15 Young Workers Supported Into Kaikōura Jobs

Friday, 28 February 2025, 5:59 am
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

February 26, 2025

A national jobs programme is helping Kaikōura youth find employment in the region, despite a challenging economic environment.

The Kaikōura Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programme has completed 15 sustainable job placements and is half-way to achieving its target of 30 jobs by June 30.

The MTFJ programme supports young people with driver licensing, career advice and guidance, interview skills, preparing CVs, work experience and transport, and access to mental health services.

Kaikōura’s success reflects the MTFJ programme’s results nationally, with a Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) spokesperson predicting 1200 young people will be placed in employment by June 30, having already passed the national target of 888.

A sustainable job placement is where a young person has been in a full time job for more than 91 days.

Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle said it was not easy for young jobseekers in the present environment, as they are often competing against more experienced workers for the same job.

‘‘It is harder to find employers with the time to spend supporting young people.

‘‘They are not always able to walk into 40 hours employment and they need upskilling.’’

But local employers continued to be supportive of local youth, he said.

LGNZ said the same challenges are being seen nationally.

‘‘What we’re seeing and hearing (in rural areas especially) is that there are more skilled and mature, able-bodied workers who are also looking for entry level positions due to the tight employment market,’’ the spokesperson said.

‘‘And that puts increased pressure on young people to find employment (particularly first-time employment).

‘‘We’re saying that employers should employ youth for a range of reasons - they’re willing to learn, they don’t come into a role with any pre-conceived ideas, and they’re willing to take on any job that gives them experience in the workplace.’’

The Hurunui MTFJ programme has already placed 35 young people into jobs, exceeding this year’s target of 20.

A Hurunui District Council spokesperson said there seemed to be plenty of job opportunities for young people in the district, thanks to the relationships established with employers through the programme.
But the types of roles and work skills required are different.

Driving skills, transport and work readiness remain the biggest barriers for young job seekers, while isolation is also an issue, particularly in Kaikōura, when it comes to training opportunities and accessing tertiary education.

The Kaikōura and Hurunui district councils joined the MTFJ programme in 2020 and funding has been committed through to June 30, 2026.

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

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