Special Needs Grants in Aotearoa New Zealand

For almost two years, communities around the world have been vulnerable to the uncertainty of COVID-19. Through daily media updates we are reminded of increasing need in our communities for essentials such as food, adequate and affordable housing, rental support, employment opportunities, and equitable access to online education.

In August last year Planalytics took a look at what data was available to gain an understanding of COVID-19’s social and economic impact on community need in Wairarapa. This included looking at the Ministry of Social Development’s Special Needs Grants (or ‘SNGs’). SNGs are additional income support provided by Work and Income to address the immediate needs of families and individuals. Over the past year we have continued to closely monitor this data in the hope of providing a greater level of insight into the challenges faced by our local communities.

A year on from Lockdown 1.0 and in the midst of Lockdown 2.0, it feels like the opportune time to share our broader insights into SNG data. Every Thursday for the month of September we will publish an article on topics relating to SNGs. This will include:

• an explanation of what SNGs are, and who can apply for them;

• an exploration of SNGs in a national and Wellington regional context;

• analysis of SNG trends in Wairarapa; and

• discussion of broader indicators of community need. 

We hope that this information will be useful for decision-makers and community groups to establish community need and develop effective mechanisms to meet it. If you are aware of any additional data sources of relevance please don’t hesitate to contact us at office@planalytics.co.nz. Tēnā koutou.