Boost in battle against youth unemployment

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is describing two new infrastructure trades training initiative for young Maori and Pasifika announced today as providing a big boost in the battle against youth unemployment in Auckland.

A consortium led by the Southern Initiative (TSI) of Auckland Council has won a three year contract to provide trades training for around 200 Maori and Pasifika aged between 18-34 with the end goal of sustainable employment in the infrastructure and released industries.

And a group involving MIT, Unitec and Te Wananga o Aotearoa has won a contract to provide trades training focus on the construction and infrastructure trades across Auckland for around 650 students.

Speaking at the opening of the new $100 million Manukau Institute of Technology campus built above the new train station in Manukau City Centre, Len Brown says:

“Raising the skill levels of young Maori and Pasifika is a vital step in securing the future of Auckland.

This initiative will provide vision and hope for young people wanting to boost their education qualifications and employment opportunities.

The number of young people not in employment, education or training is still way too high, particularly in South Auckland.

That was part of the reason why we established the Southern Initiative as part of the Auckland Plan and this initiative is an important milestone in tackling that.”

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