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Work homepage
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Overview
We can help you get ready to apply and find the right job for you. We can even help you while you're working.
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Get ready to work
You can get training, help with CVs and cover letters, and advice for job interviews.
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Find jobs
Find out what jobs are available, which job is best for you and how you can plan your career.
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Working
Whether you've just started a job or need some help at work, we've got your back.
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Lost your job
We'll help you get ready to find a new job and support you while you're between jobs.
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Start your own business
Get help to plan and set up a successful business or be a self-employed contractor.
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Benefits and payments homepage
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Overview
Take a look at the range of benefits and payments we have available.
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Not working
Redundancy, health condition or disability or another reason you can’t work
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Living expenses
Food, school costs, power, accommodation or other living expenses you need help with
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Relationship changes
You’ve had a relationship break-up, family breakdown or violent relationship end
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Health and Disability
Counselling, prescription and GP costs, medical alarms and other costs we can help with
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Seniors
Travelling overseas, how to apply, payment rates and dates, overseas pensions, income and other info for Seniors
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Caring
Caring for someone else’s child or someone with a health condition, injury or disability
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Urgent or unexpected costs
Dental, glasses, car repairs, fridge, washing machine, funeral or other urgent costs you need help with
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Children
Childcare, school uniforms, stationery, having a baby and other costs if you have children
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Moving to New Zealand
Payments you can get from us, settling into NZ, overseas pensions and more.
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Benefits and forms
A-Z list of benefits, forms, benefit rates
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On a benefit homepage
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Overview
Check out what you need to do when you're getting a benefit or other payment from us.
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Something's changed
Address, contact details, overseas travel, childcare, relationship or anything else that’s changed.
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Income
Declare income and income deduction tables
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Childcare
Change in your childcare situation, continue childcare payments, cohort entry schools and other childcare information
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Going overseas
Going on holiday or going to live overseas
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Re-apply
Re-apply for Jobseeker Support, Sole Parent Support, Temporary Additional Support and more
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Payments
Check or stop your payments, payment cards and other information
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Debt
Check your debt, repayments and other debt information
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Rights and responsibilities
Our commitment to you, obligations, complaints, benefit fraud and more
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Housing homepage
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Overview
Find out how we can help you with housing.
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Nowhere to stay
Get help if you have nowhere to stay right now.
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Find a house
Find out where to look for private housing, or apply for public (social) housing.
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Living in your home
Get help with accommodation costs, and advice on any housing issues and public housing tenancies.
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Move house
Find out how we can help if you’re moving house.
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Other languages
Read some of our housing information in other languages.
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Christmas and New Year pay dates and office hours
22 November 2023.
When you'll be paid and when we're open over Christmas and the New Year.
Payment dates
Week 25 December - 31 December
If you normally get paid on: |
You'll be paid on: |
Tuesday 26 December | Friday 22 December |
Wednesday 27 December | Saturday 23 December |
Thursday 28 December | No change |
Week 1 January - 7 January
If you normally get paid on: |
You'll be paid on: |
Tuesday 2 January | Friday 29 December |
Wednesday 3 January | Saturday 30 December |
Thursday 4 January | No change |
NZ Super and Veteran's Pension
If you normally get paid on Tuesday 2 January, you'll be paid on 29 December.
Childcare payments
We can't pay childcare between the Christmas and New Year break if the childcare centre is closed.
Declare your income early
If you declare your income regularly, you may need to do this earlier than usual.
If you're paid early on:
- Friday 22 December or Saturday 23 December, you'll need to declare your income before 10pm on Wednesday 20 December.
- Friday 29 December or Saturday 30 December, you'll need to declare your income before 10pm on Wednesday 27 December.
Offices and contact centre operating hours
All our offices, contact centres and Service Express are closed on these dates:
- Monday 25 December, Christmas Day
- Tuesday 26 December, Boxing Day
- Monday 1 January, New Year's Day
- Tuesday 2 January, day after New Year's Day.
Some offices will also be closed on other dates
Office |
When the office will be closed |
Balclutha | Wednesday 27 December 2023 - Friday 5 January 2024 |
Kaikoura | Wednesday 27 December 2023 - Friday 5 January 2024 |
Ohakune | Wednesday 27 December 2023 - Friday 5 January 2024 |
Takaka | Wednesday 27 December 2023 - Friday 5 January 2024 |
Taradale | Wednesday 27 December 2023 - Friday 5 January 2024 |
Waitakere Outreach | Monday 18 December 2023 - Monday 8 January 2024 |
If you need support, you can call us or use MyMSD
Some offices will also work on reduced hours
The offices listed below will be open from 10am to 2pm, Wednesday 27 December 2023 to Friday 5 January 2024.
- Alexandra
- Flaxmere
- Foxton
- Gore
- Mosgiel
- Oamaru
- Otaki
- Queenstown
- Ruatoria
- South Dunedin
- Waipukurau
- Wairoa
- Westport
Our online services
You can use MyMSD at any time, including public holidays. MyMSD is our online service where you can apply and manage your information online.
You can use it to do things like:
- apply for a food grant and dental costs
- declare your wages
- tell us about a change in address, phone or accommodation costs
- view your payment details
- tell us about overseas travel.