6. Work and Income—Job Seekers' Opportunities and CultureMARAMA FOX (Co-Leader—Māori Party) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentWork and Income—Job Seekers' Opportunities and Culture6. MARAMA FOX (Co-Leader—Māori Party) to the Minister for Social Development: Does she agree with the study of Alicia Sudden that Work and Income is pushing too many beneficiaries into jobs that don't last; if so what is she doing about it?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Social Development): No. I find it very hard to put faith in any research that by its own admission is not considered as accurate or likely to represent the entire population". I also note that the Ministry of Social Development has some concerns around the methodology and approach taken. As I have already told this House I have commissioned the social policy evaluation and research unit to do some research in this area based on data matching and rigorous methods not anecdotal evidence from a university assignment that involved handing out flyers offering grocery vouchers for taking part and interviews with only six hand-picked respondents. People leave benefits for a range of reasons including moving into retirement or overseas. Two categories of people I note were not considered by the university study mentioned by the member.Marama Fox: Does she consider it appropriate that Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) sent a 38-weeks-pregnant woman to a potentially dangerous and physically taxing job doing bee-keeping; if not what is she doing to ensure WINZ does not treat people like this again?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: No it is not appropriate. Although I am not able to talk about specific cases I want to make it very clear that no 8½-months-pregnant woman should be directed by Work and Income to find a job. Work and Income policy is explicit: that a client receiving job seeker support can be deferred from work obligations from 27 weeks of pregnancy or earlier if there are any complications associated with the pregnancy.Marama Fox: Is she concerned by the dismissive comments of the Ministry of Social Development Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) Ruth Bound who said the thesis "does not fairly reflect the work our people do each day to help improve the lives of New Zealanders we support"; if so is she going to change the demeaning and judgmental endemic culture of WINZ? Hon ANNE TOLLEY: No. As I mentioned in my primary answer the thesis itself says that it "is not considered as accurate or likely to represent the entire population." As the DCE said in her full statement: "The ministry welcomes any research that provides insight into the lives of the people we work with; however our initial view of this thesis gives us some concerns around the approach taken." The DCE went on to acknowledge that "It can be hard to get a foot on the ladder and difficult to begin the climb but it's a start to better things. That is what ministry staff come to work every day to do: to help people make a better life for themselves." I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work that the staff at Work and Income do every day supporting people to get into education into training or into work so that they can fulfil their dreams.Marama Fox: Supplementary question.Mr SPEAKER: The member has got two supplementary questions and has used them. Marama Fox: It is my understanding Mr Speaker that we have been given an extra supplementary question for today.Mr SPEAKER: Well no one has advised me. I will accept the member's word and accept the supplementary question but unless we have these sorts of arrangements more formally arranged it is very difficult for me to manage question time. On this occasion I will accept the word of the member.Marama Fox: Does she agree then—given that the DCE agrees that feedback from any source is valued—with Sudden's thesis where it says "WINZ should be more flexible and supportive"; if so given the success of the Whānau Ora approach in doing just that will she work with the Māori Party to improve whānau well-being in the context of returning to a system of personalised care management?Mr SPEAKER: Two additional supplementaries by the sound of that.Hon ANNE TOLLEY: No. In fact I do believe that the Work and Income system is incredibly supportive and flexible and we have seen the success of that with the latest figures showing the lowest June quarter since 2008. I would also like to point out to the member that 120000 beneficiaries have access to intensive work-focused case management which is helping more of them into independence. I would say to that member that the Ministry of Social Development has been incredibly supportive of the Whānau Ora approach and in fact just recently transferred $11.38 million in contracts and funding to Whānau Ora commissioning agents and tranche three sees more to come."