3. MOANA MACKEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Youth Affairs
He aha ngāripoatakuawhiwhi e ia mōngāwhakatutukinga mahi e pāana ki te hunga rangatahi Māori e whai mahi ana?
[What reports has she received on the performance of Māori youth in employment?]
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Youth Affairs) Link to this
Kua kite au itētahi o ngāripoata e kīana e kaha e ngā rangatahi kia whai mahi. He mea tino pai rawa atu tērā.
[I have seen one of the reports stating that Māori youth in employment is strong. That is really wonderful.]
I have been advised that the household labour force survey shows that the number of Māori youth aged between 15 and 19 years in employment increased between 1999 and 2006 by 25 percent. This is a greater increase than the overall change in this age group. Also, these statistics show that the rate of unemployed Māori youth aged between 15 and 19 years decreased by nearly 20 percent over the same period. This shows a strong commitment by this Government to getting young Māori people into work, further education, training, or employment.
What reports has the Minister seen on progress to reduce the number of Māori young people receiving the unemployment benefit?
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA Link to this
Unlike this Government, the previous Government did not seem to care about young people. In 1999, when Labour came into Government, the number of Māori aged between 18 and 19 years who were on the unemployment benefit stood at nearly 6,000, and now there are only 875 Māori aged between 18 and 19 years on the unemployment benefit. There is a good story.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The member has a relatively strong voice and she is talking quite loudly, but I am having trouble hearing those figures. Can she be asked to repeat them, please?
Madam SPEAKERYes, I was having trouble at the end, too. The point is that if members make throwaway comments about others that have no relevance to the question, then they can expect to get a response in this House. I ask all members to stick in future to asking and answering them without superfluous comment.
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA Link to this
This Government is making a difference in ensuring that young Māori are actively engaged. In fact, the employment statistics show that when Labour came into office in 1999 the number of unemployed young Māori aged between 18 and 19 stood at 6,000, and now it is 875. That is a good story that shows that more young Māori are in work, and more young Māori are being encouraged to stay in education, or get further training, and get a job.