Ministry of Social Development

Working at the Ministry of Social Development

Helping people, whānau, families and communities is at the heart of what we do at MSD. Our mahi has a positive influence on the wellbeing of New Zealanders today and into the future. From the services we deliver to the policy advice we give, we strive to keep improving so we can help each generation of New Zealanders build the capabilities they need to make a beneficial contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand.

We help people connect with the support they need in all sorts of ways. We do this with integrity and manaaki, driven by our purpose to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.

More than a million people contact us each year. Some require financial support to alleviate hardship while others seek services to help re-enter the workforce. They may be a disabled person seeking temporary or permanent assistance to lead an independent life with dignity, a family dealing with violence, a person needing a safe, warm and dry home, a student seeking support, a parent needing help with the costs of childcare, or an older New Zealander applying for superannuation.

Our work is not done alone. We partner with many different agencies, organisations and community groups who have the right connections and expertise to make a lasting difference in people’s lives.

We are committed to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, working alongside Māori to understand how best to support them towards achieving their aspirations. Woven into the fabric of support are Manaaki, Whānau, Mahi tahi and Tika me to pono – the four values that guide everything we do. Our four values are an expression of who we are and what we stand for.

By working together, we can make a positive change for New Zealand.

Our Strategic Direction:

Te Pae Tawhiti – Our Future

As an organisation we want to be trusted and proactive, connecting clients to all the support and services that are right for them, and improving the social and economic wellbeing of New Zealanders.

Ko te pae tawhiti Seek out the distant horizons

Whāia kia tata While cherishing

Ko te pae tata Those achievements

Whakamaua kia tina. At hand.

At hand.This whakataukī lifts our view to a new horizon but keeps us focused on the changes that we need to make today. It recognises the skills and knowledge that we have gained over time and how we use that as a platform for the pathway forward.

Te Pae Tawhiti presents our strategic direction describing the three shifts we are making across our organisation, in all our work, to achieve our outcomes for New Zealanders.

Te Pae Tawhiti is supported by our Māori strategy, Te Pae Tata and our Pacific strategy, Pacific Prosperity13 which embrace the three shifts and describe how they will be realised for Māori and Pacific people.

Our key shifts – how we achieve our outcomes

Mana manaaki

A positive experience every time

We will look after the dignity of people with warmth, listening, respect, compassion, openness and fairness, helping people, whānau, families and communities

Kotahitanga

Partnering for greater impact
We are stronger when we work together with whānau, families, hapū, iwi, providers, communities and other government agencies

Kia takatū tātou

Supporting long-term social and economic development

We will prepare ourselves for the future and take a long-term approach to community, regional and economic development. To improve employment outcomes, we will support people to acquire skills for current and future job markets

Check out our job and careers page for the latest roles or contact one of us.