Latest news with #MTFJ
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Jobs Programme Funding Cut Confirmed
Two North Canterbury councils now have significantly less funding to support local youth into jobs. The Hurunui and Kaikōura district councils will receive just $130,000 and $100,000 respectively over the next 12 months to fund their successful Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programmes, a youth employment scheme. The Government is targeting getting young people off a jobseekers' benefit, which has led to the Ministry of Social Development changing its funding criteria for the MTFJ programme. It now means instead of helping school leavers, the new programmes will be primarily supporting those on a jobseekers' benefit. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said her council's new target is to place 15 young people into sustainable employment, with the new measure meaning they need to be in the job for at least six months instead of three months. Despite a significant funding cut, Mrs Black said she is confident her team will surpass the new target and achieve other goals. But she admits she is disappointed at the changes to the scheme. ''There is a bit of a trend. A lot of 16-year-olds are leaving school and some are ready for work and others need a lot more support and we can't let those young people down. ''The MTFJ programme has really reached into the community. Our schools understand it and our wonderful employers understand it and people reach out to see if there's a way to help, and it's important we keep that strength. ''The part that saddens me the most is the scheme was put in place to support rural job seekers who were disadvantaged by distance, but because it has been successful our larger neighbours have taken it up. ''But we won't lose sight of the purpose of the scheme.'' To ensure young school leavers are not left behind, the Hurunui District Council has started up a new SEED course to support school leavers. It is similar to programmes being run in other districts and is being privately funded, with no ratepayer money required, Mrs Black said. She said the new course will complement the MTFJ programme and provide support to young people before they enter employment or further study. Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle said his worst fears were confirmed, as his council's new contract has seen its funding slashed from $260,000 to $100,000 from July 1. ''We've still got to do what we can, but I'm very disappointed. ''We are going to have to go through things with a fine-tooth comb. ''We've got a plan, but we will need to see if can pull it off.'' The jobs programme has helped young people aged 16-25 into work through driver licensing, careers advice and guidance, interview skills, preparing CVs, work experience and transport.
Scoop
13-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
New Course Helps Youth Find Their Path
A new 16-week course is set to bridge the gap between school and the next step for young people in Hurunui District. The first programme of its kind in the Hurunui, the SEED course was inspired by similar programmes being run in Waimakariri and other districts, Hurunui District Council SEED Youth Connector Jakob Eder (26) says. The new course will complement the Hurunui Mayors Taskforce for Jobs programme, providing additional support to young people before they take that next step into MTFJ, employment or further study. 'Many young people don't have a clear plan for when they leave school and are not ready for work. In a rural district, the transition is even harder,' Eder says. 'Limited access to public transport, isolation, and a lack of exposure to potential career paths can leave school leavers unsure of what's out there, or where to start. Without the chance to try different options, choosing a direction after school can feel like a leap into the unknown. 'SEED helps young people create a plan for their lives, and then breaks it down into manageable, bite-sized steps.' The course includes 'taster days' with local businesses such as Bain Road Wines or Broomfield Preschool to provide insights into a range of industries. Complementing these will be community days, short courses to develop interests and skills and increase work readiness, and personal development. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading 'The support and willingness shown by local businesses to get involved and put aside time to engage with us has been incredibly rewarding. For young people, it just needs a little spark to expose them to something they've never experienced, and it's looking at how we can connect them to that.' Giving back to the community is important to young people, Eder says, and the community days will be a chance to do that, whether helping for a few hours at Inspire Food Bank or planting with the Birdsong Project. Short courses include car maintenance with Mockett's Motors, First Aid, and Learner Driver licensing. Eder is no stranger to supporting young people. With a background that includes four years with Camp America, working with young people over a range of activities from lifeguarding to sports; coaching and refereeing basketball at primary and high schools; and coaching the U21 New Zealand Korfball team all the way to the World Champs in Turkey, Eder is skilled at helping young people strive toward their goals. Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black says the value of the SEED course is helping young people become work ready, including having that valuable work reference. 'This can be difficult for young people without work experience to obtain but Jakob can provide a reference that endorses that young person, that they consistently turned up, participated in community projects and have undertaken personal development and training.' Full transport is also provided for young people to attend the course, Mayor Black said, with young people being picked up and dropped off at their homes. The SEED course has been made possible through funding from the Snowgrass Charitable Trust. Referrals to the course are through schools, MTFJ or by directly contacting Eder at The first course starts on 30 June 2025.
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Support Young People Before They Go On A Benefit, Mayors Say
Article – David Hill – Local Democracy Reporter Two Canterbury mayors say the government shouldn't tamper with their youth job programme. 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. 'But their hearts will always hold Kaikōura as home, and hopefully we see them find a way back here in the future.'
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Support Young People Before They Go On A Benefit, Mayors Say
Article – David Hill – Local Democracy Reporter Two Canterbury mayors say the government shouldn't tamper with their youth job programme. 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. 'But their hearts will always hold Kaikōura as home, and hopefully we see them find a way back here in the future.'
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.
