Council supports move to get more Maori into film industry

Manukau City Council is funding a feasibility study aimed at helping young Maori in Manukau to get into the film industry through industry-based training.

The Council has given $10,000 towards the Maori Movie Pilot Training study being designed and run by well known Maori actor and director Don Selwyn.

Maori are 18% of Manukau's population but make up one third of the city's unemployed. Most of those jobseekers lack the qualifications or skills needed by employers.

One of the employment priorities outlined in "Tomorrow's Manukau", the action plan which guides the Council's long term decision-making, is to help create more jobs and opportunity for local Maori. The film training initiative is one step towards achieving that target.

Film production has a bright future in New Zealand and the government has identified it as a growth industry over the next decade. Currently it generates as much revenue as the wine industry and marine exports.

Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis says, "There is a lot of talent out in the community being wasted. The key to changing that is to get the practical skills and training that will provide a foot in the door. With luck this venture will give them with the break they need.

"Don Selwyn knows the industry inside out and he is the right person to run this project as he is Maori himself."

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