Latest news with #MarieBlack
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.
1News
26-06-2025
- Business
- 1News
Council land banks to prepare for future natural disasters
In a "uniquely Hurunui" move, a North Canterbury council is land banking to prepare for future natural disasters and the threat of climate change. The growing risk of sea level rise to its beach communities has led to the Hurunui District Council buying a $3.8m block of land south of Amberley. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said buying the land gave people options and allowed them to prepare for future events. "This land purchase is about putting people first, providing security in mitigating against the effects of coastal hazards, while leading the way in proactive coastal relocation." The Ashworths Rd property was on a terrace elevated over 20m above sea level and had the potential to be developed into residential housing in the future. ADVERTISEMENT The council has worked with its beach communities to develop coastal adaptation plans, with one of the options being proactive relocation. Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the initiative was "a uniquely Hurunui solution" and he was unaware of other councils proactively buying land for relocation. It made good fiscal sense to take advantage of a block of land coming on to the market and "land banking at today's prices," he said. "Currently, when natural hazards trigger action, it is central and local government that pick up the costs and they are generally big numbers. "After the earthquakes and after the storm in Hawke's Bay, people were forced to relocate and you can see that it triggers a lot of trauma and financial uncertainty. "But this gives people a pathway." The Amberley Beach village in particular was under threat from sea level rise, he said. ADVERTISEMENT The council recently worked with residents to construct a new coastal bund, a type of embankment to offer protection against the sea. It was loan funded at the request of ratepayers in the village, who are paying it off via a targeted rate. The $3.8m property purchase has been debt funded. The council would look to recover costs through a mixed model approach, including the future development of the land, the sale of surplus land and leasing out the land to recover some costs. Affected communities could secure sections by paying a targeted rate over the next 30 years or buying sections. "This is designed to be self-funded, so it doesn't become a burden on ratepayers," Dobbie said. When residents joined the initiative, their plot of land would be attached to their existing property, so the two properties could not be sold separately. ADVERTISEMENT When the time came, residents could transport their house to the new section or build onsite. The council would also be able to relocate its infrastructure or assets, if required. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Hurunui Council Reveals Average Rates Increase Of 3.37%
Hurunui ratepayers will see an average rates rise of 3.37%, with Council adopting its Annual Plan for 2025/26 yesterday. The Plan outlines how Council will pay for key infrastructure and services over the next financial year, and signals key changes from Year 2 of the Long Term Plan. The biggest change is the reduction of the average rates increase from the 14.49% forecast in the Long Term Plan down to 3.37%. This reflects changes to anticipated funding from Waka Kotahi NZTA coming in lower than hoped for, resulting in a reassessment of the Roading programme. Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black congratulated Council officers and elected members for their diligent work in achieving the balance between progressing significant capital works and 'understanding and respecting the needs of our community'. The Annual Plan was delivered with an unbalanced budget, with Council's Chief Financial Officer Jason Beck noting that rates could have been set higher but a decision was made in the interests of being fiscally prudent on behalf of the community. Operational spending is set at $74,474,564, against operating revenue of $68,363,190. This has resulted in an operating deficit of $10,353,719, with Council staging in the funding of depreciation. Total rates for the 12 months ahead have been set at $34,355,661. Council CEO Hamish Dobbie added his congratulations. 'The government wants to put on rate capping as a tool to rein in rates increases but this Council has worked really hard to come up with a plan that is affordable.' The average rates increase is slightly adjusted from the 3.31% forecast in the draft Plan following Council deliberations on submissions. Hurunui communities were consulted on the draft plan from 30 April to 30 May 2025. A total of 43 written submissions were received. Following deliberations, the following changes were made to the draft 2025/26 Annual Plan budget: $20,000 increase to the Contestable Fund allocation for the South Ward. Reforecasting of the operational budget for the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa. New footpaths for Cheviot, to be funded through the reintroduction of the Cheviot Roadside Construction Rate. The deferral of the Glass Collection Rate for the Amberley township until 1 July 2026. Forecasting the capital expenditure in the 2024/25 year for the Amberley Beach Proactive Relocation project. Making provision for the proposed sealing project for Maskells Road with the 50% funding coming from the affected ratepayers. Provision of grant funding of $20,000 to the Queen Mary Hospital Historic Reserve Charitable Trust. Additional grant funding of $5,000 to the St James Trails Trust. Council at its meeting also adopted the Fees and Charges for 2025/26, including, for the first time, the Soldiers' Block building at Queen Mary Hospital Historic Reserve. The final Annual Plan 2025/26 and Fees and Charges will be published on Council's website at and will also be available at Council's service centres and libraries.
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.
RNZ News
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Support young people before they go on a benefit, mayors say
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: Hurunui District Council / supplied 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. Marie Black. Photo: Hurunui District Council 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. 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 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. Kaikōura youth attended a taster mechanic course at Ara in Christchurch earlier this year. Photo: Kaikōura Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs 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.'' LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
