation needs to have a better discussion about who needs access to the most state support, as Demelza Leslie reports. Audio
The New Zealand Project - confronting the country's challenges
Kathryn Ryan talks to young New Zealander and Rhodes Scholar, Max Harris on the New Zealand Project. It is a vision for confronting the country's challenges.The New Zealand Project, is also the title… Audio
Elizabeth Stanley - The Road to Hell
Between the 1950s and 1980s, more than 100,000 children were taken from their parents and put into state institutions, and in recent months RNZ has extensively covered revelations of historical abuse… Audio
Immigration rule changed based on incomplete info
The government decided to shut the door to immigrant's parents without the Immigration Minister seeing a report showing under 2 percent were taking up welfare support.
