Fairbrother Russell: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Fairbrother Russell: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:609;Page:6333] 
3.  
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER (NZ Labour—Napier) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What employment outcomes have been achieved by those participating in the Ministry of Social Development’s Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment (PACE) programme? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 The Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment programme is an employment programme designed to help job seekers who have skills for employment in creative industries. One thousand two hundred and thirty employment placements have been made since the Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment programme began in November 2001. That demonstrates the success of the programme in helping people to find work in the creative sector or the more general employment area. I congratulate the Work and Income staff clients and employers who have involved themselves in this innovative programme. 
Russell Fairbrother 
: What employment opportunities exist in the creative sector and how is the Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment programme assisting job seekers to take up those opportunities? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Industry New Zealand reports estimate that the economic contribution of the creative industries is around 3.1 percent of total gross domestic product (GDP) with some $7 to $7.5 billion in domestic consumption of creative sector outputs. A figure of 3.6 percent of total employment which is over 50000 jobs is directly in the creative industries. Job growth in the sector is strong at an estimated 3.5 percent a year and the Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment programme ensures that job seekers are able to take up employment opportunities in what is a growing area of our economy. 
Katherine Rich 
: Does the Minister agree with his Associate Minister Rick Barker that “PACE is not a separate unemployment scheme; it is a resource pack” and when one of New Zealand’s most successful artists told me today that “the only true way of supporting creative people is by buying the work they have done” why does he think that handing out a bunch of Government pamphlets will do anything to create the next Michael Hight Stanley Palmer or Grahame Sydney? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: My Associate Minister and I always agree on everything. The Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment programme is essentially built around the notion that we recognise creative industries as a proper area of work. For example I would point out to the member that the most often taken-up jobs as a result of the programme are those of artist craftsperson musician film and television production staff actor sculptor painter and related artist or graphic designer—all very good jobs in the creative industries. 
Dail Jones 
: How many works of art—that is paintings poetry literature or sculpture—of even a modest significance have resulted from the resource pack entitled the Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment scheme referred to in the press statement made by Rick Barker on 3 December 2002 when 2149 people were registered on it? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I do not have a list here in the House of the artworks produced but I repeat to the member that 1230 people have found jobs through this programme. They are in mainstream areas of work within a burgeoning creative sector in our economy. If the New Zealand First Party does not want to support the creative industries that is fine. We will do that for the member. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member will please be seated. That last sentence was unnecessary. 
Sue Bradford 
: In the review of the benefit system that is currently being carried out is the Minister considering options such as annualising income for benefit purposes in relation to arts and cultural employment as well as self-employment in the broader sense? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Yes. 
Judy Turner 
: Is the Minister aware that of the placements into paid employment of those on the Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment scheme between November 2001 and March 2003 only 36 percent went into jobs that related to the arts and that that constitutes a 15 percent success rate if the total number of those on the scheme is considered? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Yes I am. I have to remind the member that what happens with the Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment scheme is that people register their interest in being in one of the categories of jobs within the creative industries. If they find a job elsewhere then that is fine. They may do that. However many artists like to find themselves a job and earn an income. That helps them to support the kind of creative industry that they wish to go into. 
Marc Alexander 
: With regard to the list of those registered on the Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment scheme released by his office in October last year can the Minister tell the House whether the eight acrobats 13 fashion models 20 television announcers and one stuffed toy - maker listed have found a job because I am sure we are all dying to know? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I am sure the member is exploring some job options for himself with that list. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Know your friends! 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Friends can always chip each other. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I objected to an answer that Mr Maharey recently gave. Surely there should not be a discriminatory rule that states that those who oppose this Government have a different rule to those who lie down as a doormat like Mr Dunne does. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is not a point of order. I took the Minister’s remark as humorous. Occasionally we have humorous remarks in this House—although it is rare I agree. 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: People can of course list their preferred options when they apply for work with Work and Income. It may well be that they move off into other jobs rather than stuffing toys.