8. Question No. 8—Social Development and EmploymentANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 8—Social Development and Employment8. ANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What research has she seen on the impact of the Families Package five years after its introduction?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment): Five years ago today we announced the Families Package. The package was an overdue boost to incomes for many families across New Zealand. Ministry of Social Development (MSD) research released today shows it has made a real difference to increasing incomes for New Zealanders. In the first year around 330000 families—more than half of all families with children in New Zealand—were on average $55 per week better off as a result of the Families Package. By 2021 regular Best Start payments were reaching 78000 parents and caregivers with children under three years old. On top of this each year over 1 million New Zealand adults have been helped with their heating through winter by the winter energy payment. When we first came into Government we were clear about our priority to support New Zealand families. MSD research shows that through the Families Package we have delivered on our promise and we will keep delivering.Angie Warren-Clark: What other initiatives did the Families Package deliver?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Alongside Best Start and the winter energy payment the Government increased the family tax credit abatement threshold and support for caregivers through increases to the orphans benefit unsupported child benefit and foster care allowance. We increased paid parental leave to 26 weeks reinstated the independent earner tax credit and increased the accommodation supplement. Through our changes which started with the Families Package child poverty statistics have trended down in all of the nine measures we monitor. Little did we know how important these changes would be for preparing us well for a pandemic and the current globally influenced challenges we face.Angie Warren-Clark: What other initiatives has the Government undertaken since the Families Package which support New Zealand families?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Since the announcement of the Families Package we've worked hard over our five years in Government to increase incomes and reduce hardship for families. This includes increasing benefits to historic levels increasing the minimum wage to $21.20 per hour implementing and expanding our lunches in schools programme extending free doctors' visits building more social housing than any Government since the 1970s and making significant investments into upskilling and training opportunities to support people into work. Our continued efforts have made a difference. We are supporting New Zealanders to get ahead and realise their potential evidenced by record numbers of people exiting benefit for work and a near-record low unemployment rate.Angie Warren-Clark: What will be the focus for 2023?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: In the Prime Minister's Speech from the Throne after the 2017 election she stated People will always be at the heart of this Government." This continues to be our priority as we move forward. It has guided our decision making and will continue to be what drives us. Five years on from the launch of the Families Package it is important to recognise how far we've come despite all of the challenges that we've had to respond to along the way as a nation. I want to reiterate our Government's commitment to all New Zealanders. People will always be at the heart of this Government."