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Advocates fear a new 12-week limit could leave young jobseekers high and dry.
The leaders of the Kaikōura and Hurunui Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programmes say growing restrictions, including a possible a 12-week limit for working with young jobseekers, and a lack of funding are making it harder to support the most vulnerable.
But the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) says the new contract terms are still to be finalised.
Hurunui MTFJ co-ordinator Anna Scott said at a council meeting last month that since the programme was reinvigorated in 2020, young people needed different levels of support.
‘‘We have found some young people only need two weeks until they find work, but some might need support for six months and some 18 months,’’
‘‘But I will try to do the best I can to propel them into work.’’
Young people who were unable to secure employment after 12 would be were referred back to MSD.
Ms Scott said recent statistics showed one-in-six young people nationally were unemployed.
The Hurunui District Council launched its own SEED programme last year, alongside the MTFJ programme, which is a 16-week course to help local school leavers prepare for the workforce.
Te Hā o Mātauranga (Learning in Kaikōura) operations lead Vicki Gulleford said the definitions around sustainable employment, being employed full time for six months, did not reflect the realities of seasonal work in a tourist town.
‘‘There are a lot of jobs advertised right now, but these are mainly for summer positions.
‘‘There is no guarantee they will last as full job time work for six months because the summer season doesn’t always pan out.’’
Last year MSD changed the criteria to focus on getting young people off the jobseekers’ benefit, rather than helping school leavers.
It meant the Hurunui and Kaikōura programmes had their funding slashed, while other councils like Waimakariri received a funding boost.
With the jobseekers’ benefit now means tested against parents’ incomes for 18 and 19-year-olds, Ms Gulleford feared many 16 to 20-year-olds could miss out on support.
‘‘They can’t just go and do a training course, because there are few options in Kaikōura, and it’s not always that simple for them to just move to Christchurch or Blenheim.
‘‘It just feels like the whole jigsaw hasn’t been looked at as a whole.’’
Te Hā, which holds the MTFJ contract on behalf of the Kaikōura District Council, has combined its MTFJ and driving co-ordinator roles together to create a full time position.
Funding was secured recently from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to support Kaikōura youth to gain their drivers’ licences over the next three years.
The new programme will offer free learner theory lessons for 16, 17 and 18-years, up to five driving lessons in Kaikōura and up to five driving lessons in Blenheim.
Gaining a driver’s licence can be a challenge for Kaikōura youth, as they are required to travel to Blenheim or Rangiora to sit their driving tests, on roads they are unfamiliar with.
MSD industry partnerships director Amanda Nicolle said helping people find work is the agency’s our number one priority.
‘‘The new contract with LGNZ is still being finalised so no final details have been confirmed.
“The programme continues to be delivered while we work through this.’’
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
