May 19, 2020
Local job initiatives supported


Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Employment Minister Willie Jackson have announced almost $15 million to support skills training and education that can help regional recovery from COVID-19.
Mr Jones says it will go to organisations in some of the most vulnerable communities, covering projects in Canterbury, Manawatū-Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Te Tai Tokerau.
In Kaikoura, Bros For Change will get $510,000 for a 20-week leadership wānanga and wrap-around pastoral care programme for 36 local young people.
South Canterbury Transport and Logistics Panel will get $600,000 to expand a programme to give people the skills to work in that industry.
Rūapehu Whānau Transformation project is getting $960,000 to expand its iwi-owned recruitment service and to provide digital training programmes and industry-specific training and employment advice.
Rotorua Community Youth Trust will receive almost $1 million for a programme to connect 100 young people with local employers, building on a successful pilot last financial year that helped 25 young people into employment.
Māori-led organisation Rotomā No.1 will receive $396,000 of funding to support 50 young people to gain employment skills and begin a career pathway, and 10 forestry workers to upskill and become mentors.
Kawerau Pathways to Work will use $58,923 to connect and extend existing local projects, creating a co-ordinated backbone of employment pathways in the region and helping up to 170 Kawerau locals into jobs.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Manawa Trust will receive $2.29m to establish the Manawa Tu – Work for Life Centre in Murupara, where local people will be able to access pre-employment training and employment services to help address high unemployment in the area.
The Blue Light Youth Driver Navigator Programme will receive $3 million to support 2000 at-risk young people to gain their full driver’s licence, giving targeted support for those with different learning abilities and limited access to practice vehicles, licensing fees, and driving instructors.
The Waikato Oho Mauri project will receive $250,000 of HPR funding to engage 325 at-risk teenagers in a work readiness programme.
In Te Tai Tokerau, the Developers Institute will establish a training and employment pathway for IT graduates to gain a Diploma in Web Development and Design.
The Whangarei A&P Society Farm Internship Programme will receive $1.4m to establish a four-year training and internship programme for locals most at risk of long-term unemployment, providing job-ready interns to the local agricultural industry.
Auckland University of Technology, working with Northland Inc., will help equip 28 aspiring entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships and tools needed to develop sustainable and thriving businesses through an $83,300 grant.
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