November 05, 2017
Jobs focus for regional role
Pointing rangatahi to the sort of jobs that may emerge in future is the role of the Bay of Plenty’s first Kaihautu Ohanga Maori or Maori economic development navigator.
Awhina August has been appointed to the role because of the sort of work she has done over the past three years organising the regional secondary schools kapa haka competitions, matariki events, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Te Oniao Maori capability conference and last year’s national Maori housing conference.
The course is set by He Mauri Ohooho, the Bay of Plenty Maori economic development action plan.
She says 40,000 new jobs are expected in the region by 2050, and they will need a higher level of skill.
"Our median income for Maori aged 15 years and over is $22,000. We need to open up opportunities for people who are in work now, for higher skills so they can go up the ladder, and we need to make sure there are meaninful pathways for our rangatahi into meaningful roles," Ms August says.
Copyright © 2017, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com