King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:654;Page:4221] 
4.  
Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: Does she stand by her reported comment “… we need to encourage a level of self-responsibility …”; if so why? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 I will give the context for that quote. The full quote is: “Looking after those people who need it most is important. We are only strong as a nation if we look after our most vulnerable. But we need to encourage a level of self responsibility looking after yourself but caring about others.” I stand by that comment. 
Hon Annette King 
: Did she consult the Minister of Maori Affairs before announcing the axing of the Enterprising Communities scheme which encourages a level of self- responsibility and which provides many services to Maori; if so what did he say? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: Yes we consulted fully on the changes in the Budget relating to the Ministry of Social Development. I am pleased to say that we are working on other initiatives that look to help Maori into employment. Some of those initiatives came through in the Budget and we will be pleased to announce more as we go further ahead. 
Hon Annette King 
: Why did she say: “The money that went into Enterprising Communities hasn’t delivered the employment outcomes hoped for.” in light of the success of the apprenticeship support scheme in Otorohanga which has seen unemployment of people under the age of 25 reduce to zero since 2006 and youth crime drop by 75 percent; the Te Whangai Trust which has trained long-term unemployed people with massive social problems with 20 of them getting jobs as a result; and the Greenways Trust which provides work for disabled people to name but some; or was she not aware of such programmes before she made her decision to axe them? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: To be clear on some of the ones that the member has raised I can say that certainly the Otorohanga scheme has been very successful and its funding continues; the funding has not been cut. It has 3-year funding—it has funding for next year—and I am pleased that it will be going ahead. Otorohanga currently has just 48 young people on the unemployment benefit. Te Whangai Trust is in the same situation; its funding has not been cut. It had a contract for $173000 last year has a contract for $96000 this year and has a contract for over $60000 for next year as well as the $142000 it gets in job subsidies. 
Hon Annette King 
: Does she agree with the Mayor of Otorohanga Dale Williams who said: “It’s disappointing that it’s being axed. It’s been the catalyst for facilitating a whole lot of projects around the country that are very worthwhile.”; if not why does she not give him a call to find out how successful it is? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: Actually it was the member’s own party that brought in the Enterprising Communities scheme so she should know that it provides start-up grants for 3 years. When those 3 years are up those community enterprises are supposed to be self-sustaining. They are doing some good work out there. We are not axing any of the current Enterprising Communities grants. They will see out their 3 years and I wish them all future success in becoming sustainable.