July 02, 2019
Nefs make way for nieces in forest jobs
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says in the push to get the nefs off the couch, the nieces can't be left behind.
Mr Jones and Employment Minister Willie Jackson yesterday announced the Provincial Growth Fund was putting $420,000 into Kaikohe-based Wahine Toa, a five-month intensive pilot initiative to prepare mostly young women for training and employment in the forestry sector.
He says growing up in the far north he was aware of many of his female relatives in Te Aupouri having jobs planting and tending the state forest that runs alongside Ninety Mile Beach.
Wahine Toa is one of many programmes addressing the labour shortage in the forestry sector.
"It's not exclusively mahi for the nefs. There's plenty of opportunity. However they deserve the right training opportunity so that the attitude and they've got the necessary adaptability, and I'm particularly sensitive that our training options are not seen as so conservative they don't provide opportunities for the sisters, the daughters, the mums, the aunties, the whole nine yards," Mr Jones says.
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