Jobs Programme Funding Cut Confirmed

Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 2:43 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

Two North Canterbury councils now have significantly less funding to support local youth into jobs.

The Hurunui and Kaikōura district councils will receive just $130,000 and $100,000 respectively over the next 12 months to fund their successful Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programmes, a youth employment scheme.

The Government is targeting getting young people off a jobseekers' benefit, which has led to the Ministry of Social Development changing its funding criteria for the MTFJ programme.

It now means instead of helping school leavers, the new programmes will be primarily supporting those on a jobseekers’ benefit.

Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said her council’s new target is to place 15 young people into sustainable employment, with the new measure meaning they need to be in the job for at least six months instead of three months.

Despite a significant funding cut, Mrs Black said she is confident her team will surpass the new target and achieve other goals.

But she admits she is disappointed at the changes to the scheme.

‘‘There is a bit of a trend. A lot of 16-year-olds are leaving school and some are ready for work and others need a lot more support and we can’t let those young people down.

‘‘The MTFJ programme has really reached into the community. Our schools understand it and our wonderful employers understand it and people reach out to see if there’s a way to help, and it’s important we keep that strength.

‘‘The part that saddens me the most is the scheme was put in place to support rural job seekers who were disadvantaged by distance, but because it has been successful our larger neighbours have taken it up.

‘‘But we won’t lose sight of the purpose of the scheme.’’

To ensure young school leavers are not left behind, the Hurunui District Council has started up a new SEED course to support school leavers.

It is similar to programmes being run in other districts and is being privately funded, with no ratepayer money required, Mrs Black said.

She said the new course will complement the MTFJ programme and provide support to young people before they enter employment or further study.

Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle said his worst fears were confirmed, as his council’s new contract has seen its funding slashed from $260,000 to $100,000 from July 1.

‘‘We’ve still got to do what we can, but I’m very disappointed.

‘‘We are going to have to go through things with a fine-tooth comb.

‘‘We’ve got a plan, but we will need to see if can pull it off.’’

The jobs programme has helped young people aged 16-25 into work through driver licensing, careers advice and guidance, interview skills, preparing CVs, work experience and transport.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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