10. Question No. 10—EmploymentHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti) to the Minister of EmploymentQuestion No. 10—Employment10. Hon MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti) to the Minister of Employment: What primary announcements has he made about assisting rangatahi into employment or training? Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister of Employment): Last week I announced over $7.2 million in funding to expand some of our community-led He Poutama Rangatahi (HPR) employment programmes across the Hawke's Bay Ngati Porou Ruatōria and Eastern Bay of Plenty aimed at rangatahi—young people—not engaged in education employment or training. We're investing in a variety of services to help these young people find their feet in the world of work and education. Access to employment and training makes a real difference for young people who aren't currently earning or learning. It also delivers benefits for the entire community. We know our young people can be hardest hit by economic downturns and we're committed to ensuring groups with historically poor outcomes are not left behind as we recover from the impacts of COVID-19.Hon Meka Whaitiri: How would the new funding assist more rangatahi into employment training or training?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: The programmes that have secured an extension to their funding have a proven track record of delivering successful HPR programmes—for example in Hastings the youth connector programme has already supported 143 rangatahi into employment training or further education and has received funding to help a further 180 rangatahi to reach their potential. We're having some great work down there done by the Hastings mayor. In the Bay of Plenty the exploration activation and thrive programme in Ōpōtiki has helped more than 70 rangatahi into employment and training and now has funding to work with a further 90 rangatahi. In Ruatōria the Ka Hao te Rangatahi programme has already helped 10 rangatahi into employment or training in biodiversity enhancement and erosion mitigation and they've been funded for a further 12 positions. In total this new funding combined will assist more than 800 disengaged young people.Hon Meka Whaitiri: How will He Poutama Rangatahi assist young people impacted by COVID-19?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Since the start of HPR in 2018 more than 4500 young people have re-engaged through these programmes with more than 1803 already moving into employment or training and 87 percent of all participants are Māori or Pasifika young people. As part of Budget 2020 a further $120 million was set aside to expand the programme particularly into our urban areas of South and West Auckland Wellington and Christchurch. The communities and people we work with are not only already facing complex issues; they're also amongst those most likely to be adversely affected by COVID-19 and the resulting recession. Our HPR programmes are flexible and agile and work alongside communities and people to find what will work for them in the new environment. In summary I want to thank all our contract providers who are supporting our young people to engage in work or training and I want to thank particularly our Māori caucus our Māori Minister and this wonderful Government that has done so well over the last three years.