"New" policy from Luxon, National

[Lilith7]

Of course.  But sitting back and doing nothing for a large number of clients isn't helping them.  The time to focus on people is the first 3 or 4 months afterbtgey become unemllyed because that is the time they are most motivated.  What we have presently is clients being left for up to 12 months before any management is started.  By then their mental state is low.

If you consider that an economy can never have zero unemployment and NZ currently has the lowest unemployment in 20 years or so, it stands to reason that those still remaining on the jobseeker benefit will be those that have other factors affecting their ability to work.

That seems the most likely explanation, but it just hasn't got quite the same ring to it as 'we're cracking down on those lazy people who don't want to work', has it. Doesn't really portray the Nats as  being ever so tough in tackling those dreadful 'bene bludgers' they so love to trot out every election.