Simon Bridges National MP simonbridges.co.nz

As Tauranga MP and Minister of Energy and Resources today I am opening a new terminal for Gull Petroleum's fuel facility on Hewlett's Rd. Gull serves its North Island market from its Tauranga fuel storage terminals and its capacity with the additional terminal rises from 78 million litre to 88 million litre. Not bad from the Bay of Plenty!

I'm really looking forward to watching some world class hockey at the newly turfed Tauranga Hockey Centre at the Mount on the weekend. At 3pm Saturday the Black Sticks women's team will take on number eight in the world, Korea. If you come a little earlier you can see Argentina playing the USA.

Delivering on our promises

Last week, the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill passed into law.

Changing our welfare system is central to our plan of building better public services.

We campaigned on it – and we are now delivering it.

The current welfare system isn't working. Twelve per cent of our working age population receive a benefit, and 220,000 children are growing up in benefit-dependent homes. Too many people are being trapped in a life of limited choices, poverty and poor health.

It's also costing taxpayers too much. That's why getting people off welfare and into work means a better life, better opportunities, and a brighter future for people and their families.

The bill requires job seekers to be drug-free and ready to work. We are also stopping benefits for those on the run from police with an outstanding warrant for arrest; and introducing health, education and social obligations for beneficiaries with children – so their kids get the support and services they need.

This means we're clamping down on welfare fraud and tackling long-term benefit dependence.

The changes we are making now build on some of the achievements we've already made for New Zealanders.

We implemented Future Focus in 2010, and now 171,000 people have moved off benefits – that's 165 people leaving a benefit every week, on average.

Sole parents with children aged five and older are being supported into part-time work, and sole parents with children aged 14 and older are being supported into full-time work.

Work expectations have been extended to include women receiving the Widow's and Women Alone benefits and to partners of beneficiaries with children. Work and Income can direct people to prepare for work early and sole parents who have another child while on a benefit now must be available for work after one year, in line with paid parental leave.

We've also introduced a managed system of payments for young people on a benefit to cover essential costs like rent and power directly, with an allowance and a payment card for living costs.

Youth service providers have been increased to help young people into work, education or training and we've guaranteed that childcare costs do not stop young parents from studying. This has been possible by sharing information between ministries to target school leavers most at risk of coming onto a benefit from age 18.

National is ensuring the Government works more closely with people on welfare to help them into jobs. By supporting more beneficiaries into work we will help them achieve their potential and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.