Latest news with #HurunuiDistrictCouncil
Scoop
11 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Support Young People Before They Go On A Benefit, Mayors Say
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. 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. 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. 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.
Otago Daily Times
16 hours ago
- 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.
Scoop
6 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Hurunui's Emergency Preparedness Builds Rural Resilience
Press Release – Hurunui District Council Backing the work of the CERTs is the ongoing development of Emergency Operations Centre staff trained Council officers who coordinate emergency responses. Over 40 staff members train monthly for the EOC, with two major exercises held a year. Hurunui District Council is strengthening community resilience and preparedness as part of its Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) work, recognising that in rural areas, emergencies are not 'if' but 'when'. An update presented to Council recently revealed the scope of work undertaken over the past six months. A highlight was last month's Hanmer Springs evacuation exercise, which saw over 100 responders, volunteers from the community, and community groups working together to successfully evacuate 120 people and check on 400 properties in just two hours. Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black, who participated in the exercise, said what was achieved in Hanmer Springs showed the incredible power of community, 'with locals taking the lead'. Council provides training and support to community-based volunteers organised in nine teams across the district. Allan Grigg, Emergency Management Officer for Hurunui District Council, said the members of these Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) manage local response operations within their communities, using local knowledge. 'The Hanmer evacuation demonstrated the value of this community-based training.' The district is also enhancing its communications capability with Starlink satellite units to be rolled out, ensuring communities can stay connected when traditional networks fail. Backing the work of the CERTs is the ongoing development of Emergency Operations Centre staff — trained Council officers who coordinate emergency responses. Over 40 staff members train monthly for the EOC, with two major exercises held a year. Hurunui youth are also stepping up to build district-wide resilience. The Youth in Emergency Services (YES) Camp in April saw 19 young people mastering emergency skills under the guidance of experienced responders. They had an opportunity to put what they had learnt to the test in the final day exercise, locating, assessing and rescuing 25 'casualties', including Mayor Black, in just 90 minutes in an earthquake scenario. 'Natural events are part of the landscape of rural life and it's vital we ensure our communities are ready when an emergency happens,' Grigg said.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Leading Economist Delivers Positive Outlook For Hurunui
Press Release – Hurunui District Council Key insights presented at the meeting for the year to March 2024 showed agriculture, forestry and fishing made up over 30% of local jobsmore than six times the national average. With NZs strong reliance on primary industries as key contributors to … New data shows Hurunui's employment landscape remains firmly grounded in its rural roots. Infometrics economist and CEO Brad Olsen visited Hurunui District last week, speaking at a public meeting in the Omihi Hall on Tuesday and visiting Hurunui businesses on Wednesday. Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black said the visit, which was organised by the Hurunui Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programme, aimed to offer valuable insights into the district's economic landscape, along with national and global trends, and to highlight innovation within Hurunui businesses in adapting to an evolving business environment. 'The public meeting represented a broad cross-section of our community, from accountants to wineries, the farming sector and cottage businesses.' Key insights presented at the meeting for the year to March 2024 showed agriculture, forestry and fishing made up over 30% of local jobs—more than six times the national average. Tourism also played a strong supporting role, with accommodation and food services employing a larger share in Hurunui, at just under 10%, than the national average at around 6.5%. With New Zealand's strong reliance on primary industries as key contributors to GDP, Hurunui is well positioned for growth. 'It was really positive to hear that in terms of jobs activity, Hurunui is currently ranking as the 7th fastest growing district for employment across New Zealand,' Mayor Black said. Over the last quarter to the year March 2024, filled jobs increased by 0.5%, with a continued positive increase over the last decade. From about 4,750 filled positions in 2013, the number has steadily climbed to over 6,100 jobs by 2025, a growth of nearly 30%. Olsen noted youth employment continues to be under-represented, both locally and nationally, representing a tougher climate for young New Zealanders. Hurunui MTFJ Employment Coordinator Chris Sutherland said: 'It was encouraging to hear Brad advocate for businesses to embrace the fresh perspectives that our young people can offer to an organisation, while also promoting the advantages of succession planning in light of our aging population demographic.' Hurunui MTFJ has successfully placed 55 young people into jobs, exceeding its target of 20 placements. 'Hurunui MTFJ has been truly effective in supporting our young people, creating opportunities through our strong community networks,' Mayor Black said. On Wednesday, Mayor Black and the Hurunui MTFJ team took Olsen on a visit to some of those businesses backing Hurunui youth, including Proseed and Arthur Burke, as well as to Heartland Homes with Vicki Foster, chair of Amberley NZ, offering a local business perspective, a visit to residents at Amberley Country Estate, and to Amberley Trader as a newly established business in the town. 'Brad commented that he learnt so much by being on the ground and speaking with our community, which adds value to his national and global perspective,' Mayor Black said.
Scoop
6 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Hurunui's Emergency Preparedness Builds Rural Resilience
Hurunui District Council is strengthening community resilience and preparedness as part of its Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) work, recognising that in rural areas, emergencies are not 'if' but 'when'. An update presented to Council recently revealed the scope of work undertaken over the past six months. A highlight was last month's Hanmer Springs evacuation exercise, which saw over 100 responders, volunteers from the community, and community groups working together to successfully evacuate 120 people and check on 400 properties in just two hours. Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black, who participated in the exercise, said what was achieved in Hanmer Springs showed the incredible power of community, 'with locals taking the lead'. Council provides training and support to community-based volunteers organised in nine teams across the district. Allan Grigg, Emergency Management Officer for Hurunui District Council, said the members of these Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) manage local response operations within their communities, using local knowledge. 'The Hanmer evacuation demonstrated the value of this community-based training.' The district is also enhancing its communications capability with Starlink satellite units to be rolled out, ensuring communities can stay connected when traditional networks fail. Backing the work of the CERTs is the ongoing development of Emergency Operations Centre staff — trained Council officers who coordinate emergency responses. Over 40 staff members train monthly for the EOC, with two major exercises held a year. Hurunui youth are also stepping up to build district-wide resilience. The Youth in Emergency Services (YES) Camp in April saw 19 young people mastering emergency skills under the guidance of experienced responders. They had an opportunity to put what they had learnt to the test in the final day exercise, locating, assessing and rescuing 25 'casualties', including Mayor Black, in just 90 minutes in an earthquake scenario. 'Natural events are part of the landscape of rural life and it's vital we ensure our communities are ready when an emergency happens,' Grigg said.
