Author(s): Neil Lunt

Social Work

As a result of its radical social reform experiences, New Zealand is often viewed by overseas observers as a social laboratory; the reform of social security in New Zealand shifted the labour market policy from passive to active to encourage labour force participation. Emphasis is now on work-first for potential beneficiaries and the extension of extra payments, with work effort, for families who have children. New Zealand, new welfare brings together leading New Zealand commentators on social security reform to examine the series of welfare changes advanced by Labour-led administrations within New Zealand. This edited text discusses New ZealandÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs historical approach to welfare provision and is set within a framework of social development aimed at enabling people to achieve their potential. However, the authors argue that those not able to work have gained relatively little from the refocussing of policy. Unlike other texts on the market, this publication moves beyond the description of reform to include analytical and theoretical evaluations of the process as well. The outputs, outcomes and new challenges of economic and social change are comprehensively examined to provide the reader with a developed and broad understanding. New Zealand is an excellent example of welfare reform within a small democratic state and this text will resonate with international as well as New Zealand audiences because of its relevance to other countries that have sought to introduce similar social investment and social development. The editors, Neil Lunt, Mike OÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂBrien and Robert Stephens have published extensively across the areas of poverty, living standards, employment, social services and social policy.