Minister expects agencies to work collaboratively after Social Sector Trials

Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron said that Social Development Minister and Acting Minister for Youth Hon. Anne Tolley had advised him to hold local social sector agencies “feet to the fire” if necessary to ensure that they continue to work collaboratively with the end of the Social Sector Trials.

Minister Tolley along with local MP for Rangitikei Ian McKelvie, and MP for Taranaki-King Country Barbara Kuriger, were in Taumarunui today meeting with Council, government agencies and other social service providers to get a feel for how social support services are being delivered and to identify any service or resource gaps.

The Minister and MPs met with Mayor Cameron, Council Chief Executive Clive Manley and Policy Analyst and Youth Liaison Samantha Arthur-Curtis to discuss Council’s views on local social service delivery, associated issues and the work of the Ruapehu Youth Council.

Minister Tolley acknowledged the success of the Taumarunui Social Sector Trials and the work Council and other local agencies have been doing with youth.

“Whatever you have been doing has certainly been working.”

“I have expectations that (social sector) agencies continue to cooperate and work collectively post Social Sector Trials and expect I should be advised if that wasn’t the case,” she said.

Mayor Cameron said that since the end of the Social Sector Trials all the agencies involved have continued to meet and share information on a regular basis.

“Locally we have identified a number of core projects that we are going to continue with including a focus on truancy, food in schools and the driver training programme,” he said.

“We know from experience with Ruapehu College in Ohakune that problems with truancy can be turned around with the school, community, iwi and other agencies working together in the right way.”

“Likewise we know that not having a Drivers Licence is often the way kids first come before the courts.”

“Having a Drivers Licence also allows them to pursue work opportunities especially in rural Ruapehu with no public transport.”

Mayor Cameron added that Council is currently developing a Social Policy aimed at helping to ensure that the opportunities from the Regional Economic Action Plan Accelerate25 were available to all Ruapehu communities.

“The implementation of the Accelerate25 Action Plan has the potential to change many of our towns significantly.”

“We don’t want to see the gap between our wealthiest and poorest communities widen any further,” he said.

Policy Analyst and Youth Liaison Samantha Arthur-Curtis also provided the Minister with an overview of the range of activities the Youth Council was undertaking along with some of the challenges engaging with youth provided.

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