5. TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
How is the Government’s Youth Opportunities programme making a difference in New Zealand?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
Yesterday I visited Te Māhurehure Marae for the national Women’s Refuge conference. I saw firsthand the difference that Community Max is making. When I commented on how nice the food was, I was invited into the kitchen where I met four young people who had prepared the meal. They were part of our Community Max programme, they were excited to have a job, and they were absolutely thrilled with the difference it is making in their lives.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Over 1,777 Job Ops positions have been created so far, and 1,085 Community Max positions, involving 1,475 New Zealand employers and 227 community groups, and the numbers are growing by the day.
Jacinda ArdernDoes she agree that more needs to be done to significantly reduce youth unemployment, when since she announced the scheme an additional 3,000 young people are now on the unemployment benefit alone, or is it a case of one step forward, three steps back?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
I would say two steps forward, because, as members have just heard, we are seeing that over 2,000 more young people would be on the unemployment benefit if it were not for the programmes that this Government has put in place.
What further examples can the Minister give of where the Government’s Community Max and Job Ops initiatives are making a difference?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
People are coming up with such great and innovative ideas themselves. Actually, just last week the member Rahui Katene and I were discussing some of these ideas and how we could get them out to further iwi. We have put together a set of examples of Community Max programmes for Māori, and I certainly offer it to any members of this House who would like to take those examples to the iwi and the community groups in their electorates and share those ideas so that we can get more people on these programmes.