The Taranaki Regional Skills Leadership Group (RSLG) has released its first Regional Workforce Plan, which focuses on the energy and food, fibre and whenua sectors of Taranaki’s labour market.

The RSLG is an independent advisory group of leaders and representatives across iwi, industry, unions and community groups. The group launched the plan, Taranaki’s first regionally led skills and workforce development plan, on Tuesday 5 July.

“This plan is for our people,” says Will Edwards, Iwi co-chair of the Taranaki RSLG. “We want to see change happen that enables local people to upskill and fill roles that employers have high demand for.”

The Taranaki Regional Workforce Plan includes a list of actions RSLG members have committed to implementing, which were developed through engagement with stakeholders from the focus sectors. Alongside their own actions, the RSLG has made recommendations to central government and other key regional actors.

In this and subsequent iterations the group will maintain a focus on taiohi, wellbeing, transferable skills and technology – issues that cut across sectors. The Regional Workforce Plan will be refreshed annually.

In their joint introduction, co-chairs Will Edwards and Charlotte Littlewood say alignment of each iteration will be key to transformational change. “Each year we’ll develop action plans that build on and enhance our kaupapa, ensuring that the wellbeing of our people remains central to all our activities.”

“For this first iteration of the Taranaki Regional Workforce Plan, it made sense to focus on the energy and food, fibre and whenua sectors,” says Littlewood. The Taranaki RSLG has partnered with Energy Resources Aotearoa to ensure wide consultation on workforce needs across the energy sector.

“These sectors affect a large segment of our workforce and are facing changes we cannot ignore,” says Littlewood. “We know there are unprecedented skills shortages across our region right now. Our mahi has focused on long-term strategic planning so we avoid this situation in the future.”

“This is not only a strategic document, but an operational one,” says Littlewood. “It will take a collective effort to see tangible change in our labour market. Thankfully, we have already received a lot of support from influential people and groups equally committed to action.”

The Taranaki Regional Workforce Plan is available to read here.

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