Christine Rankin: Former WINZ CEO on benefit numbers increasing overall despite the Govt getting 81 thousand people off

The former Work and Income boss says the Government getting 81 thousand people off the benefit is a big achievement, despite the overall number going up. 

Ministry of Social Development statistics show almost eight thousand more people were receiving a main benefit in June compared to March.  

It follows the coalition putting new requirements and sanctions in place for beneficiaries.  

Christine Rankin told Heather du Plessis Allan the increase is inevitable with the current economy, but the tougher conditions are the right move. 

She says until Louise Upston came along as Minister, there were no expectations for beneficiaries to do anything. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The number of kiwis on welfare is up. It's climbed
by six and a half percent in the last year,
which means over four hundred thousand people and now on
a benefit. In this country, it's about twelve percent of
the working age population. Christine Rankin is the former boss
of WINS and with us mourning Christine.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good morning Heather, Now Christine.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
This is obviously expected during an economic downturn, but still
a staggering number, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Look it is a huge number, but it's not the
first time it's happened. Many times in history that numbers
have been around this, and it is inevitable that it's
going to reflect what's going on in the economy. But
what you've got to give this government credit for, and
this minister in particular, for putting in the reforms that

(00:43):
are in that system. No government for decades has done
anything as courageous as this. And to get eighty one
thousand people back into work is a big deal. It's
a big deal for the people who were left to
rot on there with the last government, and it's a
big deal for the tax So while there are huge numbers,
they are I'm not sure if they're being cycled through,

(01:05):
but I suspect they're going into jobs and they're not
lasting very long for some of them, and they're going
back on benefit again. But I'm afraid that's part of
a process that is desperately needed and has been for years.
So the numbers are inevitable. I don't see how that,
with an economy as we have it at the moment,
it can be any other way.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah, I'm just on the doll which is the job
seeker support that's up ten percent in the year. That
must represent quite a lot of new people going on
the doll.

Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah, I would have thought so. And look, it will
affect young people more than anyone else. They're the hardest
ones to place. But the system they now have to
go through shows and actually, what if it needs to
be put into work and it's a damn god experience
for the rest of their lives.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
Look, I want to ask you what I'm fascinated by
what's going on in the UK with welfare at the moment,
in the welfare shakeup, and particularly the fact that it's
coming from a labor government. Is this just populism that
pops up from time to time. Where is this actually
developed world countries realizing that that welfare at the rates
that we paid is unsustainable.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
I believe it's the second part of that. This has
been ridiculous for a long time and people think it's
an entitlement. It is not. It's a right and welfare
in New Zealand is one of the most generous in
the world and we do need to take a big
look at it. Yes we've got social problems, but it
started out being there for people in desperate need. Now

(02:30):
it's there for everyone and anyone. And until this minister
came along, there were no expectations for you to do
anything at all but sit there for as long as
you like and do whatever you like.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
Good to talk to you, Christine always as Christine Rank
and former Wins boss. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast,
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