8. Question No. 8—EmploymentHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister of EmploymentQuestion No. 8—Employment8. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister of Employment: Does he agree with the Prime Minister that Mana in Mahi will provide places for up to 4000 young people"?Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister of Employment): The Prime Minister said that at the launch of Mana in Mahi in August of 2018 and I absolutely agree with the context of her statement which was that our aspiration is to have up to 4000 places available. I also agree with the Minister of Finance who said the Wellbeing Budget boosts Mana in Mahi the programme that subsidises employers to take on apprentices "extending the places available from 150 to almost 2000 and progresses towards [our] goal of 4000 places". Hon Louise Upston: When did the Minister have the conversation with the Prime Minister to advise her that the 4000 placements were too aspirational for him to deliver?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: I speak with the Prime Minister all the time and the 4000 remains aspirational. I'm sure after four years when we're going to get to 2000 people we'll be looking at that number.Hon Louise Upston: How does the Minister reconcile the written question response stating that the Ministry of Social Development expects to deliver 2000 placements by June 2023 with previous Government statements including that from the Prime Minister that up to 4000 places will be available by the end of 2019? Hon WILLIE JACKSON: As I said earlier the Prime Minister was talking about an aspiration. I support and this Government supports that aspiration. Kieran McAnulty: What is significant about the people participating in Mana in Mahi? Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Mana in Mahi is opening up career pathways for all Kiwis with a targeted focus on our young people. It is especially pleasing to see that many participants are moving from long periods on a benefit into skills development while they are working. In fact 39 percent have already spent more than one year receiving a benefit before starting the programme. As Minister of Employment I want to see labour markets that all our people can participate in. Hon Louise Upston: When will the number of Mana in Mahi placements exceed the number of young people that are joining the dole?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: In time. Hon Louise Upston: Of the 5500 young people that have joined the dole since that Government has been in office what percentage are enrolled in Mana in Mahi? Hon WILLIE JACKSON: In terms of the percentage in terms of Mana in Mahi we're at a point where we're at in terms of the percentage—we're at a percentage that is at a lower rate than the unemployment rate.Hon Louise Upston: Ha ha! Sorry Mr Speaker. Is Mana in Mahi just another one of the Government's broken promises letting down some of our most vulnerable young New Zealanders?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: No not at all. In fact Mana in Mahi has been a huge success. We have an 84 percent success rate in terms of young people not going back to the dole—84 percent. Now I know the member has problems with numbers but it's 84 percent not going back on an unemployment benefit. That is a huge success for Mana in Mahi and for this Government.Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern: What reports has he seen recently on Mana in Mahi placements and can he confirm stories such as those of the young person who was on an unemployment benefit for a number of years due to longstanding mental health issues and has now found employment that has given them hope and dignity because of Mana in Mahi?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Absolutely. Thank you to the Prime Minister. We have these types of stories coming through all the time—all the time—and we care about these individuals.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Making it up.Hon WILLIE JACKSON: They've been long-term beneficiaries—long-term beneficiaries.SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will resume his seat. The Hon Gerry Brownlee will stand withdraw and apologise.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I withdraw and apologise. I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It would help me to know what I'm apologising for.SPEAKER: The member is a member of considerable experience and he would know that both myself and my predecessor and his predecessor repeatedly ruled out as disorderly and inappropriate the interjection that he just made. The Hon Willie Jackson—I did interrupt; the member's had enough has he?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: In terms of the stories the stories are endless in terms of Mana in Mahi. We're really proud of this and we're shocked that the National Party is continually condemning our young people. Eighty-four percent of these young people are not going back on unemployment benefits—what part of that does the National Party not understand? Eighty-four percent."