The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will invest $3.88 million in a range of digital, work and life skills training for
young unemployed people in Northland, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Employment Minister Willie
Jackson announced today in Northland.
Collectively these programmes will support over 800 rangatahi and will be funded through the He Poutama Rangatahi (HPR)
programme, which aims to support young people, aged 15-24, who are not currently in employment, education or training to
overcome barriers to get them into work.
The programmes funded are:
• NGEN Room (He Puna Marama Trust) $990,000
• Life Talk (Kamo Driving School) $396,000
• He Poutama Taitamariki $2.5 million (HPT)
“Both NGEN Room and Life Talk have a digital technology focus. Northland has a number of young people with few or no
qualifications, who are interested in the digital sector through gaming but lack basic coding skills or the motivation,
confidence or networks required to pursue qualifications or employment in this area,” Shane Jones said.
“NGEN Room is a 12-month digital technology programme for 16-24 year old rangatahi and combines life skills, NCEA
credits (level 1-3), and work experience.
“Life Talk is a 12-week programme that builds digital skills within the context of broader life and work skills
development, including driver licensing. It combines digital skills training with local web developers, as well as work
experience with local employers – both digital and non-digital based on the needs of participants.
“Both projects also provide on-going pastoral care to support participants during training and beyond.
“Additionally, the successful Northland pilot programme, He Poutama Taitamariki (HPT) will receive funding of $2.5
million from HPR to continue its work to improve employment and training outcomes for young people most at risk of
long-term unemployment and poor social outcomes for another year.
The Ministry of Social Development is also providing $2.7 million in the He Poutama Taitamariki programme. The programme
is run by the Ministry.
Employment Minister Willie Jackson said the HPR support will get local people ready for local jobs.
“HPT has already worked with 116 employers since October 2018 to get more than 750 rangatahi into further training or
employment. This is an outstanding result. The programme works to increase the resilience, social connectedness and work
readiness of taitamariki, and includes access to professional support services, work placement and 12 months support for
those on the course and employers,” Willie Jackson said.
“The rangatahi targeted by HPR are those most at risk of long-term unemployment, and who may need more individualised
and ongoing support to connect to training and employment than current programmes are able to provide,” Willie Jackson
said.