Shanks Katrina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Shanks Katrina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:656;Page:5588] 
6.  
KATRINA SHANKS (National) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What reports has she seen that support the employment opportunities in the Government’s Youth Opportunities package? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 I am pleased to say that I have seen a report from the ministry that shows that at the end of yesterday 414 Job Ops positions for young people have been put forward by employers. We are getting young New Zealanders into those employment opportunities quickly. Already 55 young people have started work and a further 79 young people are close to being placed in these roles. We are working hard with employers and community groups to ensure we back our young people in these tougher economic times. 
Katrina Shanks 
: What other reports has the Minister heard that support those employment opportunities for young people? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: I have seen a report that the ministry is placing young people who have either never been in employment before or been out of employment for quite some time. I heard a media report on  
Nine to Noon  
on Radio New Zealand National of a restaurant owner in Te Kuiti who was on the verge of hiring possibly one person but since he heard about this programme he has taken on another person and he has now hired two people. Those two young women aged 18 and 20 had left school and had never worked before. Those entry-level roles are giving them the opportunity they need to get the experience skills and on-the-job training to further themselves. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: What proportion of those young people does the Minister expect will still be in work 6 months from now given that her own department’s website promotes the scheme to business by stating: “There is no expectation that the opportunity will lead to a long-term or permanent role.”? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: That is quite correct; that is the way the programme is designed. It is for 6 months. We have been quite up front about that. What that member might not realise is that young people are really disadvantaged in the workplace. They do not have a reference to take in to a job they do not have skills and they do not have work experience. That 6 months will give them work experience and if they do well it will give them a really positive reference to take on to their next job. That is as much as this opportunity is about. 
Katrina Shanks 
: Has the Minister seen any other reports on the Government’s Youth Opportunities package? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: Actually I have. I have seen a report that says it is “a step in the right direction” and “Any initiative that creates opportunities for young people is to be welcomed.” That was from the member who promptly stood up just before and bagged the programme. She herself stood up and said not long ago that it was a step in the right direction. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: How many Maori organisations have expressed an interest in taking up the Community Max programme and what are the types of projects that Maori communities are coming forward with? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: In total to date we have received 119 registrations of interest for the Community Max programme. Of these I believe around 40 percent are from Maori organisations. Some of them are from Maori trusts and others are from Maori community groups. There is a wide range of community projects and an example is a Maori organisation in Rotorua that has come forward with a project to renovate their marae. They are looking at taking on five young people on the Community Max programme over a 7 to 8-month period. Another Maori organisation in Dannevirke is looking at setting up a Maori library and is bringing young people on board to do that job as well. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: I seek leave to table two documents. One is the criteria listed on the Work and Income website for the Job Ops scheme. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: The second document is my entire press statement released in response to the Government’s Job Ops scheme. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member is seriously seeking leave to table her press statement? 
Jacinda Ardern 
: Yes. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member is seeking leave to table her press statement. Is there any objection to that document being tabled? There is objection.