Carmel Sepuloni

The Government will pay up to $490 to people who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19 as part of a new relief payment announced today.

The payment will be given to New Zealanders who've lost… Audio

A new report on the nearly 40,000 people who signed on for the unemployment benefit during lockdown shows they're more likely to be first time beneficiaries, higher earners, recently returned from… Audio

In the first week of alert level 3 MPs have speedily passed a tax bill, started a performance review of the Government and heard views on prisoner voting. Audio

The Minister of Social Development is under growing pressure to do more to help migrant workers in desperate circumstances after losing their jobs due to Covid-19 lockdown and who are unable to access… Video, Audio

New Zealanders are struggling to put food on the table, with food banks experiencing unprecedented demands and thousands more people accessing the Ministry of Social Development's food and hardship… Audio

After much advocacy - the long awaited scrapping of the sanction docking the benefits of solo parents comes into effect today.

The sanction meant that solo parents who didn't name the other parent… Audio

Rogue businesses double dipping on wage subsidies has prompted the government to tweak the scheme and issue a stern warning: employers must pass on the subsidies in full to workers.

The scheme for… Audio

Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni speaks with Kathryn Ryan about the financial assistance available to people no longer able to work due to Covid-19 restrictions, and what help there is… Audio

A student from Auckland's Pacific community says more women should get into the building and construction sector. Audio

Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni is refusing to commit to increasing benefit levels, despite skyrocketing demand for hardship grants to help people pay for food and housing.

She talked to… Audio

The third reading debate of the End of Life Choice Bill made for a busy, emotional day at Parliament. For The House Phil Smith caught the action in photos. 

Most of the time MPs debate about the future but last week they looked back at the first women to enter Parliament and the Crown's invasion of Parihaka Audio

New Zealand's low unemployment rate hides the fact that over half the people on a benefit are disabled or have health conditions, or are caring for someone in that situation.  Audio

Keeping people in their rentals is the new focus to stop people from becoming homeless. Yesterday the government announced an $54 million to help prevent homelessness, of which $31 million will be… Audio

Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni concedes it's shocking to see beneficiaries queuing up in the cold and dark for food and clothing grants; but she says it doesn't have to be that way. She… Video, Audio