Sepuloni CarmelHon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment): Like in many other countries economic conditions are beginning to change with inflation and predictions of a rise in unemployment between now and 2025. But the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is here for our communities helping New Zealanders to be safe strong and independent and carrying out the mahi needed to ensure our welfare system treats New Zealanders with dignity and respect.We've made record investments in main benefits increased Working for Families and improved access to childcare assistance. As a result of these actions there has been a drop in children in food insecure households from 24.1 percent in 2012-23 to 12.5 percent in 2021-22 an increase in afterhousing incomes for those on benefits by on average 43 percent in real terms since 2018 and we have 77000 fewer children in poverty using the after-housing costs measure.As a result of our changes approximately 356000 individuals families and whānau will be on average $118 per week better off compared to 2017. This includes 109000 families with children better off by an average of $190 per week when compared to 2017. This aligns with reductions we are seeing in child poverty and food insecurity as well.One of the best ways we can help New Zealanders longer term is through employment which is why Budget 2023 boosted investment across some of MSD's most successful employment and training programmes. The Training Incentive Allowance has been permanently reinstated for sole parents disabled people and those with health conditions to undertake higher-level training or study. The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs and Auckland Council's Ngā Puna Pūkenga partnership have received another two years of funding. We've also invested in the expansion of several hugely successful programmes including Mana in Mahi and He Poutama Rangatahi and driver licence training—yes travel is one of the most common barriers to getting a job. Oranga Mahi has been funded for another two years supporting New Zealanders with disabilities and other health conditions into work. And the early response redeployment support and rapid return-to-work programmes will continue helping those who have lost their jobs get back into work quickly.Together with core MSD employment services these programmes have helped more than 100000 people into work over the last year alone. That's lives turned around careers on the move and brighter futures for themselves and their whānau. But we also recognise that the job market landscape changes. The jobs of tomorrow won't always be the jobs of today. That's why $2 million has been invested to increase the capacity of the Direct Career Guidance Service—a quick phone call and you could be on your way to a new vocation or further study.I'd just like to say that I am incredibly proud of MSD and the role they played in the recovery and building back from the recent severe events in the upper North Island. MSD's support for affected communities will continue into the coming months working with central and local agencies to put the social sector recovery plan into action and deliver targeted support for whānau. Whether young old a sole parent or living with a disability every New Zealander should be given the opportunity to live their best lives. I just want to do a shout-out in particular to the MSD staff that are in the weather-impacted areas. Not only have they served their communities well but they've done that despite the fact that many of them were impacted by the weather events themselves.We've made a number of changes to support Kiwis facing hardship. Benefit rates have been increased to align with the Consumers Price Index. MSD recently reported that for those on a main benefit total incomes after housing costs are 48 percent higher than at the end of 2017 after adjusting for inflation. We also continued the winter energy payment increased income thresholds for the childcare subsidy and out of school care and recreation subsidy and enabled the passing on of child support payments to sole parents.The reality is most New Zealanders will rely on MSD services at some point in their lives be it for employment income support or superannuation. Often this is much more than just a quick phone call or a flying visit to the Work and Income office; it's about providing wraparound support working with clients to understand their circumstances and helping them overcome what is stopping them from living their best lives.MSD operates in just about every corner of the motu—130 offices across New Zealand towns cities and communities. That is why we've invested heavily in MSD's people and systems to keep these front-line services as fast efficient and as accessible as possible. That means matching supply with demand ensuring there are enough front-line staff in locations where they're needed. It means ensuring our IT systems phones and other technologies can take the pressure if there's an emergency—quakes tsunamis and yes of course floods and cyclones.Of course MSD is also thinking about the future which is why Cabinet has given the go-ahead to Te Pae Tawhiti multimillion-dollar transformation programme to make it easier for people to get the help they need from MSD. With about 60000 users a day logging on to MSD's online service MyMSD we know New Zealanders want to engage with MSD online yet some of the systems MSD uses are 30 years old—that's pre-internet—and we cannot risk them falling over. It is a massive undertaking and possibly the most ambitious of its kind in the Public Service and it may take many years but it will completely transform everything from MSD's backroom operations to how services are delivered providing a more consistent and seamless experience for all our clients.Early changes include a new technology platform giving 130000 students an easy-to-use online experience a digital employment platform where 100000 job seekers can connect with employers and simpler more efficient commissioning and reporting processes for MSD's 2000 partners and that's just the beginning; there's way more to come. The new technology and processes will create space for the moments that matter really understanding client situations and needs and helping them into employment and independence. It's innovative transformative and will make MSD's services more accessible and more effective for Kiwis from all walks of lives. Thank you. I will now take your questions.