Welcoming New Zealand’s Ministry of Social Development to the Global WAPES Community
The World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES) is pleased to announce that, as of 1 July 2026, New Zealand’s Ministry of Social Development (MSD) joins the Association.
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is the lead agency for the social sector, and it is responsible for providing social policy advice and administering New Zealand’s social services. As part of the social welfare system, MSD provides New Zealand’s public employment service, to help people at risk of long-term benefit receipt to prepare for, get into and stay in employment.
One of MSD’s core objectives is to support people into work. It delivers policy advice on the labour market and the role of public employment services within it, while also delivering a range of training and work readiness programmes and employment services and supports that provide people with the skills, training, and experience that they need to enter the workforce and remain in sustainable employment.
MSD’s services include:
- Matching clients to employers and job opportunities
- Working with regional and national employers as a recruitment partner to support their workforce needs
- Upskilling clients through industry-based recruitment partnerships and employment programmes
- Working with local employers and industry partners through our regional employment teams to intervene early and respond to local labour market conditions
- Supporting people with disabilities and health conditions to overcome labour market barriers
- Supporting young people to gain the skills and training they need to work and have an independent future
- Providing a range of financial assistance and subsidies to both people and employers.
By joining WAPES, MSD brings valuable expertise in inclusive employment policies, regional labour market interventions, employer engagement and social welfare integration. WAPES looks forward to strengthening cooperation and knowledge exchange with New Zealand and to benefiting from its contribution to the global public employment services community.
The WAPES Asia-Pacific region and the entire WAPES network warmly welcome MSD and its teams. We look forward to working together to strengthen cooperation, knowledge exchange and innovation among Public Employment Services worldwide.