Social Investment Agency
{{Short description|Government agency in New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Social Investment Agency
| native_name = {{langx|mi|Toi Hau Tāngata}}
| seal =
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| seal_caption =
| logo = File:Social Investment Agency Toi Hau Tāngata logo.png
| logo_width = 300
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| formed = 1 July 2017
| preceding1 =
| dissolved =
| superseding =
| jurisdiction = New Zealand
| headquarters =
| budget = $NZ6 million{{cite web |title=Vote Social Investment/ The Estimates of Appropriations 2024/25 - Finance and Government Administration Sector B.5 Vol.4 365|url=https://budget.govt.nz/budget/pdfs/estimates/v4/est24-v4-socinv.pdf |access-date=26 March 2025}}
| minister1_name = Nicola Willis
Minister for Social Investment
| minister2_name =
| minister2_pfo =
| chief1_name = Andrew Coster
| chief1_position = Secretary for Social Investment and Chief Executive
| chief2_name =
| chief2_position =
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| child1_agency =
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| website = {{url|https://sia.govt.nz/}}
| footnotes =
}}
The Social Investment Agency (SIA; {{langx|mi|Toi Hau Tāngata}}) is a New Zealand government department that leads the implementation of the government's investment approach to social spending.
The concept of "social investment" describes the use of data to target spending on social services towards certain disadvantaged groups with the aim of achieving the best "return" in terms of long-term social outcomes and government costs resulting from social issues.{{Cite web |title=What is social investment {{!}} The State of the State |url=https://www2.deloitte.com/nz/en/pages/public-sector/articles/the-state-of-the-state-what-is-social-investment.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331185542/https://www2.deloitte.com/nz/en/pages/public-sector/articles/the-state-of-the-state-what-is-social-investment.html |archive-date=31 March 2023 |access-date=11 September 2023 |website=Deloitte New Zealand |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Robson |first1=Sarah |date=20 February 2020 |title=Review: Social Wellbeing Agency to replace social investment approach |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/409968/review-social-wellbeing-agency-to-replace-social-investment-approach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109112704/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/409968/review-social-wellbeing-agency-to-replace-social-investment-approach |archive-date=9 November 2023 |access-date=2023-09-11 |work=Radio New Zealand |language=en-nz}}
Originally run out of a unit within the Ministry of Social Development, the Social Investment Agency was first established as a departmental agency hosted by the State Services Commission on 1 July 2017.{{cite web |date=21 April 2017 |title=Changing lives through social investment |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/changing-lives-through-social-investment |access-date=25 March 2025 |website=The Beehive}}{{cite web |date=24 April 2017 |title=Government announces establishment of new standalone "Social Investment Agency" |url=https://nzfvc.org.nz/news/government-announces-establishment-new-standalone-social-investment-agency |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226014847/https://nzfvc.org.nz/news/government-announces-establishment-new-standalone-social-investment-agency |archive-date=26 February 2024 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse |publisher=University of Auckland}} It was later known as the Social Wellbeing Agency (2020–2024){{Cite web |last1=Sepuloni |first1=Carmel |date=20 February 2020 |title=Social Wellbeing Agency replaces Social Investment Agency with new approach |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/social-wellbeing-agency-replaces-social-investment-agency-new-approach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525021948/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/social-wellbeing-agency-replaces-social-investment-agency-new-approach |archive-date=25 May 2024 |access-date=11 September 2023 |website=Beehive.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |language=en}} and reverted to its original name when it was re-established as a standalone central agency.{{cite news |date=9 May 2024 |title=Budget 2024: Govt announces new 'Social Investment Agency', fund |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/05/09/budget-2024-govt-announces-new-social-investment-agency-fund/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912171133/https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/05/09/budget-2024-govt-announces-new-social-investment-agency-fund/ |archive-date=12 September 2024 |access-date=25 September 2024 |work=1News}}
Mandate and leadership
The Social Investment Agency is responsible for overseeing, coordinating and implementing the government's social investment approach. Its functions include:
- Setting social investment standards for government agencies and contractors.
- Advising on the data and evidence infrastructure for social investment.
- Working with other agencies to apply the social investment approach.
- Reviewing social sector spending and measuring outcomes.
- Delivering advice and tools to support the social sector.
The responsible minister is the Minister for Social Investment, Nicola Willis.{{Cite web |title=Social Wellbeing Agency {{!}} CAB Directory Listing |url=https://www.cab.org.nz/community-directory/KB00037074 |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=www.cab.org.nz}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-02 |title=Ministerial List {{!}} Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/ministers-and-their-portfolios/ministerial-list |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=www.dpmc.govt.nz |language=en}} Andrew Coster is the agency's chief executive. The agency is headed by a board known as the Social Investment Board, which oversees its program.{{cite web |title=Social investment approach |url=https://sia.govt.nz/social-investment |publisher=Social Investment Agency |access-date=25 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822002534/https://sia.govt.nz/social-investment |archive-date=22 August 2024 |url-status=live}} The board members include former Secretary to the Treasury Graham Scott, former New Zealand Labour Party president and former Howard League chief executive Mike Williams, and former Minister for Māori Development Te Ururoa Flavell.{{cite web |title=Social Investment Board |url=https://www.sia.govt.nz/about/social-investment-board |access-date=25 March 2025 |website=Social Investment Agency}}
The agency defines its social investment approach as using data and evidence to understand people's needs; establishing clear, measurable goals and focusing on effective strategies; measuring and comparing service effectiveness using a informed decision-making approach; and empowering local providers to deliver services to their communities. The agency's work will also be supported by a Social Investment Fund, expected to come into operation by 2025.
= List of ministers for social investment =
The following ministers have held the office of Minister for Social Investment.
; Key
{{legend inline|{{party color|New Zealand National Party}}|National|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |No. !Name !Portrait ! colspan="2" |Term of Office ! colspan="2" |Prime Minister |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|New Zealand National Party}}" |
!1 |20 December 2016 |26 October 2017 | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|New Zealand National Party}}" | |
|---|
| colspan="8" |2017–2023: No separate appointments, see Minister for Social Development |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|New Zealand National Party}}" |
!2 |27 November 2023 |present | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|New Zealand National Party}}" | |
History
=Launch=
In December 2016, prime minister Bill English, who had championed the social investment approach in his previous role as Minister of Finance, announced Amy Adams as the first Minister for Social Investment. On 24 April 2017, Adams announced that a new Social Investment Agency would be established from 1 July 2017 to replace the Ministry of Social Development's Social Investment Unit. The agency was tasked with advising the New Zealand Government on social investment and building the "social investment infrastructure" for government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help frontline workers provide targeted services.
=2020 revamp=
When the Sixth Labour Government came to power following the 2017 New Zealand general election, it placed the agency and its approach under review. As a result of this, it was reformed into the Social Wellbeing Agency from 19 March 2020 with the aim of being "more people-focused" by "looking at people and their needs" in addition to the existing data-based approach. The Minister for Social Development was given responsibility for social investment policy during this period.
=2024 revamp=
In May 2024, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis announced that the Social Wellbeing Agency would be revamped as the Social Investment Agency by 1 July 2024. The revamped agency would be a standalone central government agency with a revised mandate and new leadership board. Willis also announced the establishment of a new Social Investment Fund by 2025 to work with non-governmental organisations and iwi (tribal) providers to deliver services to vulnerable New Zealanders. While in opposition, the National Party had campaigned on establishing a Social Investment Fund to help disadvantaged citizens.{{Cite news|last1=Neilson |first1=Michael |date=19 October 2022 |title='Privatisation': Robertson hits back at National's welfare policy |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/social-investment-grant-robertson-hits-back-at-nationals-welfare-policy/JFLLBG2X56ODLYV4YZDYWMZZPM/ |access-date=25 September 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229091844/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/social-investment-grant-robertson-hits-back-at-nationals-welfare-policy/JFLLBG2X56ODLYV4YZDYWMZZPM/|archive-date=29 February 2024|url-status=live}} The Fund was established in the 2025 New Zealand budget, with $190{{Nbsp}}million allocated for initiatives to support families with autistic children, reduce youth offending and truancy, and partner with iwi to support Māori communities.{{cite web |date=14 May 2025 |title=Launch of the Social Investment Fund |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/launch-social-investment-fund |access-date=11 June 2025 |website=The Beehive}}{{Cite news |date=14 May 2025 |title=New Zealand government to set up $112 million social investment fund |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-government-set-up-112-million-social-investment-fund-2025-05-14/ |access-date=4 June 2025 |work=Reuters |language=en}}
In early August 2024, Willis confirmed that the agency would become one of the New Zealand Government's central agencies alongside the New Zealand Treasury, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Public Service Commission, and the new Ministry for Regulation. This would give the Social Investment Agency oversight over other government departments. In addition, Willis announced that the Government would appoint a new permanent chief executive and advisory board for the agency.{{cite news |last1=Coughlan |first1=Thomas |title=Nicola Willis puts new Social Investment Agency at heart of Government |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/nicola-willis-puts-new-social-investment-agency-at-heart-of-government/FPLW7LW7RVAPPGTK6BU3356TEE/ |access-date=25 September 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809024320/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/nicola-willis-puts-new-social-investment-agency-at-heart-of-government/FPLW7LW7RVAPPGTK6BU3356TEE/ |archive-date=9 August 2024|url-access=subscription}} On 24 September, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster was announced as the new chief executive, effective 11 November 2024.{{cite news |last1=Moir |first1=Jo |last2=McCulloch |first2=Craig |title=Police Commissioner Andrew Coster resigns, to head new Social Investment Agency |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/528852/police-commissioner-andrew-coster-resigns-to-head-new-social-investment-agency |access-date=25 September 2024 |work=RNZ |date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924101106/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/528852/police-commissioner-andrew-coster-resigns-to-head-new-social-investment-agency |archive-date=24 September 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://sia.govt.nz/}}
{{NZ Public Service Departments}}