I was pleased to see the first report produced by the Poverty Taskforce. I was keen to have a proper study done to examine the perception that people are not taking jobs that are on offer. Employers have responded by showing that they need experience. Many people just do not have sufficient experience to get jobs.
Experience is more and more significant than qualifications.
The report has given the Taskforce and the Canterbury Development Corporation a degree of direction to do a lot more work on the problem. We have dipped into the larder and used up all our labour capital. We now have to see some pressure-cooker training. This is something we really have to face. This Poverty Taskforce report gives us quite interesting perspectives.