Minister’s visit puts Far North youth projects in the spotlight

The work of Far North District Council to help youth into jobs and education was the focus when Minister of Social Development Louise Upston visited Kaikohe recently.

The visit, organised by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), gave the minister an overview of the Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) scheme and the Cadetship programme, which is supported by the council.

MSD runs the Cadetship programme in partnership with WorkReady to run an eight-week programme, providing cadets with learning and experience to help kick-off their careers. MTFJ is also partnered with the MSD to lead the Community Employment Programme that supports youth aged 16-24 who are not in education, employment, or training, are disadvantaged or living with disabilities.

Upston, accompanied by Northland MP Grant McCallum, was welcomed by Deputy Mayor Kōwhai Kelly Stratford and met the council’s current cadets, Lexus Loft, Shariyah Rakete, and Mya Parker, who are working in compliance, libraries and customer services. They were joined by former cadet, Estee Rapatini, who is now senior facilities technical officer with the council.

The cadets chatted with the minister about their own experiences and how the cadetship programme is giving them a stepping stone to future success.

The event at the council’s HQ in Kaikohe on 23 February was a platform to showcase how localised programmes are supporting Far North rangatahi into work and providing career and education opportunities not easily accessible for young people in rural areas.

Watch here as FNDC cadet Shariyah Rakete talks about how the programme has made a positive impact on her future career plans.

Photo: (From left) Deputy Mayor Kōwhai Kelly Stratford, Minister for Social Development Louise Upston, cadets Shariyah Rakete, Mya Parker, Lexus Loft, and Northland MP Grant McCallum.