Retaining this penalty, which in one form or another has always existed, is necessary. It is not essential to label all unemployed as lazy to realise that there will invariably be some content to live off the taxpayer. Yet while the system will change it will still have to confront several of the problems which bedevilled the previous government. Perceptions of the community wage were inevitably coloured by the poor reputation of Work and Income New Zealand. This would have tainted even the best- structured of employment initiatives.
Administrative changes are under way, but it takes time to inculcate a new bureaucratic culture.
For this reason alone, criticism that the new system will not take full effect until next July might be unfair. Mr Maharey will also be judged on broader economic factors beyond his immediate control. A valid complaint with the previous government's work for the dole scheme was that there were simply too few jobs. Mr Maharey's scheme also might be at the mercy of the success of his Cabinet colleagues responsible for finance and economic development. Many will be understandably sceptical about the latest reforms.