West Coast punches above its weight in job scheme

The Team Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

The West Coast is punching above its weight in a programme delivering support for young people seeking work and in apprenticeships.

The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) has placed 230 West Coast workers in just two years, helping 3000 people across rural and provincial New Zealand in the same period.

The West Coast has the third highest MTFJ placement rate in the country, behind Waikato with 357 and Manawatu-Whanganui (293).

But given its relatively low population out of all the regions with just 32,000 people, the Coast is punching well above its weight.

The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs Community Recovery Programme began as a small Covid-19 recovery pilot in 2020 and Westland District has tapped into it.

Two years on the scheme is being held up as a good example of a grassroots employment initiative through a central and local government partnership.

Glacier Joinery in Hokitika are enthusiastic about it after becoming involved while taking on apprentice Lofa Leleifua several months ago.

Sarah Nixon of Glacier Joinery said having the ongoing mentoring support of local MTFJ co-ordinator Charlotte Bradley-Peni was a big advantage.

"It's not just financial but it's really nice for the young guys to know there is support out them for them," Nixon said.

"It has been awesome ... I wish we had known about it sooner."

From Glacier Joinery's point of view, MTFJ offered for Lofa excellent practical support, enabling the company to better support a young person they valued and could see "is going to be an awesome employee".

"It's a good head start."

Those embarking on an apprenticeship could find themselves really stretched as they moved out on their own, Nixon said.

Support to attain a tool kit or a laptop to assist training and tap into vocational skill opportunities like gaining a driver's licence was a big positive.

"It is a big investment and you want to get it right from the start. If there's a feeling of support they are more likely to stick with you all the way through."

Westland MTFJ workforce co-ordinator Charlotte Bradley-Peni said continuing the Community Resilience Programme within the district was a delight.

"It brings us great pleasure to assist rangatahi, like Lofa, in their employment journey."

The Westland team had some great local adolescent and young adult initiatives planned.

"We encourage young people to keep an eye on our social media to find out about them."

The scheme invested in the future of young people, "and by doing so we are investing in the future of our community".

Nationally, in the 2021-22 financial year the ministry contracted $14.7 million to Mayors Taskforce for Jobs. The scheme had exceeded its employment placement target by 25% in the past financial year.

This has included more than 1800 youth not in employment, education, or training, other youth, people displaced by Covid, and people with disabilities.

Of the more than 1800 benefiting, 380 have gained apprenticeships with the remaining participants gaining work.

The programme has also enabled 500 people to gain their driver licence and supported 700 education and training opportunities.

"This is a significant achievement in some of our smallest communities. It means our rural businesses struggling to find skilled workers are employing local people with local knowledge to be part of their team," MSD industry partnerships director Amanda Nicolle said.

"This programme is a leading example of what a strong partnership between local and central government can achieve for communities.

"Ultimately, it's about creating better life outcomes in rural communities and that no one is left behind."