Time on the benefit was critical to my success

Ihad probably the best Work and Income experience I, or anyone I have ever talked to, has heard of. Even if you set aside the basic privileges I enjoy, such as my ethnicity and gender, I have had crucial opportunities made available to me as a result of decisions made by people in power that just so happened to swing in my favour.

In the early 1990s, there was a policy that meant students at the University of Otago who failed half their papers were prevented from enrolling the following year. The policy was scrapped just before I started university, and I managed to get through before it was reinstated. During that time, I proceeded to fail more than half my papers, yet was allowed to return, no questions asked.

This ‘‘lucky streak’’ continued when I applied for the benefit in 2009. The National government had been in power for roughly a year but it hadn’t yet implemented the sweeping changes that define Work and Income today. Such as the introduction of sanctions that range from a 25 per cent deduction of your income support for missing an

Hugh Evans says the 16 or so months of support he received from the state were critical to his business getting off the ground.

appointment, to it being completely cut for 13 weeks if you turn down a job offer.

I had just finished a contract with Inland Revenue. I decided to start my own business. I hadn’t managed to save much money, as I wasn’t ever very good at that, but I had convinced myself that I could do it by living cheaply.

I decided to apply for the jobseekers’ allowance. I was upfront about my intention to start my own business. I was put on the jobseekers’ allowance and had to attend workshops.

I got emails weekly listing jobs in my area but that is all I recall hearing from Work and Income for a full six months. During that time I worked long hours on my business and when I received a call from Work and Income asking me how my job-seeking was going I simply responded that I was starting my own business and that was going well but taking time. The very helpful woman said that was great and good luck.

Another six months passed and I received a call. The man was very surprised that I had been on the jobseekers’ allowance and suggested I apply for the enterprise allowance. This allowance had provision for the buying of stock and equipment for your business, so I bought a computer. The living cost payments I received lasted another four or so months.

It took a few more years of hard work and lots of support from friends and family before the business finally took off, but those 16 or so months of support from the government were critical to its success.

The company I co-founded now employs more than 20 staff, is a living wage employer, has contributed more than a million dollars in philanthropic grants and free services to the community, and strives to be a leader and champion for the social enterprise sector.

I can say with absolute certainty that the staff I interacted with at Work and Income during that time believed in me and, even though it took several more years of generous support from the community around me, I was able to turn that belief and support into positive outcomes.

As New Zealanders, we are famous for our ingenuity, but creativity needs the right conditions to grow, and right now, Work and Income isn’t creating those conditions for everyone.

The opportunities I was given are what I would like to see extended to everyone. I would like to see a system that extends this kind of compassion, belief and flexibility to anyone who walks through the door of Work and Income looking for assistance.

I once had current Health Minister David Clark ask me how we can support those already on the road to success, but I want all of our elected officials to know it took this experience with Work and Income to get me on that road.

There is no question in my mind that New Zealand is brimming with talent waiting for this kind of early support to find confidence and show potential.

There is no doubt in my mind that we would see many more success stories if we could stop treating those looking for basic support as burdens on society, pushing them into work and punishing them if they don’t obey us, and start believing that they are just in the earliest stages of all the amazing things they are absolutely capable of.