Government funding changes wind down youth job support programme

Government funding changes have led to the winding down of the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ), a programme that has helped more than 170 Te Puke and Maketū young people find work and education opportunities. Run through Local Government New Zealand, the programme connected businesses with young people aged 16-25 seeking work or training. In Te Puke and Maketū, local organisation COLAB delivered the programme over the past two and a half years alongside Western Bay of Plenty District Council. From July 1, MTFJ will refocus from supporting unemployed young people to assisting those on Jobseeker Support. Mayor James Denyer expressed gratitude for the work done and remains open to restarting the programme when circumstances allow, while council's participation in MTFJ's Tuia mentoring programme for Māori will continue unaffected.

Originally published in Te Puke News by Sun Media.