Social Development And Employment 

Symbolic start for new youth justice residence in Rotorua

12.09.2008

Tomorrow a soil turning ceremony will mark the next step towards a new youth justice residence in Rotorua, and allow civil construction work to begin next month.

The youth justice residence is a much needed facility that will provide accommodation for up to 40 young people and employ approximately 80 full time staff.  Building begins early next year, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.  

"Many of the young people will...  more +

John Key dances with the truth

12.09.2008

"The Families Commission story continues with John Key yet again rewriting his script," said Ruth Dyson Minister for Social Development.

First, John Key indicated that National would ditch the Families Commission, then he suggested he would rebalance the commission. 

Now he says "they are likely to be merged together" meaning that National would fold the Office of the Children's Commissioner into the Families Commissio...  more +

Children central to Labour Policy

10.09.2008

"Every child Counts" endorsement of the direction taken by the Labour-led government

"The release of the top ten policy priorities for children by 'Every Child Counts' is a timely reminder of the importance of  more +

Our kids, our responsibility, our future

11.09.2008

Speech Notes for address to Every Child Counts annual conference.

Every Child Counts conference details. (Every Child Counts is an advocacy coalition formed by Barnardos, Plunket, UNICEF, Save the Children, and the Institute of Public Policy at AUT.)
...  more +