Electorate News 

Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard announced local figures today.* There are now 1290 local people receiving Unemployment Benefit, down from 1903 in March last year, and dramatically down from 10,811 in December 1999.

"Over the last eight years, people across Central Auckland have been moving from unemployment into paid work. This has had a profoundly positive impact on these people’s lives," says Judith Tizard.

"We're following a nationwide trend; last week, the Prime Minister announced that New Zealand's Unemployment Benefit numbers had dropped below the 20,000 mark – the lowest numbers of unemployed people since 1979.

Judith Tizard says Work and Income has a new approach recognising that most people want to work and can with the right support, such as education, training and work preparation. Work and income also helps disabled New Zealanders and those with ill-health to plan for work.

Work and Income's 'Working New Zealand' changes have led directly to reductions in the number of long term and young people unemployed – as well as putting downward pressure on sickness benefit numbers.

Working for Families is also making it easier for 370,000 households across the country to work and raise a family. So when people with children come off a benefit and into work, they can take advantage of extra incentive to stay working. It's making real inroads into the number of sole parents on the DPB, with 4207 now, compared to 4848 in December 1999.

The statistics for Central Auckland*:

Benefit                   Dec 99   Mar 07  Mar 08  Diff 99-08
Unemployment          10811   1903    1290     -9521
Domestic Purposes      4848    4298    4207      -641
Sickness                     2790   4206    4046      1256
Invalid's                     3278   4196    4519      1241

* Source: Ministry of Social Development. Local statistics to the end of March 2008, reported by MSD's Auckland City and Queen Street, Avondale, Mt Albert, Mt Eden, Onehunga, Pt Chevalier, Ponsonby/Grey Lynn, Three Kings, Waiheke Island service centres.

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