The Public Service social sector helps to build strong, healthy families and communities and achieve better futures for New Zealanders.

Tā te rāngai pāpori mahiWhat the social sector does

The social sector works together to support and improve the wellbeing of people and communities living in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Ministry of Social Development works closely with other government organisations, non-governmental organisations, advisory and industry groups, and communities and iwi to build strong, healthy families and communities. It also provides employment, income support and superannuation services, student allowances and loans, and public housing assistance.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is responsible for funding and managing the housing and urban development system in New Zealand, while Kāinga Ora manages New Zealand’s public housing, and also acts as landlord for these properties. The Social Wellbeing Agency creates tools and practices to target gaps in the social sector’s knowledge, and partners with the social sector to improve how it operates.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is committed to reducing child poverty and improving the wellbeing of all children and young people, while Oranga Tamariki works with families and children to support their needs. The Social Workers Registration Board is the regulatory authority responsible for the registration of social workers.

The Ministry of Health provides a range of support, information, and health services that enable people in Aotearoa New Zealand to live healthy lives, while the Ministry of Education works with parents, Pacific Peoples, iwi advisors and community groups to encourage greater participation in education.

The Ministry of Justice provides legal help through the Public Defence Service, administers the Legal Aid system, which pays for legal help for people who can’t afford a lawyer, and works with others to reduce crime and reoffending. The New Zealand Police works to maintain public safety and prevent crime, while the Family Violence and Sexual Violence Executive Board provides ministers with advice that takes a system-wide perspective towards ending family violence and sexual violence.

Inland Revenue contributes to social wellbeing by collecting and distributing money. As well as collecting taxes which support society’s infrastructure, Inland Revenue administers a range of social policy programmes such as student loans and child support obligations and makes payments for Working for Families, parental leave and Best Start.

New Zealand’s social sector provides support and services for everyone in New Zealand, particularly those who are vulnerable.

Ngā kaimahi o te rāngai pāporiWho works in the social sector

The social sector employs a wide variety of people, including:

  • social workers and lawyers
  • police officers, detectives and security personnel
  • policy advisors and managers
  • judges, barristers, parole officers and registry officers.

Ngā painga o te rāngai pāpori mō AotearoaHow the social sector benefits New Zealand

The benefits of our social sector are wide-ranging and enable people in Aotearoa New Zealand to live full, meaningful lives. By working together, the sector aims to help those who are struggling and provide them with the support they need to be able to look after themselves and their families. This includes supporting children and young people, as well as their families, and ensures New Zealanders can get an education, find employment and housing and feel safe.

Ngā whakahaere rāngai pāporiSocial sector organisations

These are the main Public Service organisations that support Aotearoa New Zealand’s social sector.

  • Family Violence and Sexual Violence Executive Board

    The Family Violence and Sexual Violence Executive Board takes a collaborative approach to the complex issues of family violence and sexual violence, that brings together government organisations, tangata whenua and communities. It focuses on aligning the strategy, policy and budgeting functions across relevant organisations so it can provide advice that takes a system-wide perspective towards the vision of ending family violence and sexual violence.

    Sectors

    Social

    Website

    violencefree.govt.nz

  • Te Tari Taake | Inland Revenue Department

    Inland Revenue helps improve New Zealanders’ economic and social wellbeing by collecting taxes that support our society’s infrastructure. It works to make it faster and easier for people to pay their taxes and receive their entitlements. Inland Revenue collects and disburses social support programme payments and provides the Public Service with policy advice.

    Sectors

    Business

    Social

    Leader

    Peter Mersi, Kaikōmihana o Te Tari Taake | Commissioner of Inland Revenue

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

     

    Website

    ird.govt.nz

  • Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities

    Kāinga Ora is a Crown Agent that brings together the people, capabilities, and resources of the KiwiBuilt Unit, Housing New Zealand and its subsidiary HLC. This achieves a more joined-up approach to housing and urban development. Kāinga Ora manages public housing and acts as landlord for these properties. It partners with local government, Māori and community groups on urban development and reducing homelessness.

    Sectors

    Housing

    Social

    Chair

    Hon Vui Mark Gosche, Chair

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    kaingaora.govt.nz

  • Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education

    The Ministry of Education is the Public Service’s lead advisor on New Zealand's education system. It runs the country’s system of schools, kura and early childhood education. It shapes direction for education agencies and providers and its work ensures children in New Zealand can grow up with an education that sets them up for success in life.

    Sectors

    Education 

    Social

    Leader

    Iona Holsted, Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Mātauranga | Secretary for Education

    Current Public Service Leaders 

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    education.govt.nz

  • Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

    The Ministry of Health leads New Zealand’s health and disability system, in coordination with Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority. It provides a range of support, information, and health services that enable people in Aotearoa New Zealand to live healthy lives. It also funds, monitors and drives the performance improvements of other health sector entities.

    Sectors

    Border

    Health

    Social 

    Leader

    Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Hauora | Director-General of Health and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    health.govt.nz

  • Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga | Ministry of Housing and Urban Development

    Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga - The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shapes the strategies and work programmes for housing and urban development in Aotearoa New Zealand. HUD is working to make significant, long-term change, while also helping individuals, whānau and communities with their immediate needs.

    Sectors

    Housing

    Social 

    Leader

    Andrew Crisp, Te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga | Secretary for Housing and Urban Development and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders 

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team 

    Website

    hud.govt.nz

  • Te Tāhū o te Ture | Ministry of Justice

    The Ministry of Justice is the lead organisation in the justice sector and on Māori Crown Relations for the Public Service. It administers the court and legal aid systems, and the Public Defence Service. Its staff deliver people-centred justice services that provide access to justice for everyone in New Zealand.

    Sectors

    Justice

    Social 

    Leader

    Andrew Kibblewhite, Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Ture | Secretary for Justice and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders 

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    justice.govt.nz

  • Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development

    The Ministry of Social Development (Office for Seniors) manages and delivers New Zealand’s welfare system. It works with other organisations, communities and iwi to build strong, healthy families and societies. It provides employment, income support and superannuation services that help people in New Zealand be safe, strong and independent. Its work also includes public housing assistance, funding for family and sexual violence prevention, funding for community service providers, social cohesion, resolving claims of historical abuse and managing student loans to help young people achieve their education goals.

    Sectors

    Housing

    Populations and communities

    Social

    Leader

    Debbie Power, Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Whakahiato Ora | Secretary for Social Development

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    msd.govt.nz

    odi.govt.nz

    officeforseniors.govt.nz

  • Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa | New Zealand Police

    New Zealand Police works with the community to make New Zealanders be and feel safe, providing policing services 24 hours a day. It operates across land, sea and air to prevent crimes and crashes. It invests in relationships with tangata whenua to jointly reduce offending and victimisation within Māori communities.

    Sectors

    Border 

    Emergency

    Justice

    National security

    Social

    Transport

    Leader

    Andrew Coster, Commissioner of Police

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    police.govt.nz

  • Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children

    Oranga Tamariki is dedicated to supporting any child in New Zealand whose wellbeing is at significant risk of harm now, or in the future. It works with young people who may have offended or are likely to offend. Its strategic partnerships involve helping tamariki and rangatahi Māori to thrive in the care and protection of their whānau, hapū and iwi.

    Sectors

    Justice

    Social 

    Leader

    Chappie Te Kani, Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Tamariki | Secretary for Children and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team 

    Website

    orangatamariki.govt.nz

  • Toi Hau Tāngata | Social Wellbeing Agency

    The Social Wellbeing Agency works on challenging social-sector problems to improve people’s lives. It focuses its efforts on where it can make the greatest impact to lead and shine a light on policy issues that affect the wellbeing of New Zealanders. It collaborates across the system advising on policy issues that fall between the gaps. Ultimately, the Social Wellbeing Agency wants its approaches to achieve sustainable improvements for the wellbeing of New Zealanders.

    Sectors

    Social

    Leader

    Renee Graham, Te Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Website

    swa.govt.nz

  • Kāhui Whakamana Tauwhiro | Social Workers Registration Board

    The Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) / Kāhui whakamana tauwhiro is a Crown agent established under the Social Workers Registration Act 2003. The SWRB is Aotearoa’s national social worker regulator and lead agency for social worker workforce planning. Our role is to protect the safety of members of the public by ensuring social workers are competent and safe to practise and are accountable for the way in which they practise. We also enhance social workers professional practice and provide insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the social worker workforce.

    Sectors

    Social

    Chair

    Shannon Pakura, Chair

    Website

    swrb.govt.nz

  • Te Tari o te Pirimia me te Komiti Matua | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Child Poverty and Wellbeing Unit)

    The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet provides impartial advice and support services to the Prime Minister, Cabinet, and the Governor-General. It ensures our ministers and Cabinet are supported by timely, well-informed advice. Its work helps our Public Service be more proactive and responsive to the people of New Zealand.

    Sectors

    Central agencies

    Emergency

    National security

    Social

    Leader

    Brook Barrington, Te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Tari o te Pirimia me te Komiti Matua | Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Development Board 

    Website

    dpmc.govt.nz

    dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/child-wellbeing-and-poverty-reduction-group