6. Question No. 6—Small BusinessTĀMATI COFFEY (Labour) to the Minister for Small BusinessQuestion No. 6—Small Business6. TĀMATI COFFEY (Labour) to the Minister for Small Business: Fakaalofa lahi atu. What announcements has he made to support mental health and wellbeing for small businesses?Hon STUART NASH (Minister for Small Business): Gum sa hum ni da eui jang nim. Last Friday I announced that the Government is extending its health and wellness business support package First Steps across the country after being launched in Auckland last year. First Steps offers preventative support for business owners managers and employees to reduce the number of those in crisis by providing a variety of tools resources and perspectives.Tāmati Coffey: Why is mental health and wellbeing support important to small businesses?Hon STUART NASH: We've heard from small-business owners and employees that operating throughout a pandemic has resulted in increased feelings of stress and isolation which has had significant negative health impacts on mental wellbeing. Our recovery not only relies on economic performance; equally important is the mental health and wellbeing of all Kiwis.Tāmati Coffey: How many people will be supported by expanding First Steps?Hon STUART NASH: There are around 546000 small businesses here in New Zealand and up to 1.2 million individuals who are owners or employees. Rolling out our First Steps package across the country will mean that they all get access to Government-funded mental health and wellbeing tools to support them as they recover from the pandemic.Tāmati Coffey: How many people have used the programme so far?Hon STUART NASH: Data indicates that over 70000 users have interacted with the First Steps platform with Auckland users downloading more than 75000 resources. Experience shows that people did not necessarily want to have one-on-one consultation but they did want to access resources that might help them.Tāmati Coffey: What feedback has he seen from the programme so far?Hon STUART NASH: One business owner in Auckland who used the programme said It has given me more insight into myself which is supportive of my ability to build my business in these challenging times." Another said First Steps "gave me the opportunity to destress and learn new skills". Finally I leave you with the final words of one of our First Steps users: "It's good to know that there are Government bodies supporting us through such a tough time."Hon Grant Robertson: Can the Minister confirm that the First Steps programme was jointly designed by the Employers and Manufacturers Association the Auckland chamber of commerce and the Government; and can he further confirm the role of Michael Barnett in that work?Hon STUART NASH: I can confirm that and I would like to thank Michael Barnett who will continue to have responsibility for rolling out this programme. I think that First Steps should not only be confined to a post-pandemic world to only deal with the pandemic; I think this should be one of the business support programmes that goes on in perpetuity because the mental health and wellbeing of our small owners and operators is very important to the health and wellbeing of our general community and our economy."