News

Benefit numbers down again in Eastern suburbs

Ross Robertson

19.04.2007

Unemployment Benefit numbers in Auckland's Eastern suburbs have fallen again to a new low.

Manukau East MP Ross Robertson, announcing the local figures today, says there are now 1119 local people* receiving Unemployment Benefit, down from 1556 at the end of March last year, and 4328 in December 1999.

“People across Auckland have been moving from dole payments to pay cheques," said Ross Robertson.

"We're following a nationwide trend; last week, the government announced that New Zealand's Unemployment Benefit numbers had fallen by 132,000 since December 1999 – down to less than 29,000 at the end of March 2007.

"Of course the economy has been humming along, but credit should also go to the dedicated team of Work and Income case managers who've been very active in moving people from benefits into work.

Ross Robertson says real inroads are also being made in the number of sole parents on the Domestic Purposes Benefit, with 2987 now, compared to 3089 in December 1999.

"The Government believes all New Zealanders should get the right support at the right time to take advantage of the employment opportunities currently on offer. For example, when people come off unemployment benefit and into work, if they have children the Government's Working for Families packages provides an extra incentive to stay working.

The local statistics* reveal remarkable progress:

Benefit Dec99 Mar06 Mar07 Diff99-07

Unemployment 4328 1556 1119 -3209

Domestic Purposes 3089 3109 2987 -102

Sickness 1118 1729 1869 751

Invalid's 1176 1569 1621 445

OTHER REGIONS +NORTHERN