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Work homepage
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Overview
We can help you get ready to apply and find the right job for you. We can even help you while you're working.
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Get ready to work
You can get training, help with CVs and cover letters, and advice for job interviews.
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Find jobs
Find out what jobs are available, which job is best for you and how you can plan your career.
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Working
Whether you've just started a job or need some help at work, we've got your back.
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Lost your job
We'll help you get ready to find a new job and support you while you're between jobs.
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Start your own business
Get help to plan and set up a successful business or be a self-employed contractor.
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Benefits and payments homepage
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Overview
Take a look at the range of benefits and payments we have available.
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Not working
Redundancy, health condition or disability or another reason you can’t work
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Living expenses
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You’ve had a relationship break-up, family breakdown or violent relationship end
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Health and Disability
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Seniors
Travelling overseas, how to apply, payment rates and dates, overseas pensions, income and other info for Seniors
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Caring
Caring for someone else’s child or someone with a health condition, injury or disability
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Urgent or unexpected costs
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Children
Childcare, school uniforms, stationery, having a baby and other costs if you have children
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Moving to New Zealand
Payments you can get from us, settling into NZ, overseas pensions and more.
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Benefits and forms
A-Z list of benefits, forms, benefit rates
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On a benefit homepage
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Overview
Check out what you need to do when you're getting a benefit or other payment from us.
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Something's changed
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Income
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Childcare
Change in your childcare situation, continue childcare payments, cohort entry schools and other childcare information
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Going overseas
Travelling or moving overseas may affect your payments.
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Re-apply, review or renew
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Payments
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Debt
Check your debt, repayments and other debt information
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Rights and responsibilities
Our commitment to you, obligations, complaints, benefit fraud and more
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Housing homepage
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Overview
Find out how we can help you with housing.
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Nowhere to stay
Get help if you have nowhere to stay right now.
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Find a house
Find out where to look for private housing, or apply for public (social) housing.
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Living in your home
Get help with accommodation costs, and advice on any housing issues and public housing tenancies.
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Moving house
Find out how we can help if you’re moving house.
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Other languages
Read some of our housing information in other languages.
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Enhanced Taskforce Green
If there's been an emergency event that's caused significant damage, eg earthquake or flood, the Government may approve an Enhanced Taskforce Green work programme to help with clean-up and recovery.
Local councils may engage with Work and Income to make appropriate arrangements for Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG) workers and supervisors to assist with clean-up projects.
These workers will be job seekers who could be receiving a benefit, or they could be students, or workers displaced from their jobs because of the emergency event – such as farm or factory workers.
What costs will be covered by ETFG
ETFG assistance may cover the costs of:
- wages for workers
- wages for supervisors
- the purchase of personal safety gear
- the hire of light equipment (not including heavy machinery hire) and transport, eg:
- chainsaws
- vans
- four-wheel-drive vehicles
- a start-up grant for local authorities to assist with administration costs.
Work and Income's role in ETFG
Work and Income is responsible for the following:
- liaising with affected councils and the Ministry for Primary Industries
- ensuring the ETFG funding proposal fits with the work programme
- processing applications
- identifying suitable workers
- providing identified workers with financial assistance (including Working for Families Assistance information)
- monitoring and tracking expenditure.
A council's role within ETFG
A council needs to complete the required application forms, submit them to Work and Income and then:
- organise Site Safe Certificate training for each ETFG worker
- paying ETFG workers and supervisors
- purchase and/or hire safety gear and equipment, including:
- boots
- gloves
- overalls
- hi-visibility vests
- helmets
- earmuffs
- protective eye wear
- chaps
- wet weather gear
- oversee the day-to-day management of the work programme.
Relevant programme costs will be covered by an upfront lump sum payment by way of a contract with the MInistry of Social Development.
ETFG workers
Each ETFG work crew will be accompanied by a supervisor. Crews will assist with clean-up activities, eg:
- fence clearance and repair
- tree and debris removal on:
- farms
- marae
- orchards
- parks
- reserves.
ETFG crew workers are paid the living wage for a 40 hour week. ETFG supervisors are paid at a higher hourly rate.
Employment disputes
Anyone who expresses concerns regarding the conduct of ETFG workers should be directed to their relevant council for resolution as the council is the employer.