Work and Income’s flashest office?
Less than a year after the New Plymouth branch of the Ministry of Social Development moved into its new office, it’s been updated for $20,000.
And it may be the nicest Work and Income office in New Zealand – for now.
The new face of the New Plymouth Ministry of Social Development (MSD) office is part of a new scheme launched under the current Government to make Work and Income offices more welcoming.
The Minister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni was at the Taranaki office on Tuesday as it is the first to have a complete makeover – green walls, a children’s zone, different chairs, welcoming security guards in polo shirts and much more.
‘‘It’s changed the whole demeanour,’’ Sepuloni said. ‘‘It’s about making people feel welcome.
Sepuloni, who is originally from Waitara, said she’d spoken to a client about the updated space. ‘‘He said coming in here makes him feel human.’’
The New Plymouth office, which also houses Oranga Tamariki and Housing New Zealand, was opened in August 2017 so the cost to update it was ‘‘quite reasonable’’ Sepuloni said.
There are 50 MSD staff in the office which hosts 1574 clients of the 3,188 in the whole of the Taranaki region.
The office originally had white walls and other features and Sepuloni said it ‘‘wasn’t actually welcoming before’’.
However, this may not be the final look for the New Plymouth office, or the other three ‘‘pilot sites’’ which are in the middle of being updated.
‘‘We’re taking advice as we go along.’’