With $8.85 million from the provincial growth fund, the former Pacific Employment Support Service, now Tupu Aotearoa, expanded to the South Island for the first time as Pacific Trust Otago chief executive Lester Dean and Oamaru Pacific Island Community Group president Hana Halalele signed a collaboration agreement with Ministry for Pacific Peoples chief executive Laulu Mac Leauanae at a morning ceremony in Dunedin's Distinction Hotel.
Mr Dean said his organisation, based in Caversham, was supporting a young, growing population where many youth in the community did not have driver's licences, many had not finished high school and there were literacy, numeracy and financial issues.
"We have a lot of people on low income, unemployed - we have a lot of young people and there's a real need for some leadership in that field to help young people," he said.
"Most of the work we do is needs-based. They're real needs; we haven't imagined them. This one is about a real need. We're trying to find Pacific solutions for our own problems."
To be eligible for the support, candidates must be between the ages of 15 and 39 and not in employment, education or training.
Mrs Halalele, who is also standing for the Waitaki District Council, said Pacific Island youth "definitely" need a helping hand, and in Oamaru they would now be provided with literacy tutors, a social worker and a community support worker.
"I think this is a really good chance to try and do some one-on-one work ... and upskill them and provide them with other opportunities," she said.
Before the provincial growth funding, for the past nine years the programme has helped 2246 Pacific young people in Auckland and Hamilton, placing 1072 in employment and nearly 700 in training.
Since rebranding, programmes have been launched in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Manawatu-Whanganui in July. Next week a programme will be launched in Hawke's Bay.
