7. Hon TAU HENARE (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What announcements has she made that will invest in young people who are not in education, training, or work?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
We have announced radical changes for young people aged 16 and 17, and teen parents aged 18 as well, which will transform the way the Government provides not just financial assistance but also services to these young people. We have anywhere between 7,000 and 13,500 young people aged 16 and 17 who are not in education, training, or work. It is estimated that up to 90 percent of this group will end up on an adult benefit unless we intervene. We will be intervening.
What will be different for those receiving benefits, particularly for teen parents, and especially those living in the electorate of Te Atatū?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
The other group we are concentrating on a lot are teen parents, including those in Te Atatū. We are moving to a far more targeted supportive approach. It is of real concern to me and to this Government that we have young people with very small babies, who are quite isolated, on their own, and need our support. We are determined to wrap more around them and also help them with financial assistance, budgeting, parenting courses, and the like.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Tēnā koe, Mr Speaker. Kia ora tātou. What arrangements will the Government recommend to enable tertiary institutions and training providers to take on more students in order to truly invest in the potential of all of our young people to succeed in education, training, and work?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Actually, work for teen parents is of particular importance for their education and training—and is also important for young Māori and young Māori mums. We are very keen to work with wānanga, polytechs, and other organisations to make sure that some of those Youth Guarantee places are used for teen parents, and that it is a wraparound service. We see some of it being in homes, but I know that the Minister of Education and the Minister for Tertiary Education have a number of initiatives also encouraging more places for those most vulnerable.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
How non-governmental organisations work with these groups, particularly these teen parents, will really be the measure of the success of the initiatives we announced on Sunday. We can envisage organisations such as the Waipareira Trust, for example, Presbyterian Support New Zealand, or some iwi-based organisations having a wraparound service, particularly with young mums, ensuring that they have education and training. When it comes to the Youth Transition Service and making sure we have those organisations working with it, we see that very much as an investment approach. Less is spent on those who are lower risk, and we are spending more money on those who are higher risk, to make sure there is value, and to make sure that we do not see organisations just picking off the easy kids but that they are wanting to work with the more difficult ones, as well. Those relationships are vital.