Releases

The Chairperson and Maori community representative for the Board leading the development of new partnerships to increase youth development opportunities were announced today by Acting Youth Minister Anne Tolley. “I’m pleased to announce that following the Partnership Fund Board’s inaugural meeting, Karen Shires has been elected Chairperson for an 18-month term,” says Mrs Tolley. ...

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley and Corrections Minister Judith Collins have announced the launch of the second stage of a new $15.3 million initiative to help offenders prepare for, find and stay in employment and reduce reoffending. The Salvation Army and Workwise will work with the offenders from ten weeks before until twelve months after their release to give them the support they need to develop the necessary skills to find and maintain a job, while also increasing support for employers to take on offenders.

The Government has announced today that the employee support subsidy for quake-affected businesses has been extended to support specific Wellington region businesses prevented from operating for several weeks due to building damage as a result of the November 14 earthquake. Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley say the assistance package will be available to businesses that cannot operate due to cordons put in place, and are unable to move and operate anywhere else.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has announced extra support for the clean-up in Kaikoura and surrounding areas following the recent earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. The Minister has activated Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG), a temporary employment programme which helps councils to employ local jobseekers to support the clean-up operation. Initial funding of $500,000 will be available to cover the wages of workers and supervisors, help hire or purchase personal safety or light equipment and hire transport for work crews.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced an increase in the number of seasonal workers who can come to New Zealand to work in the horticulture and viticulture industry under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. The current cap will be increased by 1,000 from 9,500 to 10,500 RSE workers for the 2016-17 season. Mr Woodhouse says the horticulture and viticulture industry is New Zealand’s fourth largest export industry, producing almost $5 billion in exports.