Iwi Invites Employers to Take on 400 Unemployed Māori Youth

Friday, 25 May 2012, 12:05 pm
Press Release: Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc

Embargoed until 8:00am 25th May 2012

Iwi Invites Employers to Take on 400 Unemployed Māori Youth

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi is launching the ‘Corporate Leaders in Kahungunu CLiK’ initiative, an economic development strategy to employ 400 unemployed youth in their tribal region. The launch on Friday 25th May was at the Unison headquarters, one of the corporates who have signed up as an employer to this initiative.

“We’re excited by the potential energy that will be released from this initiative that will fire up our youth by creating meaningful jobs for them”, said Ngahiwi Tomoana, Chairman, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.

“I applaud Unison and Hawke’s Bay Seafoods for signing up to CLiK and we’re grateful for the opportunities they will offer to our future leaders by employing them”.

The case for change

Throughout the Kahungunu rohe, there are around 1,700 Māori youth on all main benefit types. And even more of our young people are not in employment, education, in training or on benefits, often being financially supported by whānau members. At the 2006 Census, 19 percent of Ngāti Kahungunu youth aged 15-24 years were unemployed.

In some parts of the rohe, Māori comprise over 50 percent of the population and are predominantly under 25 years of age. The proportion of Māori in the rohe will continue to significantly increase over the next ten years. Māori are a big part of the current actual and potential workforce in the rohe, and will play an even bigger role in the workforce of the future.

This paints a compelling picture as to why we all need to focus on supporting our youth into employment – our collective economic future depends on it.

The challenge

We challenge employers in the region to sign up to take on unemployed Māori youth, through Corporate Leaders in Kahungunu - CLiK!

We have set a target to get 400 unemployed Māori youth into jobs by the end of 2013.

Why sign up?

By signing up, employers can increase their access to a growing labour supply and in doing so get support through targeted resources - subsidised training and wage subsidies are available (subject to eligibility of the employee and employer).

The young people that are employed will be supported in their job, through a hands-on job coaching approach.

Signing on to this challenge can result in an improved customer base and will enhance an employer’s reputation as a good corporate citizen in the region.

Iwi background

Ngāti Kahungunu has the third largest Iwi population. Around 60,000 people, or 12 percent of the Māori population, belong to Ngāti Kahungunu.

Geographically, Ngāti Kahungunu has the second largest tribal rohe in the country, from the Wharerata ranges in the Wairoa District extending to Cape Palliser in South Wairarapa.

Our mission statement is “Kia maumahara te mana ahua ake o Ngāti Kahungunu” - uphold the absolute uniqueness of the living breath of Kahungunu, “to enhance the mana and well-being of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi”

Education and employment are two contributors to successful social development and whānau well-being.

“We’re keen for more businesses to take on our youth, We believe they will be dynamic contributors at any job they turn their hand to, We believe empty hands filled with work is the key to bringing about social change in our communities” said Ngahiwi Tomoana.

ends

© Scoop Media