Breadcrumbs
About us
Our role is to transform how New Zealand invests in social outcomes, prioritising relationships, integrating evidence and delivery, fostering innovation, and building enduring systems for lasting positive change.
We work across government to help shift the social services system from responding to crisis to investing earlier, supporting what works, and improving long-term outcomes.
Our vision is that people and communities can reach their full potential.
Our role in the system
SIA leads, builds and demonstrates a social investment approach that supports smarter spending, earlier support and better results across the social sector.
As a central agency, we help government direct resources where they will make the greatest difference – particularly for people and families with complex or persistent needs. We do this by bringing together data, social science and lived experience, and by strengthening the connection between evidence and delivery.
Through the Social Investment Fund, and through our system leadership role, we support new ways of commissioning and investing that are outcome-focused, evidence-informed and people-centred.
The Minister for Social Investment leads the social investment work programme with a group of Social Investment Ministers, supported by independent advice from the Social Investment Board.
How we work
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Acting early
We use data, social science and local insight to understand what’s happening across the system and where early action can prevent harm. This enables more confident investment decisions and supports people to get help before challenges escalate into crisis. -
Backing communities
Communities, iwi and social service organisations understand their people best. We support their leadership by promoting longer-term, outcome-focused agreements, reducing unnecessary reporting, and improving access to meaningful data. This enables solutions that are grounded in local strengths and realities. -
Proving what works
We test and demonstrate new approaches, publish evidence about what delivers results, and help scale what works across the system. Where approaches aren’t delivering, we support adaptation or change. This helps build a system that learns, improves and focuses on real outcomes – not assumptions or habit.
What we do
As a Central Agency, SIA provides the following.
- Advice: We advise Ministers on investments to be delivered through the new commissioning function, using a rolling programme of reviews and expressions of interest from non-government and community organisations to identify funding and current contracts that could be transferred to the Social Investment Fund.
- Leadership: We provide system leadership and oversight of social investment commissioning, and coordinate advice to Social Investment Ministers on commissioning and other related matters.
- Guidance: We oversee standards for social investment practice by monitoring and evaluating the performance of social sector investment.
Our impact
Our work is contributing to more outcome-focused agreements that give providers certainty to plan and innovate; earlier support that reduces reliance on high-cost crisis services; greater use of data by communities and iwi to design local solutions; better tools, insights and guidance to support smarter investment decisions; a more connected and collaborative system focused on shared outcomes; and a culture of learning and transparency.
Outcome‑focused agreements that prioritise people
Multi‑year, outcome‑focused agreements are giving organisations who provide social services the certainty to plan ahead and innovate. Reduced reporting burden means more time spent supporting families and whānau.
Earlier support reducing the need for crisis services
Instead of waiting for crisis and funding services based on habit or historical precedent, social investment uses data, social science and community knowledge to see what’s coming and act early – reducing cost and improving long-term outcomes.
Communities and iwi using data to design local solutions
Communities and iwi leaders now have access to clearer, more usable data about what’s happening in their rohe. This supports community‑led planning and lays the foundation for community-led commissioning.
Better tools and insights guiding investment
Dashboards, data stories and guidance from SIA are helping NGOs and other government agencies understand which approaches work for whom, and why – supporting smarter services across the system.
A more connected, collaborative system
Through guidance, standards and cross‑agency engagement, SIA is helping build a shared language and shared expectations for social investment – shifting the system from fragmented activity to coordinated, outcomes‑focused action.
A culture of transparency and learning
By openly sharing insights – including what doesn’t work – we’re helping establish a system that learns, adapts and improves over time.
Toi Hau Tāngata
Our name, Toi Hau Tāngata, reflects what it means to live well – centred on the wellbeing of people across generations. Toi means peak or excellence, Hau refers to life force or vital essence, and Tāngata means people.
The name was gifted to us by Mohi Apou of Taranaki‑Whanganui descent and comes from Te Hau Tai Tāngata, a karakia passed down through oral tradition. It anchors our work in a Māori worldview that values people, relationships and collective wellbeing, and reflects our aspiration that people, whānau and communities can live the lives they value.
Our values
Our values guide our work.
- Tāngata - we're about people
- Manawa Māui - we're a catalyst for change
- Taunakitanga - we influence through evidence
- Puaretanga - we're transparent by nature
- Mahi Tahi - we're stronger together
