11. Question No. 11—EmploymentDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of EmploymentQuestion No. 11—Employment11. Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of Employment: What are the criteria for entry into his six employment programmes and how is success measured?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House) on behalf of the Minister of Employment: Each individual programme has a different set of criteria that would take far too long to go through—Hon Members: Free Willy!SPEAKER: Order! Order! It's a very old joke and it'll stop.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Each individual programme has a different set of criteria that would take far too long to go through but as examples: the employment programme Mana in Mahi is open to all New Zealanders who are either unemployed or at risk of long-term unemployment; He Poutama Rangatahi requires participants to be between the ages of 15 and 24 not engaged in education employment or training; our skills hubs have no criteria for entry and will work with anyone who needs help connecting to employment across a wide range of industry. In answer to the second part of the question these programmes are measured by a range of success measures from the number of people now engaged directly into training or in employment to the number of people who have been connected through jobs hubs to specific industries. We also measure success in other ways. Take for example the young solo mother who started the He Poutama Rangatahi programme with no confidence or family support. Not only is she now working full-time more importantly she's regained her self-confidence and pride and is excited about the future and that's the sort of success that we should all be proud of.Dr Shane Reti: When he said last week he would look into a Work and Income telephone call telling us that those over 24 definitely cannot enrol in Mana in Mahi has he looked into it given a phone call today to exactly the same Work and Income New Zealand number repeated exactly the same information from last week?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes the Minister has indeed looked into it. He has reinforced with all those concerned what the criteria for those programmes are. If that information is still being delivered it is incorrect.Dr Shane Reti: When he said last week that the success of his programmes was aligned with the lowest unemployment rate for Māori over the last decade what is the unemployment rate for Māori over the last decade?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The lowest rate over a decade—we have 7.8 percent in June 2019. The last time the Māori unemployment rate was lower was in June 2008 when it was 7.2 percent.Dr Shane Reti: Why is there no documented success for He Poutama Rangatahi given that an Official Information Act (OIA) request asking for information pointing to the success of the programme was returned with I am refusing your request as the information does not exist."?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I reject the premise of the member's question.Dr Shane Reti: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave to table an OIA request with that document I've just referenced. SPEAKER: I think it might be an OIA reply; is that right?Dr Shane Reti: An OIA reply.SPEAKER: OK. Leave is sought for the tabling of that document. Is there any objection? There appears to be none.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Kiritapu Allan: What are the criteria for entry into Mana in Mahi and how is success measured?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: To be very clear for those who are confused: anyone who is at risk at becoming long-term unemployed and who'll benefit from Mana in Mahi is potentially eligible for the programme. In fact 15 percent of participants are over the age of 25 with more than 50 people over the age of 30. In terms of measuring the success of the Mana in Mahi programme each participant who starts a placement is in full-time employment from day one. The fact that 80 percent of people who started Mana in Mahi 50 of whom had already spent more than two years on a benefit have not returned to a benefit highlights the success of the programme.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Supplementary question.SPEAKER: The Rt Hon Winston Peters with a warning—I've seen that smile.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Ha ha! Well for the comfort zone of some in this House will Mana in Mahi still exist on 20 September this year?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: If the parties in this Government are re-elected absolutely yes.Hon David Bennett: Is it open for seniors though?SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will leave me out of it."