The Finance Minister says the social investment approach is all about a human touch

A new standalone Social Investment Agency, effective from July, was announced following this morning's pre-Budget speech.

Allocated just over 50-million-dollars, it aims to understand who the Government will invest in, what works for those people, and how progress is measured.

Nicola Willis says the Government fails too many New Zealanders because it doesn't determine if a service is working.

She says it's not enough to simply have good intentions and a warm heart -- the Government actually has to make a difference in people's lives.