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Helping young people and giving children the best possible start in life are two key aims of the 2008/09 Ministry of Social Development Auckland Regional Plan being launched today by Ruth Dyson, Minister for Social Development and Employment.
The regional plan is one of 11 being rolled out across New Zealand. The plans set out each region’s issues and development opportunities and how the Ministry is responding to these.
"The Ministry’s aim is to help New Zealanders live better lives and this year’s plan outlines five key priority areas for work in Auckland; giving children the best start in life, helping young people achieve their potential, enabling people to live independent lives, supporting families and whänau to be safe and resilient and strengthening communities," said Ms Dyson.
“A feature of the progress made with last year’s Regional Plan has been the expansion of the multi-agency Auckland Youth Support Network. The Youth Support Network initially began in Counties Manukau and has now been extended to the wider Auckland region. This work is so important in addressing the issue of youth gangs and improving outcomes for young people.
“A highlight of last year’s plan is that over the last five years the number of people aged between 18 and 64 years receiving the Unemployment Benefit in Auckland reduced from 31,554 in March 2003 to 5,879 in March 2008.
“Another highlight was the Early Years package, featuring the introduction of the Early Years Service Hubs, and includes Teenage Parent Co-ordinators and an extension to Family Start,” said Ms Dyson.
Visit www.msd.govt.nz for a copy of the Ministry of Social Development’s Auckland Regional Plan.
Hi Ruth,
Great to see you in Labour have policy, its just that I'm not convinved that Labour gives a toss about seeing it applied to the real world.
How can your goverment make the claim that you are giving young people and children the best possible start in life when the insolvency service has allowed my estate to be ripped off for $300k
I have a teenage son, he is a bright lad and wants to become an aviator, but his chances of doing that have been marginalised by the Ministry of Economic Development..
Would you care to comment on this infonews item?.
Insolvency Service Accused of Blackmail
In November 2004, the manager of the Insolvency Service, Mr Ross Van der Schyff wrote to a Wellington man whose assets were under the control of the Official Assignee and, demanded that the bankrupt sign a document seeking to ensure the unequivocal co-operation of the bankrupt with any decision made by the assignee.
Under New Zealand law blackmail is covered by s237 of the Crimes Act 1961. It is alleged that Mr van der Schyff threatened a particular course of action that would result in the bankrupt’s complete ruin if he refused to sign away his right to appeal decisions made by the Official Assignee. It is alleged that he took this action to gain for himself and the Insolvency Service an advantage in court proceedings with intent to cause loss to another by making unwarranted demands with menaces.
In this case the menace was a direct threat to cause "something bad" to happen to when certain demands were not met. Under New Zealand law, someone commits an act of blackmail who threatens, expressly or by implication, to cause serious damage to property or endanger the safety of any person with intent to obtain any benefit or to cause loss to any other person. Under the Act, benefit means any benefit, pecuniary advantage, privilege, property, service, or valuable consideration.
Mr van der Schyff stated in his letter that; “We require confirmation of your unequivocal commitment to assist the Assignee in the taking of the family protection claim and generally in terms of the administration of your bankrupt estate. That confirmation must be in writing and, received by the assignee no later than 10 Dec 2004”. “ In the end you have a simple choice . You either fully co-operate with the assignee (as you are required to ) or you don’t. If you do, there may be some hope of financial return to you. If you don’t there is little or no prospect of that.”
In effect, Mr van der Schyff has said that unless the bankrupt was prepared to forgo a statutory right to appeal his decisions and those of his trustees, the costs the Assignee would allow charged to the estate would amount to around $300,000 to recover a debt of $4000, which is what eventually occured. The New Zealand Police have received a complaint but have yet to formally advise whether or not they will act upon it.
http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=1&t=0&id=23642