Search help

We're here to help you to get the most out of our website's search functionality. Here are some tips and tricks to help you optimise your search experience.

Use relevant keywords

Enter specific keywords related to the information you're looking for into the free text search bar.

Using advanced search options

These include selecting themes and time periods, as well as sorting options to narrow down your search results based on your preferences, such as title, publication date or author.

Check your spelling

Double-check your spelling to make sure you've entered the correct terms. Misspelled words may yield incorrect or no results. Note that Te Hao Rangahau will search on words with or without macrons equally, eg searching Maori or Māori will return identical results.

Try different variations

If you're not getting the results you're looking for, try using different variations of your keywords or synonyms. For example, if you're searching for "papakāinga" you could also try "housing" or "whenua".

Remove filters or reset search settings

If you're not getting any results, check if you've applied any filters or settings that may be restricting your search. Clear any filters or reset your search settings to broaden your results.

Browse by category

Consider browsing through different categories to find relevant content, for example searching policy documents from one of the preset time periods. This can be especially helpful if you're not sure what specific keywords to use.

Contact us for assistance

If you're still having trouble finding what you're looking for, please don't hesitate to email us at research@msd.govt.nz.

We hope these tips help you make the most of our search feature. Happy searching!

Back

The social work reference file

Download the full report: The social work reference file (PDF 1 MB)

Date: 1987 Period: 1972-1989 File: PDF 1 MB, 36 pages

Institution: Department of Social Welfare

Amendment No. 6 to the social work manual.

The social work reference file

Related links