Avenues for enhancing social inclusion: Rethinking New Zealand's approach to social security and welfare

Abstract

At present, an intense focus on paid work undergirds the Social Security Act 1964. However, many argue that a broad emphasis on social inclusion should be the primary focus of New Zealand's social security and welfare legislation. This paper explores how the idea of social inclusion has developed in New Zealand and analyses two options for implementing a greater focus on social inclusion. It will begin by briefly defining social inclusion and identifying some of the obstacles complicating implementation. Namely, it will discuss the difficulty of identifying when social inclusion is achieved and concerns about sustainability. This paper will also examine the different occasions in the past where the Government has given particular focus to this idea of social inclusion. Finally, in terms of implementing a greater focus on social inclusion, it will explore the prospects of introducing a right to social inclusion into the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and the consequences of directly amending the Social Security Act to include a focus on social inclusion. It will argue that making direct changes to the Social Security Act is likely the best option.