Latest news with #KaikōuraMTFJ


Scoop
10-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Support Young People Before They Go On A Benefit, Mayors Say
Two Canterbury mayors say the government shouldn't tamper with their youth job programme. The government is targeting getting young people off Jobseeker Support, which has led to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) changing its funding criteria for the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programme, a youth employment scheme. But Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle said the programme helps support school leavers into employment so they don't end up on a benefit in the first place. ''Here's a solution, if you're worried about young people going on a benefit, put more resourcing into MTFJ,'' Mackle said. The jobs programme helps young people aged 16-25 into work through driver licensing, career advice and guidance, interview skills, preparing CVs, work experience and transport. The Kaikōura MTFJ programme's funding is set to be slashed from $260,000 to $100,000 for the next 12 months from July 1. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said the Hurunui MTFJ programme is also facing a funding cut, but didn't want to give a figure. Black said young people needed fulfilment, so getting them into employment was essential. The mayors were responding to a comment from Social Development Minister Louise Upston in a statement following last month's Budget. ''Recent forecasts show that people under the age of 25 on Jobseeker Support will spend an average of 18 or more years on a benefit over their lifetimes,'' Upston said. Young people are eligible for Jobseeker Support from age 18. The government plans to introduce parental means testing for 18- and 19-year-olds in a bid to push more unemployed young people into work. MSD group general manager insights Fleur McLaren said modelling in 2023 suggested Jobseeker clients under age 25 were likely to spend an average 18.2 future years on a benefit, compared to an estimated 12.2 future years in 2017. She said it was due to several factors, including a challenging economic outlook, complex issues such as mental health, and the difficulty getting off the benefit. MSD is basing its MTFJ funding for the next 12 months, from 1 July, on the number of 18- to 24-year-olds on Jobseeker Support. Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said it will take time for the economy to fully recover. ''With every recession, it takes a while to recover, but there's always a couple green shoots coming through and we can see that in the primary sector.'' Te Hā o Mātauranga (Learning in Kaikōura) holds the MTFJ contract for the Kaikōura District Council. ''One of my concerns is that our government seems to be leaving it to families to stop their young people entering the benefit system, rather than helping young people to gain employability skills and find work,'' Te Hā operations lead Vicki Gulleford said. She said young people started leaving school from the age of 16 but there are few options. There is no tertiary education in Kaikōura and polytechs do not offer student accommodation to under-18s. Gulleford said there needed to be support from families, employers and the wider community to help Kaikōura youth find a pathway. ''We have heard from different youth over the years that they will go away, that Kaikōura doesn't hold a future employment pathway for them.


Otago Daily Times
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
'Here's a solution': Support Canterbury's young people before they go on a benefit
Mocketts Motors owner Chris Gudsell (left), automotive engineering apprentice Marco Shepherd, Hurunui Mayor Marie Black, and Hurunui District Council MTFJ programme lead Chris Sutherland and MTFJ youth connector Anna Scott, look under the bonnet of Chris's orange-and-black 1971 Valiant Pacer 3 speed, which can be spotted at the workshop when it is not at a car show. Photo: Supplied by Hurunui District Council Two Canterbury mayors say the Government shouldn't tamper with their youth job programme. The Government is targeting getting young people off a jobseekers' benefit, which has led to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) changing its funding criteria for the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programme, a youth employment scheme. But Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle said the programme helps support school leavers into employment, so they don't end up on a benefit in the first place. ''Here's a solution, if you're worried about young people going on a benefit, put more resourcing into MTFJ,'' Mr Mackle said. The jobs programme helps young people aged 16-25 into work through driver licensing, career advice and guidance, interview skills, preparing CVs, work experience and transport. The Kaikōura MTFJ programme's funding is set to be slashed from $260,000 to $100,000 for the next 12 months from July 1. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said the Hurunui MTFJ programme is also facing a funding cut but didn't want to give a figure. Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle (left) and the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs programme supported Courtney Burke to step up to be a diesel mechanic with her employer Sam Lewthwaite last year. Photo: David Hill / North Canterbury News Mrs Black said young people needed fulfilment, so getting them into employment was essential. The mayors were responding to a comment from Social Development Minister Louise Upston in a statement following last month's Budget. ''Recent forecasts show that people under the age of 25 on jobseeker support will spend an average of 18 or more years on a benefit over their lifetimes,'' Ms Upston said. Young people are eligible for a jobseeker benefit from age 18. The Government plans to introduce parental means testing for 18 and 19-year-olds in a bid to push more unemployed young people into work. MSD group general manager insights Fleur McLaren said modelling in 2023 suggested jobseeker clients under age 25 were likely to spend an average 18.2 future years on a benefit, compared to an estimated 12.2 future years in 2017. Kaikōura youth attended a taster mechanic course at Ara in Christchurch earlier this year. Photo: Supplied by Kaikōura Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs She said it was due to several factors, including a challenging economic outlook, complex issues such as mental health, and the difficulty getting off the benefit. MSD is basing its MTFJ funding for the next 12 months, from July 1, on the number of 18 to 24 year olds on a jobseekers' benefit. Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said it will take time for the economy to fully recover. ''With every recession, it takes a while to recover, but there's always a couple green shoots coming through and we can see that in the primary sector.'' Te Hā o Mātauranga (Learning in Kaikōura) holds the MTFJ contract for the Kaikōura District Council. ''One of my concerns is that our Government seems to be leaving it to families to stop their young people entering the benefit system, rather than helping young people to gain employability skills and find work,'' Te Hā operations lead Vicki Gulleford said. She said young people started leaving school from the age of 16 but there are few options. There is no tertiary education in Kaikōura and polytechs do not offer student accommodation to under-18s. Ms Gulleford said there needed to be support from families, employers and the wider community to help Kaikōura youth find a pathway. ''We have heard from different youth over the years that they will go away, that Kaikōura doesn't hold a future employment pathway for them. ''But their hearts will always hold Kaikōura as home, and hopefully we see them find a way back here in the future.'' By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.


Scoop
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Job Funding Cuts Hit Isolated Communities
Article – David Hill – Local Democracy Reporter The Kaikura and Hurunui Mayors' Taskforce for Job programmes are set to face funding cuts, as the Government moves its focus to getting people off the benefit. Isolated North Canterbury communities look set to be the big losers in the Government's bid to get young people off the benefit. The Kaikōura and Hurunui Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programmes are likely to face cuts due to a change in funding criteria. While the new contract has yet to be signed, the Kaikōura MTFJ programme has been advised its funding will be cut from $260,000 for 30 placements to $100,000 for 12 placements from July 1. ''They have seen it work, but they kept twisting the scrum. Once they brought the larger areas in it was inevitable this would happen,'' Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle said. ''The whole idea of the programme was to help the rural areas. ''I haven't given up hope, but I've definitely lost the excitement.'' He said the success of the programme is stopping young people from going on a benefit. The programme has supported young people with driver licensing, career advice and guidance, interview skills, preparing CVs, work experience and transport, and access to mental health services. With no driver testing available in Kaikōura, the MTFJ programme has spent $22,000 this year supporting young people travel to tests in Blenheim and Rangiora – a three to four hour return trip. The programme is on track to exceed 30 sustainable placements. In contrast to its northern neighbours, the Waimakariri MTFJ programme is set to receive a funding boost. The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is basing its funding for the next 12 months, from July 1, on the number of 18 to 24 year olds on a jobseekers' benefit. Previously the programme has focused on supporting school leavers transition into work. The change is in line with the Government's push to get young people off the benefit. The funding cuts come at a time of high youth unemployment, with the latest Stats NZ data showing around 23 percent of 16 to 24 year olds are not in employment, education or training, compared to the overall 5.1% unemployment rate. MSD industry partnerships director Amanda Nicolle said MTFJ is one of a number of MSD funded programmes aimed at getting youth into employment, education or training in smaller regions. ''We provide a range of assistance aimed at getting young people into work because we understand that having sustainable employment can improve people's lives and give them independence.'' The Hurunui District Council was one of the councils which founded the MTFJ programme in 2000. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said the programme's original intent was to support rural communities, where young people have less access to services and training and education opportunities. ''Hurunui MTFJ will continue to support our young people through this programme despite the reduction of contractual capacity for the incoming year. ''The programme is effective in supporting young people, with tailored and inspired support to bridge the gap and avoid a reliance on benefit support.'' The Hurunui MTFJ programme has already exceeded its target of 20 placements, placing 53 young people in jobs. There is no MSD office in the Hurunui district, while the MTFJ programme has worked to bring driver testing into the district to help overcome the isolation. Local Democracy Reporting understands Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon plans to discuss the matter with his colleagues at the Canterbury Mayoral Forum on Friday. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.


Scoop
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Job Funding Cuts Hit Isolated Communities
Article – David Hill – Local Democracy Reporter The Kaikura and Hurunui Mayors' Taskforce for Job programmes are set to face funding cuts, as the Government moves its focus to getting people off the benefit. Isolated North Canterbury communities look set to be the big losers in the Government's bid to get young people off the benefit. The Kaikōura and Hurunui Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programmes are likely to face cuts due to a change in funding criteria. While the new contract has yet to be signed, the Kaikōura MTFJ programme has been advised its funding will be cut from $260,000 for 30 placements to $100,000 for 12 placements from July 1. ''They have seen it work, but they kept twisting the scrum. Once they brought the larger areas in it was inevitable this would happen,'' Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle said. ''The whole idea of the programme was to help the rural areas. ''I haven't given up hope, but I've definitely lost the excitement.'' He said the success of the programme is stopping young people from going on a benefit. The programme has supported young people with driver licensing, career advice and guidance, interview skills, preparing CVs, work experience and transport, and access to mental health services. With no driver testing available in Kaikōura, the MTFJ programme has spent $22,000 this year supporting young people travel to tests in Blenheim and Rangiora – a three to four hour return trip. The programme is on track to exceed 30 sustainable placements. In contrast to its northern neighbours, the Waimakariri MTFJ programme is set to receive a funding boost. The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is basing its funding for the next 12 months, from July 1, on the number of 18 to 24 year olds on a jobseekers' benefit. Previously the programme has focused on supporting school leavers transition into work. The change is in line with the Government's push to get young people off the benefit. The funding cuts come at a time of high youth unemployment, with the latest Stats NZ data showing around 23 percent of 16 to 24 year olds are not in employment, education or training, compared to the overall 5.1% unemployment rate. MSD industry partnerships director Amanda Nicolle said MTFJ is one of a number of MSD funded programmes aimed at getting youth into employment, education or training in smaller regions. ''We provide a range of assistance aimed at getting young people into work because we understand that having sustainable employment can improve people's lives and give them independence.'' The Hurunui District Council was one of the councils which founded the MTFJ programme in 2000. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said the programme's original intent was to support rural communities, where young people have less access to services and training and education opportunities. ''Hurunui MTFJ will continue to support our young people through this programme despite the reduction of contractual capacity for the incoming year. ''The programme is effective in supporting young people, with tailored and inspired support to bridge the gap and avoid a reliance on benefit support.'' The Hurunui MTFJ programme has already exceeded its target of 20 placements, placing 53 young people in jobs. There is no MSD office in the Hurunui district, while the MTFJ programme has worked to bring driver testing into the district to help overcome the isolation. Local Democracy Reporting understands Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon plans to discuss the matter with his colleagues at the Canterbury Mayoral Forum on Friday. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.


Scoop
30-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Job Funding Cuts Hit Isolated Communities
Isolated North Canterbury communities look set to be the big losers in the Government's bid to get young people off the benefit. The Kaikōura and Hurunui Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programmes are likely to face cuts due to a change in funding criteria. While the new contract has yet to be signed, the Kaikōura MTFJ programme has been advised its funding will be cut from $260,000 for 30 placements to $100,000 for 12 placements from July 1. ''They have seen it work, but they kept twisting the scrum. Once they brought the larger areas in it was inevitable this would happen,'' Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle said. ''The whole idea of the programme was to help the rural areas. ''I haven't given up hope, but I've definitely lost the excitement.'' He said the success of the programme is stopping young people from going on a benefit. The programme has supported young people with driver licensing, career advice and guidance, interview skills, preparing CVs, work experience and transport, and access to mental health services. With no driver testing available in Kaikōura, the MTFJ programme has spent $22,000 this year supporting young people travel to tests in Blenheim and Rangiora - a three to four hour return trip. The programme is on track to exceed 30 sustainable placements. In contrast to its northern neighbours, the Waimakariri MTFJ programme is set to receive a funding boost. The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is basing its funding for the next 12 months, from July 1, on the number of 18 to 24 year olds on a jobseekers' benefit. Previously the programme has focused on supporting school leavers transition into work. The change is in line with the Government's push to get young people off the benefit. The funding cuts come at a time of high youth unemployment, with the latest Stats NZ data showing around 23 percent of 16 to 24 year olds are not in employment, education or training, compared to the overall 5.1% unemployment rate. MSD industry partnerships director Amanda Nicolle said MTFJ is one of a number of MSD funded programmes aimed at getting youth into employment, education or training in smaller regions. ''We provide a range of assistance aimed at getting young people into work because we understand that having sustainable employment can improve people's lives and give them independence.'' The Hurunui District Council was one of the councils which founded the MTFJ programme in 2000. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said the programme's original intent was to support rural communities, where young people have less access to services and training and education opportunities. ''Hurunui MTFJ will continue to support our young people through this programme despite the reduction of contractual capacity for the incoming year. ''The programme is effective in supporting young people, with tailored and inspired support to bridge the gap and avoid a reliance on benefit support.'' The Hurunui MTFJ programme has already exceeded its target of 20 placements, placing 53 young people in jobs. There is no MSD office in the Hurunui district, while the MTFJ programme has worked to bring driver testing into the district to help overcome the isolation. Local Democracy Reporting understands Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon plans to discuss the matter with his colleagues at the Canterbury Mayoral Forum on Friday. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.