Update: 5:37am – The Prime Minster’s announced the money will go to four regions – Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Eastern Bay of Plenty and the East Coast.
Eight million dollars in new funding is to be invested in initiatives specifically aimed at Maori in the regions.
Bill English said it’s aimed at just over 5000 youngsters who are at greatest risk of not developing good work habits over their lifetimes.
He said it’s about getting young people off benefits and into sustainable and long-term jobs.
“Shifting one young person off that track is worth it just for the Government’s books, let alone for the impact on their whole lifetime.”
Mr English said we’ve learnt from programmes like Project 1000 in Hawke’s Bay and Kaikohe Grow in Northland that there is no one-size fits all approach – and they’ll need help from employers, training providers and NGOs to make this happen.
Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges said the key to sustained regional economic growth is getting young people into long-term employment.
Minister Bridges said when the regions do well, New Zealand does well and we are already seeing the fruits of success from those programmes in Northland and Bay of Plenty.
“One of the main challenges for regions is that availability of skilled and motivated young people to fill vacancies and help businesses achieve their potential.”
Minister for Social Development Anne Tolley said these youth are not working, not training nor in any education.
“Those 5500 young people need special help. That’s what this $50 million is to be put towards.
“If you’re sitting at home with nothing to do, why wouldn’t you be experimenting with drugs. So how do you work with that young person to find the thing that sparks them to want to change.”
Labour’s police spokesman Stuart Nash not impressed by this comment saying it’s absolutely outrageous and he hopes Mrs Tolley didn’t mean what she said.
At the very least he said she should be apologising for making the comment.
“I’m a hell of a lot more aspirational for young Kiwis. I don’t think they sit at home and experiment with drugs. I don’t think we should be encouraging it. For the Minister to say ‘why wouldn’t you,’ well it’s a pretty damning indictment of how she sees our young people isn’t it.”
-NewstalkZB
